Mashan is located about 7 kilometers west of Jimo City, composed of four interconnected hillocks shaped like a horse saddle, hence also known as ‘Ma’an Mountain’. The southwestern part of the mountain displays a square columnar joint structure. The geological area around Mashan is rich in wood fossils, scientifically named ‘silicified wood’, which are identical in shape and texture to trees. Mashan is abundant in andesitic porphyrite, mostly gray-green and gray-brown, formed about 100 million years ago when magma cooled on the surface.
The southwestern part of the mountain features square columnar joints, with a diameter of about 1 meter at the cross-section and a height of over 30 meters. They are straight, closely packed, resembling a dense forest, which is spectacular, hence the name ‘Mashan Stone Forest’. In 1983, a South Sea cedar fossil weighing about 2 tons, 6 meters long, with a thick end diameter of 70 centimeters and a thin end of 60 centimeters was discovered, marking a new type of wood fossil found in China. Columnar joint stone forests are mostly developed in basalt and usually appear hexagonal or pentagonal, while Mashan Stone Forest is developed in andesite and is square-shaped, which is rare in geology. The site is open all year round, accessible 24/7.Mashan Stone Forest
Mashan is located about 7 kilometers west of Jimo City, composed of four interconnected hillocks sha[...]
