Golden Nail Geological Area in Changxing

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As a hot tourist spot and the world’s geological heritage, it is the most complete boundary stratotype area of Permian-Triassic Periods of the earth. The Nail in remote antiquity is the most striking sight in the scenic site of Golden Nail Geological Protection Area.

Located in Huaikan Township, the scenic spot has an area of seven 750 mu, with the distance of 3.5 kilometers from its east end to the west end. The length of the trunk-road from the image-gate to the Golden Nail Geological Museum is over 1,000 meters. This sightseeing avenue lined with trees and flowers on both sides passes two stratigraphic sections and the lake for watching rocks. The clear lines of the sedimentary rocks reveal the changes of the earth in remote times, and the lake is still in the original ecological environment. Egrets and wild ducks are sporting on the lake, and fishes cheerfully leap up over water from time to time.

There are many attractions in this tourist spot. Going through the image-gate modelled after the strata of the Palaeozoic Era and the Mesozoic Era and the long trunk-road, tourists come to the Golden Nail Geological Museum. The museum with modern equipments and facilities combines the high techniques of sound, light, and eletricity together to produce unusual effects that give tourists wonderful feelings. It is composed of four halls and a special gallery. The Universe and the Earth Hall tells about the secrets of the universe and the solar system in their original stage, the structure of the earth and its geographical features, the mineral resources and geological disasters of the earth. Biological Evolution Hall shows the evolution of species in the critical phases of history, and displays some representative fossils. Golden Nail Hall has samples, models and the written explanations about the research of the Nail. Dynamic 4D Movie Hall creates the surroundings that make tourists feel as if they were drawn back to the remote antiquity, the thrilling scenes of evolution and extinction of the species happened again on the earth. The Gallery of Tourist Resources displays the unique ancient living beings and the marvelous natural phenomenon in Changxing territory.

Golden Nail was defined as a standard point of global comparison by the International Union of Geological Sciences in March of 2001. It is oneof the three most important divisions of history boundary. Known as one of the world’s most perfect geologic bedding sections, Golden Nail keeps the record of the biggest extinction event in the Earth’s history, which occured250 million years ago. It plays an extremely important role in understanding the Earth’s history and exploring the mysteries of the Earth’s biological evolution. Golden Nail Leisure Square is an attractive spot for tourists.

Tourists should be on the spot to see the natural rock formations of the Earth 250 million years ago. It bears the mystery of the boundless universe and the traces of living beings in remote antiquity. The Monument to the Golden Nail in the height of 9 meters stands at the center of the square, which is the symbol of standard and eternity.

As the National Science Education Base, and Changxing Outdoor Teaching and Research Base of China University of Geosciences, this tourist spot integrates the popularization of science education, natural scientific research, and sightseeing. It was honoured with the title of national AAAA-grade tourist scenic spot at the end of 2008, and has been a hot spot since then.