Xiaonanhai

Chongqing Qianjiang Xiaonanhai National Geopark is located in Nanhai Village, Xiaonanhai Town, Qianjiang District, Chongqing, at the border of Chongqing and Hubei, more than 30 kilometers north of Qianjiang City. It is a high mountain freshwater dammed lake that integrates mountains, seas, islands, and gorges, and it is also the most completely preserved ancient earthquake site in China to date. According to research, the Xiaonanhai earthquake occurred on June 10, 1856, the sixth year of the Xianfeng era of the Qing Dynasty (1856) in the month of Renzi (June 10, 1856). Records show: On that day, the earth shook violently, and the mountains in Houba Township collapsed. Several days prior, the sunlight was dim, and the steam from the earth was unusually dense; on this day, it became even more severe. Between the hours of Chen and Si, suddenly there was a loud noise like thunder, buildings swayed as if they were about to fall, roof tiles flew off, waves surged in ponds, and the people ran out in panic, falling to the ground unable to stand. Later, the Xu family's creek mouth was blocked. Subsequently, during the heavy summer rains, the creek swelled and became impassable, forming a large marsh that extended over 20 li, flooding the site of a temple, surrounded by water on all sides, resembling a golden reef. The marsh was named Xiaoying Sea, but the locals mispronounced it as 'Xiaonanhai'. In fact, Xiaonanhai is a dammed lake formed by an earthquake. Later researchers believe that the Xiaonanhai earthquake was about 6.5 in magnitude, with a seismic intensity of VIII. The area of Xiaonanhai National Geopark is 197 square kilometers, and its main natural landscapes include: Dakuai Rock, Xiaokuai Rock, Sedan Chair Mountain, Landslide Body, Rock Dam, Dammed Lake, Karst Landscape, Mudstone Shale with Wave Marks, Groove Casts, Glacial U-shaped Valleys, etc., which are earthquake disaster relics and also geological parks with geological and geomorphological landscapes. In 2004, Qianjiang Xiaonanhai was approved by the Ministry of Land and Resources of the People's Republic of China as the third batch of 'National Geological Parks'. In December 2005, the Xiaonanhai scenic area was rated as a national AAAA-level tourist attraction. In 2008, the Qianjiang Qi Sea natural landscape was included in the list of 'New Twelve Scenic Spots of Bayu'. Xiaonanhai In 2018, the Qianjiang Xiaonanhai Reservoir was successfully selected as one of the 'Top Ten Most Beautiful Reservoirs in Chongqing for 2018'.