The Anxi-Wangjiaping Fossilized Wood Group Geological Relic is characterized by its wide distribution, presence in multiple strata, large quantity, excellent preservation, thick stems, diverse shapes, beautiful root forms, and clear wood structure. It is one of the more outstanding representatives of fossilized wood groups discovered in China to date. Visitors can stroll along the hillside paths to admire the various postures of the fossilized wood groups, while also enjoying the magnificent landscape of Chuanyan Nine Peaks, integrating entertainment, sightseeing, and scientific investigation.
A total of 85 exposure points of the fossilized wood group have been discovered, mainly distributed in Xiashan Village of Huishan Town; Fenshangjiao of Jingping Township; Dayong, Futou, Anxi of Jingling Town; Wangjiaping of Chengtan Town; and Suqin of Meicun Town. Among them, the Anxi-Wangjiaping area and Suqin area have a higher number and better quality of fossilized wood group geological relic scenic spots.
Related Knowledge: Fossilized wood, also known as petrified wood or tree fossils, refers to trees that have turned into stone. They are ancient trees buried underground due to geological actions (such as volcanic ash from volcanic eruptions or sediment from flood outbreaks), and due to the closed environment and isolation from air, the wood does not easily decay. Over a long geological process, the carbon in the wood is replaced by silicon dioxide, retaining only the fibrous structure of the wood and the shape of the trunk. According to records by Wang Yue, the Prime Minister of the Southern Song Dynasty, a large number of fossilized woods were discovered in Xinchang 800 years ago. In 1999, Xinchang Tourism Bureau invested heavily to collect the scattered fossilized woods and built a petrified wood forest in Xinchang Dafo Temple, which was later expanded and transformed into a large-scale petrified wood dinosaur park. In 2004, a large number of dinosaur fossils were discovered in the Early Cretaceous strata of Nanyuan Scenic Area, identified as the skeletal fossil of a lizard-like dinosaur, estimated to be about 10 meters long, once again proving that in the Early Cretaceous, Xinchang Basin was once a paradise for dinosaurs.
