Distribution, Characteristics and Evolution of Danxia Landform in Qinghai

The Danxia landform is well developed in China, which is distributed in the Southwest of China, the Southeast of China and the Northwest of China. The research of Danxia landforms in Southeast China and Southwest China are quite fruitful, but the ones in Northwest China are insufficient. The Danxia landform of Qinghai province spetially is located in Northwest China, with widely distribution, rich types and bright colors, having high scientific research value and aesthetic appreciation value. Through the implementation of the "Investigation of Important Geological Relics in Northwest China (Qinghai)" project, a detailed investigation on the Danxia landform of Qinghai province has been conducted in three years. The Danxia landform of Qinghai province is mainly distributed in the Guide basin and Xining basin of the Yellow river drainage basin in east, the Angsai area in Zadoi County of Lancang river drainage basin in south, the Qaidam basin in west and the Zhuoer mountain in Qilian County of Heihe river drainage basin in northeast. The Danxia landform in Qinghai province has typical characteristics of flat top or slope, steep body, slow foot. They are occurred in Cretaceous, Paleogene and Neogene strata, and most of them are located in a semi-arid climate zone, and few in arid and semi-humid climate zone. Based on the different exogenous forces at various evolution stages, the Danxia landform there can be divided into four stages:infancy, youth, middle age and manhood. The infancy closely related to structure and water erosion, while the youth, middle age and manhood are closely related to physical weathering and rainwater scour. The Danxia landform in Qinghai province is well preserved and under development, meanwhile Qinghai has convenient transportation. The study on distribution, characteristics and evolution of the Danxia landform in Qinghai province will be of great significance to the application, construction and tourism development of geoparks with the Danxia landform as the theme.