Echoes of Prehistoric Giants: A Journey to Linxia Dinosaur Footprints Fossil Park

A World-Class Geological Time Capsule

1.Located in the rugged red cliffs of Yongjing: County, Linxia Prefecture, Gansu Province, the Linxia Dinosaur Footprints Fossil Park (also known as the Yongjing Dinosaur Tracks) is a world-class paleontological site. Covering an area of approximately 2 square kilometers at an altitude of 1,700 meters, this park preserves one of the most concentrated and diverse collections of dinosaur footprints on Earth. These tracks, etched into the red sandstone, have survived for over 170 million years, offering a rare glimpse into the late Cretaceous ecosystem,.

The Footsteps of Titans

The park is most famous for its "Dinosaur Arena," which houses ten different types of tracks, including those from sauropods, theropods, and ornithopods,. The centerpiece of the collection is the record-breaking sauropod footprint, which measures 1.5 meters in length and 1.1 meters in width. With a staggering stride length of 30 meters, these fossils represent some of the largest creatures to ever walk the planet. The clarity of the prints is so exceptional that even the texture of the dinosaur’s skin and the details of their joints are visible in the stone.

Rare Behavioral Evidence

Beyond mere size, the site provides invaluable scientific data regarding dinosaur behavior. One of the most significant highlights is the discovery of dinosaur swimming tracks. These rare fossils indicate that some dinosaurs navigated the edges of ancient lakes or rivers, using their claws to push off the soft sediment while buoyant in water. This discovery was a monumental breakthrough for global paleontological research and has been documented in major scientific archives.

Natural Splendor and Ancient Harmony

2.Set against the backdrop of the Liujiaxia: Reservoir and the striking red Danxia landforms, the park integrates prehistoric history with the raw beauty of the Northwest highlands,. Visitors can walk along the "Underground Palace" of fossils, where the footprints are displayed in their original positions, allowing for a profound sense of "time travel". The site serves not only as a tourist destination but also as a critical center for geological research and public science education.