Scientific investigation route 1: Geological Museum - Large Bronze Statue - Ganlu Temple - Jiuhua Street - Minyuan - Tiantai - Huatai（- Lion Peak - Lotus Peak）

Scientific investigation contents:

① Geological Museum  Firstly, tourists will enter the Geopark’s Museum and watch a special film (scenic film) of Jiuhuashan Geopark, the exhibition of the sandbox model, specimens, pictures and e-books and so on. They will know about evolutionary history of the Earth, geoheritages in Jiuhuashan Geopark and basic features of the major geoheritages, the genesis of Jiuhuashan and Yulong Cave, and know about the plan of Jiuhuashan Geopark through sightseeing.

 Geological Museum

② Large Bronze Statue  At this spot, tourists are to investigate the features of the fresh and weathered granodiorite occurred at the first stage in the Geopark in the Late Yanshanian, and K-feldspar granite porphyry dyke and the north-south trending ridge peak (Toutuo Peak) composed of it.

 Large Bronze Statue

③ Ganlu Temple  Tourists can investigate “Qiao’an moraine dam”, “Ganlu Temple U-shape valley”, and give their personal opinions about whether the “Qiao’an moraine dam” is attributed to modern river deposits or the Quaternary glacier deposits, and whether the “Ganlu Temple U-shape valley” is a broad valley caused by differential weathering of the first period granodiorite and the second period K-feldspar granite in the Late Yanshanian or this U-shape valley was caused by the Quaternary glacier. Also, they are to investigate the contact relationship of the first period granodiorite and the second period K-feldspar granite in the Late Yanshanian.

 U-shape valley

④ Jiuhua Street  visitors are to investigate the first period fresh granodiorite and the second period K-feldspar granite in the Late Yanshanian, as well as to compare their differences. They can also investigate the second period K-feldspar granite in the Late Yanshanian and ridge peak composed of it. Investigate that whether “Jiuhua Basin” was cirque formed by the Quaternary glacier or basin caused by differential weathering of the first period granodiorite and the second period K-feldspar granite in the Late Yanshanian. They will investigate the characteristics of ancient temple buildings (such as Baisui Palace, Flesh Palace) and structural relationship with granite, and explore the longevity mystery of the monks related to some kinds of microelements good for human body existing in the granites in addition to their diet, living habits, and atmosphere.

Jiuhua Street Cirque

⑤ Minyuan  Tourists can investigate the feature, displacement, width and occurrence of the Jiuhuashan Fault as well as other features, such as the characteristics of geoheritages such as Minyuan broad valley, basaltic andesitic porphyrite dyke, et al., Moreover, they will discover the relationship between the Jiuhuashan Fault and the basaltic andesitic porphyrite dyke, tectonic broad valley, thereby to judge the forming age of the Jiuhuashan Fault.

Minyuan Valley

⑥ Tiantai  Tourists will investigate the characteristics of the second period K-feldspar granite in the Late Yanshanian, the feature, formation and distribution rules of granite columnar peaks (Guanyin Peak, Candle Peak), ridge peak (Shiwang Peak, Tiantai Peak), cone peak (Boyu Peak), weathered-eroded pictographic stones (Roc hears sutras Stone, Golden turtle facing north Stone, Bat Stone, Golden rooster crowing the sky-door Stone), collapsed cave (Gufo Cave). More importantly, they will explore the feature and formation of national level weathered-eroded pictographic stone geoheritages (Roc hearing sutras Stone) and investigate the structural relationships between ancient temple buildings (Baijingtai, Tiantai Temple) as well as the granite.

Roc hearing sutras Stone

⑦ Huatai  Tourists are to investigate the feature of the second period K-feldspar granite in the Late Yanshanian, and the feature, formation and distribution rules of granite columnar peaks (Magic Sea Needle, Tianmen Peak), weathered-eroded grotesquely-shaped stones (The great mice drilling mountain, Jade rabbit worshiping Buddha), rounded grotesquely-shaped stones (Elephant moving out of forest Stone), granite cliff (Small Huatai Cliff), vertical joints (Immortal drying boots Stone) and diagonal joints and so on. More importantly, they can explore the feature and formation of national level columnar peak (Magic Sea Needle).

Magic Sea Needle

⑧ Lion Peak  Tourists can investigate the feature, formation and distribution rules of granite cone single peak (Tianzhu Peak, Dagu Peak), cone double peak (Double Peak), cone peak cluster (Bijia Peak), domal peak (Tianhua Peak), weathered-eroded grotesquely-shaped stones (Dolphin out of road Stone, King Kong Stone), weathered-eroded basin (Cuifeng Basin), granite platform (Huatai), granite cliff (Red Cliff) and X type joints and so on. More importantly, they can investigate the feature and formation of national level cone peak (Tianzhu Peak, Double Peak, Bijia Peak) and granite platform. Besides, they will explore the feature of the second period K-feldspar granite and the fourth period alkali-feldspar granite in the Late Yanshanian, and their contact relationships.

Tianzhu Peak

⑨ Lotus Peak  tourists will investigate geoheritages outside the Lotus Peak Scenic, besides the geoheritages inside on this route and discover the feature, formation and distribution rules of geoheritages, such as granite cone peak (Duxiu Peak), cone peak cluster (Lotus Peak Cluster), granite stone waterfall (Jiuziyan Stone Waterfall), granite cliff (Red Cliff), jointed waterfall (Qibuquan Waterfall) and so on. They will mainly investigate the feature and formation of granite cliff (Red Cliff) and explore the feature of the first period granodiorite and the second period K-feldspar granite in the Late Yanshanian, as well as their contact relationships.

Because of there are no regular visitors on sightseeing roads between Lion Peak and Lotus Peak, therefore it is of necessary to have guides lead the way. What’s more, these two are also important research area; investigators should specially explore the undiscovered geoheritages, and investigate whether or not there are geological landscapes formed of the Quaternary glacier.