Mount Wutaishan National Geopark, Shanxi

Mount Wutaishan is a part of Taihangshan Mountain. It is located along the border between Wutai County and Fanzhi County, Xinzhou City, northeastern Shanxi Province, and it covers an area of 643 km². In August 2005, the Ministry of Land and Resources approved it as one of the 4th group of national geoparks. The northern foothills of Mount Wutai are steep, while the southern foothills are relatively gentle, with elevations of 624–3,058 m and a relative height difference of 2,434 m. The main peak, which has an elevation of 3,058 m, is the highest peak in northern China. The main peak is composed of five smaller flat-topped peaks, so it is called ‘Wutaishan’ (Five Flat-topped Mountain). The park is characterised by complete Early Precambrian stratigraphy, varied and typical lithologies, continuous outcrops, clear boundaries and unique structures, and it is a classical area of Precambrian geology in the country. Several important Neo-Archean and Palaeoproterozoic geological units and...