Qitai Petrified Forest Dinosaur Geopark: Asia’s Largest Petrified Wood & China’s Dinosaur Kingdom
Updated: June 2026 — If you think Xinjiang is only about alpine lakes and Silk Road bazaars, the Qitai Petrified Forest Dinosaur Geopark (奇台硅化木恐龙国家地质公园) will rewrite your mental map. Tucked into the eastern Junggar Basin, about 350 km from Urumqi, this 492 km² geological wonder preserves the most complete Jurassic-Era ecosystem on the Asian continent — petrified wood forests, dinosaur fossil beds, colored yardang badlands, and a marine fossil treasury all in one vast, wind-scoured landscape.
Why the Qitai Geopark Belongs on Your Xinjiang Itinerary
Most overseas visitors to Xinjiang focus on Kanas, Kashgar, or the Ili grasslands. Those are spectacular — but they’re also crowded in July and August. The Qitai Petrified Forest Dinosaur Geopark is different. It’s raw, uncrowded, and scientifically world-class. The petrified wood cluster here is ranked first in Asia and second in the world (only behind Petrified Forest National Park in Arizona). The dinosaur fossils excavated here include the first Asian discovery of Tienshanosaurus and the largest sauropod fossil in Asia.
Geologically, you’re looking at a 150-million-year time capsule. During the Jurassic period, this area was a lush riverine forest teeming with giant dinosaurs. Successive earthquakes and volcanic ash buried the forest instantly, replacing organic material with silica mineral — creating the glittering, jade-hard stone forests you see today.
What You’ll Actually See: The Four Scenic Zones
1. Petrified Forest Square (硅化木广场) — The Main Event
This is the core of the park. A purpose-built plaza displays 21 specimens of petrified wood that have been granted National Level-I Protection status. Each specimen is fenced separately. The wood here isn’t just “stones that look like logs” — it’s silicified tree where every growth ring, bark texture, and even cellular structure is visible to the naked eye. Diameters reach 2.8 meters; the longest specimen stretches 26 meters. The mineral composition varies: some pieces are banded chalcedony, others milky quartz, others carnelian-red. On a clear day the silica catches the light and the logs seem to glow.
A short walk from the square takes you into the Shishugou (Stone Tree Gulch) wilderness zone, where nearly 1,000 petrified logs lie scattered across an 11.65 km² area. Some stand upright in growth position; most lie toppled where they fell 150 million years ago. The site is fenced but visible from a perimeter walkway. Do not attempt to remove even a chip — Xinjiang has specific criminal statutes protecting in-situ geological heritage, and the rangers take them seriously.
2. Dinosaur Valley (恐龙沟) — Where Asia’s Dinosaur Story Began
In 1928 Chinese and Swedish expedition teams first uncovered dinosaur bones in this gulch. Since then, successive digs have yielded:
- Asia’s first Tienshanosaurus (天山龙) — a mid-sized sauropod whose type specimen is now in the park museum
- Mamenchisaurus (马门溪龙) — the largest sauropod discovered in Asia and the second-largest in the world, with a neck reaching 15 meters long
- Dinosaur egg clusters — several nest sites with eggs still arranged in laying position
The on-site Dinosaur Fossil Museum (恐龙化石博物馆) displays excavator sketches, scale models, and a partially reconstructed Mamenchisaurus skeleton. In 2006, China Central Television (CCTV) broadcast a live excavation from “Pit #2” — a rare moment of real-time paleontology that put Qitai on China’s scientific map. English signage is limited; consider hiring a local guide (¥150–200) if you want the fossil identifications explained in detail.
3. Devil’s City Yardan Scenic Zone (魔鬼城雅丹景区) — The “Oriental Devil City”
This is the geopark’s visual wildcard. About 20 km from the petrified forest zone, erosion has sculpted the Jurassic-Cretaceous sandstone into towers, arches, and hoodoos colored rust-red, ochre, cobalt, and pale gold. Local guides point out formations that resemble a mosque, the Potala Palace, and (if you squint) a farmer leading a cow home — the “Returning Farmer” rock. The wind funnels through the formations and produces a low, moaning sound — hence “Karamay/”>Devil City.” Visit at late afternoon when the side-lighting makes the colors pop.
