Promoted by Enjoy World Magazine, travel.sohu.com and other media, "Most Beautiful Tourism Destinations of China" has attracted over one million netizens.

With 30 categories; including mountains, geological parks and forest preserves, 238 of the top destinations were chosen from 509 scenic spots in China. Here, we will introduce the Top 10 Most Beautiful Geological Parks in China. They are famous for their excellent scenery as well as their unique geologic formations.

1. Shilin Geological Park (Stone Forest) in Yunnan (äº'南石林地质公园)

Kunming, the capital of stunning Yunnan Province, is famous for its excellent scenery. Shilin, or literally "Stone Forest", is the most famous.

As 'One of the World's Natural Wonders', Stone Forest features natural karst stone formations that resemble a forest; some are elegant, some are rugged and each has distinguishing characteristics that make each seem lifelike.

The tall rocks jut from the ground much like stalagmites or even like trees of stone, creating the illusion of a forest made of stone.

Each year around the 24th and 25th day of the sixth lunar month, the Yi people celebrate Torch Festival, which features traditional Yi folk dances and wrestling competitions.

Travel Tips:

Admission: 140 yuan

Tel: +86-871-7719006

Getting There: You can take a bus from East Bus Station, prices range from 10-15 yuan.

2. Wudalianchi Geological Park in Heilongjiang (äº"大连池)

Located in Heilongjiang Province, Wudalianchi Geological Park covers an area of 1,060 square kilometers and features extensive volcanic geologic landforms.

Wudalianchi has many mineral springs; including North Spring, South Spring, New South Spring, South Bathing Spring and Fanhua (Seething Waves) Spring. The South Bathing Spring is famous for its reeds, lotuses and tranquil environment. It is also home to many kinds of fish.

The Wudalianshan National Forest Park boasts the world's most well preserved, concentrated and complete volcanic landforms. With its vast array of common and typical volcanic landforms, Wudalianshan hold the reputation of being a "National Volcanic Museum" and an "Open Textbook on Volcanoes."

Travel Tips:

Admission: Heilong Mountain: 80 Yuan

South Medical Spring: 20 Yuan

North Medical Spring: 30 Yuan

Underground Ice River: 80 Yuan

Crystal Palace: 30 Yuan

Longmen Stone Village: 40 Yuan

Double Longan: 10 Yuan

Warm Lake: 80 Yuan

Museum: 10 Yuan

Getting There:

1. By Bus: There are regular tourism buses from Harbin (Longyun), Daqing and Qiqihar to Wudalianchi Geopark everyday.

2. By Railway: Take the train from Harbin to Beian Station, from Beian take the regular tourism buses.

3. By Car: From Harbin, travel along 202 National Highway towards Beian and then turn towards North No.5 Road and arrive at Wudalianchi Scenic Zone via Wudalianchi City.

3. Yandang Mountain World Geological Park in Zhejiang (雁荡山地质公园)

Located in Yueqing City, Zhejiang Province, Yandang Mountain is 300 km away from Hangzhou, 70 km away from Wenzhou and covers roughly 295 square kilometers of terrain.

Yandang Mountain is famous for its screen-like peaks, caves and waterfalls. It is a mountainous natural resort on the seaside and known as "emperor of mountains" and a "marvelous beauty of the world".

Yandang Mountain is an archetypical representation of an ancient rhyolite volcano. Situated at the edge of the volcanic area of the Asian Continental Plates, it is a natural museum of geology and rhyolite rocks. The mountains and rocks found at Mt. Yandang keep record of the geologic history spanning the evolution of a revival volcano from between 128 million years to 108 million years ago.

Travel Tips:

Pro-Tips:

The area is famous for several unique local goods and wares that are worth purchasing including Xiangyu Fish, Yanming Tea, Kwan-yin Bamboo, Jinxing Grass and Shan Yueguan Birds. Additionally, your visit should last at least a day to visit all the sites, so make sure to bring lunch and plenty of water.

Admission: Lingfeng Peak: 30 yuan;

Lingyan Rock Scenic Zone: 30 yuan;

Dalong Qiu Scenic Zone: 30 yuan;

Sanzhe Waterfall Scenic Zone: 10 yuan;

Xiansheng Men Scenic Zone: 10 yuan;

Yangjiao Cave Scenic Zone: 10 yuan;

Yanhu Lake Scenic Zone: 10 yuan;

Jinzhu Jian 10 yuan;

Fangdong: 20 yuan

Forest Park: 25 yuan

Tel: +86-577-62241762

Add: 88 Yanshan Road, Yandang Mountain, Yueqing City, Zhejiang Province

Getting There:

By Bus: There are air-conditioned tourist coaches that depart from New South Coach Station (opposite of Wenzhou Railway Station). Coaches headed towards Yandangshan are scheduled to leave at 7:30am, 9:30am, 10:30am, 1:30pm and 3:30pm everyday.

