Haikou Volcanic Cluster Global Geopark

7 min read

It goes by the general name of China Leiqiong-Haikou Volcanic Cluster Global Geopark together with Zhanjiang volcanic cluster，which is located at Leizhou Peninsula.Haikou Volcanic Cluster Global Geopark is a national 4A attraction，and is the only volcanic cluster geopark in a tropical island city.It is confirmed to be Hainan’s first world-class tourism area with outstanding value by UNESCO（United Nations Educational，Scientific and Cultural Organization）.The Park is located in Shishan Town，Xiuying District，Haikou City，about 15km away from the center of Haikou City，with an area of about 108 square kilometers.It is made up of more than 40 volcanic cones erupting about 27，000 to a million years ago，such as Ma’anling Volcanic Crater，Yiziling Volcanic Crater, Luojingpan Volcanic Crater, Shuangchiling Volcanic Crater, etc. The largest and highest one is Ma’ anling Volcanic Crater, which is also the commanding height of the northern of Hainan, with about 222.8 meters above sea level and 90 meters in depth. This volcanic crater, consisting of two main peaks linked in the waist, looks like a saddle on a horse, and thus named “Ma’ anling Volcanic Crater”. So far a series of inactive volcanoes have been discovered, and the Ma’ anling Volcanic Crater is the only one that has been built into a park. It is said that Ma’ anling Volcanic Crater has the latest geological age in China and is one of the best-reserved inactive volcanoes in the world.

The park has a wide variety of volcanoes, almost covering all types of the basaltic ones, including not only the fragment cone, the lava cone and the mixed cone, but also the low-flat Maar volcanic crater formed by interaction between hot magma and groundwater. There are plentiful lava landscapes that resulted from volcanic eruptions. For example, Luojingpan Volcanic Crater, withabout 1,000 meters in diameter, is a flat and roughly circular one that looks perfect for its radial, annular and scalar structure. Besides, the criss-cross underground cave cluster shaped by the volcanic eruptions, like the Fairy Cave, Wolong Cave, Seventy-two Caves, etc., are filled with jagged and magnificent rocks, which is praised as “Natural Volcanic Museum Underground”by geological experts.

Now，we have already got to our destination-the magic rare Ma’anling Volcano Family，which consists of four volcanoes:the northern cone-Baoziling Volcano，the southern cone-Fengluling Volcano and its two parasitic volcanoes，named Yanjingling Volcanoes for looking like a pair of glasses，or Holy Infants Volcanoes.These four volcanoes comprise a perfect volcanic family.

At present，the park has built the uphill road in accordance with the lava flow direction.Look，the Sacred Way for Goddess of Volcano all uphill is just like a big”A”displaying its pageant and verve.Doesn’t it look like a jade ladder awarded by the nature to the heaven？Both sides，like the Basalt Garden and the Green Interest Garden，are covered with many exotic flowers and rare herbs.Besides some Hainan tropical species，like Bischoffia Javanica，Ficus Altissima and Michelia Alba，you can also see some rare plants like Huanghuali and DalbergiaOdorifera here.Even a rare virulent ancient tree，Upas，is standing high on the volcanic rocks.There are various weird basaltic lavas under our feet and on both sides，some like majestic stone lions，some like swimming fishes，and somelike golden frogs greeting guests.With so many vivid and inspirational rocks alongside，don’t you feel like you are in a beautiful outdoor basaltic volcanic museum？These rocks are jet-black and distinctive in honeycomb structure.The lava embers here are accumulated ever since the eruptions of the volcano.The Lava Protection Zone reveals to us the astonishing sight:when the volcano is erupting，a large number of lava and volcanic ash is ejected，blotting out the sky and the earth，scattering over the area and accumulating into the lava rugged tablelands，whose fertile soil is not suitable for growing crops but fruit.That’s why this area is prolific in the production of fruits every year，litchi，longan，and carambola，to name a few.So this area is also well-known as the “Land of Fruits”.When fruits are ripe in April and May，the visitors can enjoy the fresh and tasty fruits.

