Jurassic Park in China ----Part 1  

cctv.com 12-26-2005 11:15

Southwestern China鈥檚 Guizhou Province holds a special place in China鈥檚 history. The area is scattered with important sites from prehistoric to modern times. The forest has remained almost unchanged since the Jurassic Period. The awe-inspiring scenery and living fossils are just one of the area鈥檚 claims to fame. After suffering heavy losses in a series of bloody battles, the Red Army took the town of Zunyi in 1935. The meeting held here marked the turning point in the Communists鈥fight against the Guomindang. The city is now a major attraction for visitors interested in China鈥檚 revolutionary history.

For millions of years, spinulose tree ferns have grown in the Chishui River valley. Long after they died out in other areas, the unique conditions here protected them from changes in the environment. Seeing these ferns from the Jurassic, people naturally wonder if there were dinosaurs here too. Although no fossils have been found, there is some evidence that dinosaurs once roamed the valley.

The Chishui River valley is a stone鈥檚 throw away from Zigong in Sichuan Province. Yet Zigong is rich in dinosaur fossils and none have been found along the Chishui. There are many theories about why this should be so, but it is certain that dinosaurs once lived in this valley. The living fossils of the river valley are protected by the region鈥檚 unusual landscape. In tomorrow鈥檚 episode, we will look at the Chishui鈥檚 breathtaking Danxia topography. The bright red cliffs have been raised up and worn down by the forces of nature over millions of years. The result is a series of grotesque rock formations embellished by religious carvings.

Editor:Liu  Source:CCTV.com