4. Mount Danxia Geological Park in Guangdong (丹霞山世界地质公园)

Mount Danxia is a famous scenic area located in the northeastern suburbs of Shaoguan City, Guangdong Province, covering a total area of 319 sq km.

This geopark is composed of several Scenic Spot Areas including Danxia, Shaoshi, Bazhai, Aizhai and Jinjiang Long Corridor. The tourist areas of Elder Peak, Yangyuanshi (Male Stone) and Xianglong Lake in the Danxia Scenic Spot Area are open to the public. Aizhai and Jinjiang Long Corridor Scenic Spot Areas showcase the natural beauty of mountain and water scenery specifically for sightseers. Additionally, these areas integrate the popularization of the sciences, scientific surveying, rock climbing and exploration for tourists on leisure time and holiday.

Locally described as a "world famous UNESCO Geopark of China," there are a number of temples dotting the mountains along with numerous scenic walks. It is described in local signage as a "world famous UNESCO geopark of China". There are a number of temples located on the mountains and many scenic walks can be undertaken. In 2010, Mount Danxia were inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site as part of China Danxia.

Travel Tips:

Pro-Tips:

There are many great hotels in Shaoguan; Hotel de Royce, Xihe Liuhua Hotel and Orange House. All provide leisure, restaurants and entertainment.

Admission: 120 yuan (High Season); 100 yuan (Low Season)

Cable car tickets: 55 yuan (round trip); 40 yuan (one-way up); 30 yuan (one-way down)

Add: Danxiashan National Park, Shaoguan City, Guangdong Province

5. Yuntai Mountain Geological Park in Henan (äº'台山地质公园)

Situated in Xiuwu County, Henan Province, Yuntai Mountain is a first-rate world geologic park.

Covered with lush original forests, Yuntai Mountain has several deep valleys and ponds, myriads of waterfalls and springs, picturesque perilous cliffs and peaks. These elements compose the stunning scenery of Yuntaishan. Famous for its which compose the unique scenery of Yuntai Mountain. Yuntai Mountain is famous for its fantastically misshapen hills that fan out as far as the eye can see.

Also famous for its numerous rivers, lakes, pools and spring, Yuntai is home to China's highest waterfall. The Yellow River pitches itself 314 meters over the Yuntai Skyscraper Waterfall creating a magnificent pillar of water. Spring water here is also renowned for being particularly sweet and cool that some say that you will never forget such a refreshing experience.

Travel Tips:

Pro-Tips:

Tickets for Yuntai Mountain allow for two-days of admission to every scenic area in the park, including the mountain gate, Red Stone Gorge, Tanpu Gorge, Cornel Peak and Wanshou Temple. Additionally if you wish to stay overnight at the mountain, Yuntai Hotel is a good choice. While expensive, it is well maintained with an excellent location.

Admission: 120 yuan (from Mar to Nov); 60 yuan (from Dec to Feb);

Add: Mountain Yuntai Secnic Spot, Xiuwu County, Jiaozuo City, Henan Province

Tel: +86-391-7709001

Getting There:

By Bus: Tourism buses depart from Jiaozuo to Yuntai Mountain every half hour.

By Motorcycle: If you have time, you can ride from Luoyang to Yuntai Mountain in about 5 hours.

6. Xingwen Stone Forest Geological Park in Sichuan (兴文石海世界地质公园)

The Xingwen Karst Geological Park, approved by the Ministry of Land and Resources to be a National Geological Park is open to tourism as a state-level scenic spot.

Xingwen Karst Geopark is located in Xingwen County, Yibin City, Sichuan Province, where it is a transitional zone between the Sichuan Basin and the Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau.

Home to both the Bo and Miao nationalities and specific karst formations, Xingwen’s unique characteristics make it an exotic flower among the 19 World Geoparks in China.

Xingwen Karst Geopark, covering roughly 156 square kilometers, is made up of four scenic areas; the Surface Karstand Ground Caves Scenic Area, Mount Lingxiaoshan Scenic Area, Mount Bowangshan Scenic Area and Tai'an Karst Forest Scenic Area. This geopark is a natural museum for studying karst formations, including the development and evolution of karst landforms; it’s just like an encyclopedia of karst geology.