After going through the Lucky Stone Gate，what we can see is the Volcanic Stone Culture Zone.Various stones conserved a thousand years ago like the stone gates，stone walls，stone houses，stone implements and daily utensils show us the long history of the stone culture of the volcanic people in using stones for sustenance，which is appreciated as”The Model of Chinese Volcanic Culture”.

Please look ahead，and this is the Holy Temple of Volcano，which was built inthe years of Dao Guang，more than 100 years ago.The stone stele is inscribed “Shan Yue Pei Tian”.Enshrined in the temple are the Land God，the Mountain God and the Rain God.It is said that there is a legend about Ma’anlingMountain:Long long ago，a fairy came down to earth and travelled around Qiongzhou.When passing through the area of Ma’anling，she saw that not a single grain was reaped and the masses lived in dire poverty owing to the prolonged drought.The fairy was so sad that she presented a memorial to the Jade Emperor and made a request to come down to earth to benefit the humans.The Jade Emperor permitted her，and gave her an ear of golden wheat and a pair of goats.After descending to the world，the fairy married an industrious and sincere farmer，named Chun Teng.The two raised sheep by day and lived in caves by night.But the evil Fire God knew these and shut the fairy in a cave near Ma’anling area.Chun Teng was so brave that he decided to rescue his wife and put off the fire.The Jade Emperor and the other gods were touched by Chun Teng’s braveness，so they directed him to use spells:the Land God granted him a big tree to make a shoulder pole；the Mountain Godtaught him to make buckets with the red mud；and the Rain God granted him two pails of holy water to quench the fire.However，Chun Teng was discovered when he carried the buckets passing here.The murderous Fire God pined up the buckets so Chun Teng could not uplift them.In anxiety，Chun Teng kicked the shoulder pole away under his foot.The shoulder pole turned into a mountain and weighed on the neck of the Fire God，who couldn’t move since then.The mountain is the Yiziling Mountain now.Chun Teng smashed the other foot through the buckets.Immediately，a storm struck and quenched the fire，and the fairy was saved.Later，the buckets turned into two mountains，which are the Ma’anling Volcanic Crater today.From then on，people nearby live and work in peace and contentment.To appreciate the three gods who had helped Chun Teng to defeat the Fire God，people built this stone temple on Ma’anling Mountain to sacrifice them every year.

My friends，we are at the entrance of Fengluling Volcanic Crater now.Look how it sunk into a crateriform hole with 130 meters in diameter and 69 meters in depth.The bottom has no water standing in，so we can walk along the spiral trail down to it.The steep walls and the unbroken lavas show that they are the condensation of the last eruptive magmas.Though over ten thousand years，the lavas still remain their previous appearances and obvious eruptive direction.Covered with shrubs weeds，the lavas have been protected very well.

Now we have reached the top of the volcanic crater.Look，Haikou City is in front of the mountain while the parasitic volcanoes behind，and Qiongzhou Strait lies on the north and the volcanic cluster on the south.The path loopsaround the crater，so you can walk along it to savor the tranquility and peace of this beautiful modern city.Can you see this sign？This is the commandingpoint of the northern part of Hainan，with the elevation of 222.8 meters.From here，you can have a close view of the lush green ecological garden of the “Land of Fruits”，or perhaps Leizhou Peninsula in the distance on sunny weather.

Apart from the natural reserves and cultural attractions，Shishan Town is also famous for the traditional dishes of Beipu Vermicelli and Shishan muttor.Beipu is a local village’s name while Beipu Vermicelli is the most exotic local snack that has a long history.It is a common food for the local residents and an essential food for traditional festivals.Shishan mutton is quite mouthwatering for a lot of people.Shishan goats are mainly living on the volcanic young leaves，so the mutton has got little smell but is tender and tasty.We can go and have a taste of it after descending the top of the volcanic crater.While having the delicious local dishes，you can enjoy the folk songs singing by the local people or the traditional songs and dances performed by the Li and Miao minority people.You may be invited to join them in bamboo dance.All these experiences are enough to offer you an unforgettable trip.