Ancient Eco tourist Site in Changxing
3 min readThis tourist site is characterized by the “Three Ancients”, namely ancient geology, ancient flora, and ancient fauna.
Changxing is a world-famous place for fossils. Changxing Limestone referred to as the “Golden Nail”, is the geologic bedding section of dividing line from the Permian system to the Triassic system which tells what happened on our earth before 250 million years. It is a permanent index with a universal standard of measurement approved by UNESCO. More than 400 species of ichthyolite, nerita, and tadpole have been discovered there, including over 50 kinds of fossils that belong to the first discoveries in the world. Many experts from different countries have been there to make scientific investigations. They picked and collected specimens in happy astonishment.
It is said that 6 great extinctions of species took place on the earth,especially in the time of 250 million years ago, about half of the neritic living beings were destroyed, two thirds of the amphibious animal and thereptile were extinct, and insects experienced the first great disaster in evolution. However, both the gingko and the Chinese alligator survived in Changxing are the representatives of ancient plants and animals that had lived on the earth for more than 200 million years. Therefore, they are called “living fossils”.
The gingko tree, which is considered as the oldest plant in existence, can be traced back to 270 million years ago. Scientific data indicates that gingko trees were on the brink of extinction during the glacial epoch in the Cenozoic Era, but they managed to survive in certain ranges of Tianmu Mountain, such as the area like Changxing. The gingko was introduced to Japan during the Song Dynasty, then to Europe via Japan, and once again to America. It is rare to see the gingko trees that grow so luxuriant and dense in one place throughout the world, but visitors can enjoy the wonderful scenery of gingko forest in Changxing. The great gingko forest extends to 12.5kilometers. It is really a wonderful sight.
As for the ancient animal, the Chinese alligator has been in existence for generations from the Mesozoic and Triassic Period. The Mesozoic Erawas the prime time for the reptiles. Just like the dinosaur, the Chinese alligator as one kind of reptiles became one of the “dominators”on the earthat that time. When the dinosaurs and most of the reptiles died out during the Cenozoic Era about 70 million years ago, the Chinese alligator and someother similar species fortunately escaped from the great disasters. The Chinese alligator has a longer history than that of human being. Its survival is a miracle, and it deserves to be called “living fossil”.
With the development of society and the activities of human being, the dwelling conditions for the Chinese alligator are worse and worse. The total number of the wild Chinese alligators now is no more than one hundred. It is on the verge of extinction. Since 1979, two nature preservation districts have been separately set up in Xuanzhou of Anhui province and Changxing of Zhejiang province. Chinese Alligator Village in Changxing Countyoccupies an area of 10 hectares including a museum, in which livingalligators, specimens, samples and pictures are displayed. To develop tourism, the local government is making efforts to improve the facilities and conditions in the nature preservation district. An excellent eco-protection sitethat combines scientific research with tourist sightseeing has come into being.
