Zhangjiajie Landform Joint Research Center was established in September 2011 by the Institute of Geographic Sciences and Resources of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the Wulingyuan National Scenic Spot District Government of Zhangjiajie City. Our center is dedicated to the study of Zhangjiajie landforms, revealing the morphological and structural characteristics, evolution mechanisms, and processes of Zhangjiajie landforms from a deeper perspective. Play a leading role in the planning, construction, and management of world and national geoparks using geomorphological knowledge, and provide technological support for the sustainable tourism development of Zhangjiajie World Geopark.
In 1981, based on field investigation, Professor Zhai Fudong and others from Hunan Normal University published the article "Dayong Zhangjiajie's Initial Journey" in the 5th issue of Geographical Knowledge, which explained the cause of Zhangjiajie landform for the first time, overruled the argument that many media inside and outside the province at that time named Zhangjiajie Danxia landform.
In 1982, Professor Guo Keyi of the Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences first introduced the term "peak forest" into sandstone landforms and named the landforms here Zhangjiajie Sandstone Peak Forest Landform (see "Sandstone Peak Forest in Northwest Hunan" - Nature Journal 1982, Issue 5, 375-376).
In 1983, Professor Zhai Fudong published "Exploration of Zhangjiajie Geological Landscape Resources and Several Issues" in the second issue of the Natural Science Edition of the Journal of Hunan Normal University. This was the first article published in an academic journal with the topic of "Zhangjiajie Landform". Given the rapidly expanding academic influence of Zhangjiajie's landforms, in 1983, Beijing Science Film Studio produced a popular science film called "Sandstone Peak Forest", with the late Academician Chen Guoda and Professor Li Shengsi serving as advisors for the film.
From August 31 to September 7, 1984, the Hunan Provincial Geological Society presided over the "Zhangjiajie and Suoxiyu Scenic Geology and Landform Type On site Appraisal Meeting" in Zhangjiajie City. 46 well-known geomorphological experts from across the country attended, and 12 senior professional titles such as professor, associate professor, and researcher were held at that time. Out of the 8-day meeting, 6 days were arranged for field inspections. At the meeting, experts unanimously agreed that the Zhangjiajie landform is a newly discovered type of landform, but there are differences in the naming of the landform: one type still advocates naming it "sandstone peak forest landform"; On the other hand, the vast majority of experts who attended the meeting advocated using the place name method for naming, but there are different opinions on what place name to use, including "Zhangjiajie Landform", "Jinbian Suoxi Landform", "Suoxiyu Landform", "Yuntai Landform", and so on. The definition of some names was published in the 13th and 14th issues of the Hunan Geological Society. Later, more scholars focused on the Zhangjiajie landform and published their articles in various publicly published academic journals. For example, Chen Huahui published "The Landform Characteristics and Formation of Suoxiyu".
In November 1985, the Ministry of Geology and Mineral Resources and the State Environmental Protection Administration held the first conference on regionalization and scientific investigation of nature reserves in Changsha. More than 70 senior experts and scholars, including Cheng Yuqi, president of the Geological Society of China and academician of the Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences, Li Tingdong, President of the Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences, Chen Shupeng, member of the Academy of Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences, gave a very high evaluation of the geomorphic landscape of Zhangjiajie, and expressed their insights and important opinions on the formation mechanism and protection measures of Huanglongdong and Zhangjiajie geomorphic landscape. And made "expert suggestions on the establishment of national geological nature reserve (or national Geopark) in Wulingyuan area of Hunan Province".
In 1985, the British Royal Geological Survey conducted an investigation of Huanglong Cave.
In 1986, the Chinese Cave Expedition explored Huanglong Cave.
In 1986, Hunan Provincial Center of Remote Sensing and Geological Environment completed the "Wulingyuan Sandstone Fenglin Geological Nature Reserve Division and scientific investigation Report" and won the ministerial award.
In 1988, Zhai Fudong, Xiong Shaohua and others published a paper "A new type of landscape geomorphology - Zhangjiajie Geomorphology" in the first volume of the collection of tourism geoscience research-Tourism Journal (supplement), which is the first time that "Zhangjiajie geomorphology" as a professional term in geomorphology appeared in official academic journals.
