Having spent most of our lives in big cities, do you ever get bored of all the conveniences brought by science and technology, do you ever feel like that we are being institutionalized by the so-called urbanization, do you ever just want to embark on a journey to a faraway place and leave all your worldly worries behind for once?
Well, if you haven’t found that place yet, then you definitely wouldn’t want to miss the Valley of Stromatolites and Blossoms in Youyang Miao and Tujia Autonomous County.
Entrance to the Valley of Stromatolites and Blossoms
Located in southeastern Chongqing, Youyang covers an extensive geographical area and is home to the largest population of ethnic minorities in the municipality. As the country’s first ever to win the “China Climate Tourism County” honor, it enjoys the title of “Natural Oxygen Bar” for its year-round good air quality, with an average Summer temperature of 24.4 ℃ and an average annual relative humidity of 79%.
The Valley of Stromatolites and Blossoms lies in Banxi Township, Youyang, about 380 kilometers or five and a half hours’ drive away from downtown Chongqing. Some people might get intimidated by the long distance at first, but it’s actually a very pleasant drive along the Baomao Expressway (G65). It’s pretty much a nonstop through trip and you don’t have to change routes halfway.
The Valley covers an area of over 3,000 mu, or two square kilometers, and boasts the largest deposit of stromatolites and Cambrian marine fossils in southern China. As a pilot demonstration project, initiated by the local government, to combine poverty alleviation with tourism industry development, it consists of four main themed scenic spots, namely Stromatolite Flowers, Wu Nuo Culture, Romantic Grass Sea, and Rural Art Season.
Stromatolite Flowers
500 Million-Year-Old Stromatolites
Stromatolites, also referred to as stone flowers, are layered fossil deposits formed by the growth of primitive one-celled cyanobacteria. They are not only the oldest fossils on the Earth, but also provide records for the emergence and evolvement of the earliest forms of life. The Stromatolites discovered here date back to 500 million years ago, in the Cambrian geological period. Other than the scientific uses for studying evolution and paleoclimatology, they also present a flower-like pattern, characterized by thin, alternating light and dark layers. Walking along these fossilized stones and taking a closer look at the microorganisms’ traces, you could literally feel the passage of time and space, once again in awe of the power of mother nature. You might even find a whole new level of meaning for your own life.
Wu Nuo Culture
Three Emperors' Deck
Wu Nuo, which literally means witch exorcism, is an extremely ancient Chinese culture, it gives account of how people back then conquered and transformed nature, and how they reproduced offspring after surviving disasters. Its cultural connotations and express forms are very primitive and romantic, as demonstrated by their worship of the reproductive powers of nature, especially male genitals. The Wu Nuo culture of the Miao and Tujia ethnic groups living here for generations is fully displayed through the creation of stacked stone structures. There are 33 vivid-looking structures in total, including the Three Emperors’ Deck, the Totem Pillars, the Sky Eye, the 12 Pillars of Lunar Gods, and the 24 Drama Gods, etc.
Romantic Grass Sea
Pinky Muhly Grass
The American muhly grass is an ornamental herbaceous grass, generally considered to be very hardy and low-maintenance. The grass grows in clumps on most of the rocky and sandy ground in the Valley, and produces a curtain of pinkish flowers in late spring and early fall. Together with the Mexican feather grass, the Indian azalea and the 300 mu of summer cypress, they make the Valley appears even more beautiful.
Rural Art Season
Rural Art
During the “China Youyang Rural Art Season”, professors and experts from art academies as well as well-known domestic artists were invited to create and build their works in a designated area of the Valley. By introducing art to the rural villages and bring rural elements into art creation, they left here 17 rural art works with distinctive Youyang characteristics, which have now become a popular scenic spot for tourists.
Address: Valley of Stromatolites and Blossoms Tourist Center, Youyang Miao and Tujia Autonomous County, Chongqing.
Tickets: 99 yuan per person for adults, preferential tickets at 50% discount available for children, students and the elderly.
Opening hours: 8:30 – 17:00
Inquiry hotline: (+86) 023-75567999; (+86) 400-8729008