Travel Tips:

Admission: 90 yuan (day view); 30 yuan (night view);

Add: Shihai Town, Xingwen County, Yibin City, Sichuan Province

7. Wulingyuan Geological Park in Hunan (武陵源地质公园)

Wulingyuan Geopark is of scenic and historic interest. Located in Zhangjiajie City, about 270km away from the provincial capital of Changsha, in Hunan Province, this geopark is famous for its numerous quartzite sandstone pillars. Some of the over 3,100 pillars in this karst formation reach for the sky at over 800 meters tall.

The Wulinyuan Scenic and Historic Interest Area is made up of the Zhangjiajie National Forest Park, the Tianzishan mountain ranges, Bao Feng Hu and the Suoxi Valley. It is a popular filming location and tourist destination.

Inscribed on the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites in 1992, Wulingyuan forms part of the Wuling Range.

8. Cuihua Mountain Geological Park in Shaanxi (翠华山地质公园)

Cuihua Mountain National Geopark, located some 20 kilometers away from Xi'an, is park of the Qin Mountain Range. Formed of an array of metamorphic rocks from the Middle Geological Epoch, it is said that this mountain was raised because of an earthquake in the three valleys in mid-Shaanxi in the second year of King You of Western Zhou's reign.

Cuihua Mountain can be divided into two areas, the Landslide area and the Developed area. The former covers about 5 square kilometers of 300 million collapsed rocks. The latter is made up of three parts; surviving peaks and cliffs, a stone sea and a lake formed from the landslide.

Travel Tips:

Pro-Tips:

The Hui nationality is in the majority in this area lending to the extensive and unique Xi'an food culture which is extremely famous and historically important. Visitors must respect Hui customs while traveling here.

Hours: 8 a.m. - 7 p.m.

Admission: 70 yuan (high season); 45 yuan (low season);

Tel: +86-029-85892176;

Getting There:

By Bus: Travelers can take one of two buses: Travel Bus 905 departs from Xi'an. Tavel Bus 4-01 departs from Chengnan Station at the Mingde Gate. For further busing information call: +86-029-85892176.

By Car: Drive around Xi'an until the crossroads of High-Speed Qujiand, enter onto High-Speed Baomao then stop at the crossroads of Taiyi Palace. Another route: Drive from Ziwu Main Road, along Qinling Round-Mountain Travel Road, head east. This drive should take about 30 minutes.

9. Funiu Mountain World Geological Park in Henan (伏牛山世界地质公园)

Mt. Funiushan Global Geopark lies in eastern China and is in the hinterlands of the Funiu Mountain Range in Henan Province. A comprehensive geopark, Funiu is part of the Central Orogenic Range, an exceedingly stable portion of continental geology. Other features of this park include a World Biosphere Reserve, a National Nature Reserve, a National-Level Nature Reserve for Fossilized Dinosaur Eggs and a National Mine Park.

Mt. Funiu's peak altitude scratches the sky at 2212 meters and acts as a natural weather barrier. It halts both moist tropical Pacific air traveling west in the summer and dry arctic Siberian air heading south in the winter. Moreover, it is the boundary between the subtropical and other climates of eastern China. Additionally, the ecosystem here is so diverse and well preserved that the Baotianman Scenic Area has become on the "World Biosphere Reserves" authorized by UNESCO.

10. Tengchong Volcanic Geological Park in Yunnan (腾冲火山国家地质公园)

Tengchong is a well known young volcanic and geothermal area in China and is a National Geology Park. The volcanic cluster here is known worldwide for its complete examples, large scale, intensive distribution and complete preservation. Nicknamed a "natural volcanic geology museum", all the roads leading to the park are paved with volcanic rock, which are better for drainage.

Tengchong's main points are the Thermal Sea Scenic Area and the Volcano Park Scenic Area. With plenty of landscapes, the popular views are of Dakongshan, Xiaokongshan and Heikongshan.

Travel Tips:

Pro-Tips:

Local dishes are extremely tasty, one must not miss them. Weather changes are rapid in the spring and winter, come prepared with appropriate seasonal clothing.

Admission: The Thermal Sea: 60 yuan

Add: Qingshui Township, 10.5 km south of Tengchong County Town;

Admission: The Volcano Park: 40 yuan

Add: Mazhan Township, 12 km north of Tengchong County Town