In 1991, Professor Chen Changming from Hunan Normal University published "On the Zhufeng sandstone Geomorphology of Zhangjiajie" in Tropical Geography. Academician Chen Guoda published "The origin, Development and Protection of the geomorphology of Wulingyuan Peak Forest" (Geography and Territorial Research, 9(3), 1-6).
On May 7, 1992, Dr. Sansel and Dr. Lucas, senior consultants of the World Heritage Acceptance Committee of the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (ZUON), were commissioned by UNESCO to investigate the natural resources of the park. The park maintains an "almost pristine subtropical landscape, ecological environment, biological environment and its ecosystem." In the same year, UNESCO approved Wulingyuan to be included in the "World Natural Heritage List", and solemnly stated: "Inclusion in this list indicates that this cultural and natural scenic spot has a special worldwide value, and therefore should be protected for the benefit of all mankind."
In 1993, Su Xinchu et al. published "Application of Remote sensing technology in geomorphology of sandstone peak forest in Zhangjiajie" in Remote Sensing of Land Resources.
In 1994, Professor Chen Changming once again proposed "Discussion on establishing the type of Zhufeng Sandstone geomorphology in Zhangjiajie".
In 1995, Professor Zhou Zhongmin of Changsha Normal University of Water Resources and Electric Power published in Tropical Geography "A new type of sandstone peak forest in Zhangjiajie - Wulingyuan Quartz sandstone peak Forest". In 1997, Zhai Fudong et al. published "Zhangjiajie Geomorphic Landscape and its Industrial Orientation" in Journal of Mountain Science.
In 2001, Zhan Gengshen published "Unique Landscape of sandstone Peak Forest landform in Zhangjiajie" in "Geology of Jiangsu".
In 2002, Wu Chen et al., Hebei Institute of Geography, published "Formation and Evolution of Geomorphology in Zhangjiajie Scenic Area" in Geography and Land Research. Liu Deyi published "Zhangjiajie Sandstone Peak Forest" in the Earth. Li Yunjing published "Zhangjiajie Geopark Series - Unique Sandstone Peak Forest in Zhangjiajie" in Approaching Science.
In 2003, Zhou Xuejun published "Characteristics and Sustainable Development of Tourism Resources in Zhangjiajie" in the Journal of Social Sciences of Yunnan Normal University.
In 2005, Tang Yunsong et al. published "Genetic mechanism of sandstone peak forest landscape in Zhangjiajie" in Journal of Mountain Science.
In 2006, Huang Linyan et al. published a study on the influence of lithology Characteristics on the formation of peak forest geomorphology in Zhangjiajie in Journal of Anhui Normal University.
In 2011, Ping Yamin published her master's thesis "Research on Stratified Geomorphology in Zhangjiajie Area". Ping Yamin, Yang Guifang, Zhang Xujiao et al. published in Geological Review the Formation Age of sandstone geomorphology in Zhangjiajie: Evidence from the comparison of terrace and cave. Gehry Brierley, Huang Heqing, Chen Anze, et al. Geomorphology and Geological Conservation: Contributions and Controversies concerning the sandstone landscape of Zhangjiajie, China. Earth Surface Process and Landforms, 36, 1981-1984.
In 2013, Chang Xing and Qi Deli published the Morphological characteristics and geomorphological significance of river valleys and basins in Zhangjiajie, Hunan Province 溹 in Journal of Palaeogeography.
Zhang Yongzhong, Hu Nengyong, Wang Mingyan. Brief history of geological evolution of Zhangjiajie Geopark and formation process of sandstone peak forest in Wuling Garden. Proceedings of the First International Conference on Geoparks, Beijing: Geological Publishing House.
Zhang Yongzhong, Hu Nengyong. The scientific connotation of Zhangjiajie Sandstone Fenglin global Geopark.
Fang Weizhu et al., 2006, China National Geopark Series - Zhangjiajie, China Cartographic Publishing House, China Cartographic Society.
Zhao X, et al. 2011. Study on Geomorphic Geological characteristics and Geological Landscape Genesis of Zhangjiajie, China Geological Publishing House.
Chen Anze et al. Study on Formation Age and Crustal Stability of Sandstone Peak Forest geomorphology in Zhangjiajie World Geological Park, China Geological Publishing House.
Shi Chang-Xing, et al. 2016. Study on Dynamic Processes of geomorphic Development and Evolution in Zhangjiajie, China Environment Press.
