Int'l experts to review China's unique danxia landform for World Heritage application

GUIYANG, Sept. 19 (Xinhua) -- Experts from the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) will start reviewing danxia landform Sunday in southwest China's Guizhou Province which is applying to be included in the World Natural Heritage in 2010.

Danxia, which means "rosy cloud", is a special landform formed from reddish sandstone that has been eroded over time into a series of mountains surrounded by curvaceous cliffs and many unusual rock formations.

The IUCN will finish an assessment report for the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organizations which will vote for new sites added to the list next year.

Danxia landform cover several provinces in China. In January, the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development decided six provinces to jointly apply for the heritage, including Chishui City in Guizhou, Danxia Mountain in Guangdong Province, Langshan Mountain in Hunan Province, Taining County in Fujian Province, Longhu Mountain in Jiangxi Province and Jianglang Mountain in Zhejiang Province.

Covering 72,178 hectares, the Chishui landform is the largest among the six candidates. There have developed red cliffs, canyons, waterfalls and huge rocks, said Zeng Qiang, an official in charge of publicity in Chishui.

The local authorities have relocated residents, restore vegetation and banned logging in the entire area to protect the landform.

"More than 200 residents in Liming Village in the core area of the landscape have removed from their hometowns for the protection of the scenic spot," said village head Wang Tingke.

"The village prohibits using fire in the field. Hunting wild animals and quarry mining are also banned," Wang said.

"We have the responsibilities to protect the environment here and we support the application," he said.