The Mylonite Geopark in Garze
Name in Chinese: 墨石公园 [mò shí gōng yuán]
Location: Daofu County, Garzê Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Sichuan, China
Duration of the tour: 2-3 hours
Opening time: Sun.-Sat. 08:30a.m.-05:30 p.m.
Tour Highlights: Unparalleled Geological formation of Mylonitic Rocks
Moshi park, or Mylonite Geological Park, located in Daofu county of SW China’s Garzê Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, is a geological gem distinguished by its striking mylonitic rock forest that set it apart from typical karst or sandstone forest reported elsewhere in the world. Owing to its extraordinary geological features, Moshi Park has been dubbed the ‘Bermuda Triangle of Chinese Geology’ by geologists.
Measuring 4.7 sq km and situated at an altitude of 3,500 meters, Moshi park boast a cluster of gray and black rocks standing in rolling hills that can shift in color depending on the weather.The park’s unique rock forest is composed of mylonite, which is a metamorphic rock formed by ductile deformation during intense crushing, grinding and shearing encountered during folding and faulting experienced during the Quaternary period.
Together with the dramatic rocky forest, Moshi park offers more impressive natural wonders to behold from staggering snow-capped mountains and verdant woods to lush grasslands and expansive wetlands, providing an enchanting backdrop of shifting colors year-round.
Traditional Tibetan houses and prayer wheels dot the park. Being simple and sturdy, these brightly-colored buildings are constructed from stone, wood and earth, featuring thick walls and small windows for insulation. Fluttery prayer flags adorn the flat roofs, doors and windows are elegantly painted with typical Tibetan motif, showcasing the unique beauty of Tibetan architecture.
Moshi park is also a haven for biodiversity. Not only is it home to a variety of rare plateau plants thriving in its unique environment, but also a sanctuary for diverse animal species, some of which are endemic to the region, such as Himalayan Marmot, Wild Sheep, Tibetan Eared-pheasant.
With its ever-changing views, Moshi park is a tourist destination for all seasons. In spring and summer, a vibrant tapestry of colorful wildflowers dot the grassy meadows where herds of yaks can be seen grazing under the dazzling blue sky, while autumn brings a palate of warm hues when trees adored in fiery red, golden yellow and deep amber hues, and in winter, the park is blanketed in a pristine white carpet of snow, offering a serene and peaceful wonderland. Whether you are a nature enthusiast, a geology buff, or a seeker after a serene escape, you are in for a real treat! Moshi park promises worldwide visitors a mesmerizing experience.
As part of the vast Western Sichuan Region, which is characterized by its epic high-altitude scenery and rich Tibetan culture, Garzê Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture is home to a multitude of top-notch places of interest, including Hailuogou Glacier National Park, Mugecuo National Park, Tagong Grassland, Wuxu Lake, Daocheng Yading Nature Reserve,etc. If you favor fully experiencing the area, it is recommended that you allocate at least 5 days for your trip, allowing you to visit the key attractions in a leisurely pace.
How to get to Moshi Geoprk
Wuxu Lake is about 230 mi from Chengdu with a travel time of 5.5 hours. Tourists can fly to Chengdu from most of major cities within Mainland China. Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport (CTU) is one of two airports serving Chengdu, which now mainly serves domestic flights around China. The other one is Chengdu Tianfu International Airport (TFU), which also operates domestic flights and took over all international routes from Shuangliu International Airport. Currently, there are 30 international routes to most of major cities abroad, such as, Hongkong, Moscow, Taibei, Seoul, Phuket, Istanbul, Sydney, Cairo, Los Angeles, Bangkok, Osaka, Hanoi,Singapore, Tashkent, Kuala Lumpur, Nha Trang, Toronto, Vancouver, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Paris, Chicago, San Francisco, Washington. Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport is located 18 km (11 mi) south of the city center, the journey from the airport to the city center takes about 35min while Tianfu International Airport is 65 kilometers (40 mi) southeast of the city center, taking about one hour.
As the major rail hub in southwest China, Chengdu possesses an extensive rail network, operating around 250 high-speed trains on a daily basis. It well connects to over 100 cities nationwide, making it super convenient to reach Chengdu from other popular tourist destinations, such as Xi’an, Chongqing, Beijing, Shanghai, Guilin, Zhangjiajie, Lanzhou, Hongkong, etc.
