Park of ChinaOverview
| Designation | UNESCO World Heritage (natural, 2012) |
| Name | Chengjiang Fossil Site |
| Country | China |
| Nearby cities | Kunming |
| Nearby sites | Dianchi Lake, Kunming 38km, Jiuxiang 39km, Stone Forest of Lunan 39km, Puzhehei 127km, Cultural Landscape of Honghe Hani Rice Terraces 176km Search nearby |
| Latitude, longitude | 24.67, 102.98 Google Maps |
About
Chengjiang Fossil Site (澄江化石遗址) was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2012 as a natural site.
Why it was inscribed
A record of Earth’s history and landforms.
The Chengjiang fossil site covers 512 ha around Maotianshan in Chengjiang, Yunnan. Its fossils, about 530 million years old from the early Cambrian, preserve even soft tissues and record at least 16 phyla and some 196 species. Most of today’s animal groups appeared almost at once in this period, and Chengjiang is a key record of the “Cambrian explosion”.
Travel tips
Getting there: the site is in Chengjiang, Yuxi, Yunnan, just north of Fuxian Lake and south of Kunming. Reach it by long-distance bus or by car on the expressway from Kunming.
Main sites: the core is the Maotianshan fossil site on the hill north-west of the town, and the Chengjiang Fossil World Natural Heritage Museum shows the specimens.
How to see it: start in the museum with the specimens and reconstructions, such as Yunnanozoon, Chengjiangocaris and Myllokunmingia, then go to Maotianshan for the outcrops and sections. The site is protected and some parts are closed to casual access.
The fossils: most specimens are a few centimetres long and need magnification; the museum has explanations and microscope displays.
Time: about half a day for the museum and Maotianshan; a full day with Fuxian Lake.
Season: any time of year. The climate around Kunming is mild, with rain from about June to September.
Where to stay: in Chengjiang town or by Fuxian Lake, or make a day trip from Kunming.
Combining: Fuxian Lake, next to Chengjiang, is the deepest lake in Yunnan.
Stamps
In 2024 China Post issued 2024-4 “World Natural Heritage: Chengjiang Fossil Site”, three stamps: a fossil of Microdictyon sinicum, a fossil of Cricocosmia with the attached Inquicus and a fossil of Fuxianhuia protensa.
Nearby
| World Heritage | Stone Forest of Lunan 39km, Cultural Landscape of Honghe Hani Rice Terraces 176km |
| National parks | Dianchi Lake, Kunming 38km, Jiuxiang 39km, Alu Caves 79km, Jianshui Scenic Area 118km |
| AAAAA attractions | Kunming World Horticultural Expo Garden 50km, Wanfeng Forest Scenic Area 199km |
| AAAA attractions | Chengjiang Maotian Mountain Cambrian World Natural Heritage Tourism Area <1km, Laoyuhe Wetland Park 27km, Dounan Flower Market 33km, Kunming Guandu Ancient Town 39km |
| UNESCO Global Geoparks | Stone Forest UNESCO Global Geopark 47km, Xingyi UNESCO Global Geopark 199km |
| Historic cities | Kunming 49km, Tonghai County 66km |
| Cities | Kunming 46km |
| Historical sites | Jinlianshan and Xueshan Site Cluster 4km, Shizhaishan Tombs 29km, Hebosuo Site 30km |
| National geoparks | Chengjiang Fauna Paleontological National Geopark 1km, Jiuxiang Canyon and Cave National Geopark 58km, Luxi Alu National Geopark 81km, Lufeng Dinosaur National Geopark 97km |
| Nature reserves | Jiaozishan National Nature Reserve 63km |