Unlike the yardang parks near Karamay (which are heavily commercialized), this section of the geopark is minimally developed. You’ll need your own vehicle to reach it, and there are no snack stands — bring water and a sun hat.
4. Shiqiantan (石钱滩) — The Marine Fossil Bonus
This zone reveals a plot twist: before it was a dinosaur forest, this area was an ancient sea. Shiqiantan has yielded over 200 species of Paleozoic marine fossils — brachiopods, trilobites, crinoids, and coral. The name means “Stone Coin Beach” — many of the fossils are coin-shaped brachiopod shells that sparkle in the scree. This zone is for serious geology buffs; casual visitors may find it less visually dramatic than the petrified wood, but the scientific significance is immense. The geopark is currently working to integrate this area into the larger Kalamaili National Park conservation framework.
Tickets, Hours & Practical Info (2025–2026)
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Entrance Fee | ¥60 / person |
| Opening Hours | ~09:00–19:00 (seasonal) |
| Free Admission | Children under 1.2 m; disabled visitors |
| Half Price | Children 1.2–1.4 m; seniors 60+ with ID |
| Getting There | 110 km from Qitai County; taxi/charter only |
How to Get to Qitai Petrified Forest Dinosaur Geopark
The geopark is not accessible by public transport. Here’s the realistic logistics chain:
Step 1: Reach Qitai County (奇台县)
Qitai is 180 km from Urumqi. Buses run from Urumqi South Bus Station (¥50–60, 2.5 hours). By car, take the G7 Beijing–Ürümqi Expressway east to Qitai exit.
Step 2: Qitai → Geopark (110 km)
No public bus. Your options:
– Charter a car/taxi in Qitai: ¥300–400 round-trip including 2 hours waiting time
– Join a tour from Urumqi (rare; most tours skip this stop)
– Self-drive from Qitai: take X209 rural road north toward General’s Gobi (将军戈壁). The last 30 km is graded gravel — sedans can make it in dry weather; SUV recommended.
Route: Qitai County → Xidi Town (西地镇) → Quhren Township (雀仁乡) → Jijihu Checkpoint (芨芨湖检查站) → follow signs to the geopark. Total ~2 hours driving from Qitai.
When to Go — and When NOT To
The geopark sits in the rain shadow of the Tianshan, which means it’s dry, windy, and extreme. Here’s the seasonal reality:
| Season | Verdict | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| April–May | ✅ Good | Warming up; few visitors; wildflowers in the gully |
| June–August | ⚠️ Hot | Daytime 35–40°C on the gravel; go early AM or late PM |
| September–October | ✅ Best | 15–25°C; golden light; comfortable hiking |
| November–March | ❌ Closed | Snow and ice; facilities shut; access road not maintained |
What to Bring (the Gear That Matters)
- 2L water per person — the desert air hides dehydration. There’s no potable water on the trails.
- SPF 50+ sunscreen + brim hat — UV Index regularly hits 11+ in summer.
- Sturdy walking shoes — the petrified wood area has uneven gravel paths.
- Windbreaker — even in summer, the wind funnels through the gulch and the temperature drops 10°C in the shade.
- Cash (small bills) — no ATMs, card machines unreliable.
- Spare tire + basic tools — if self-driving; the gravel road eats tires.
Combine It With: Building a Junggar Basin Road Trip
The geopark works best as part of a wider loop. Here are two realistic itineraries:
Option A: Urumqi → Qitai → Karamay (2 Days)
Day 1: Urumqi → Qitai Geopark (full day) → overnight in Qitai County
Day 2: Qitai → Karamay (300 km; stop at World Devil City near Karamay) → Urumqi
Option B: The “Deep Time” Loop (3–4 Days)
Urumqi → Qitai Geopark → Beiting Ruins (吉木萨尔北庭故城, 150 km west) → Urumqi
The Beiting Ruins are a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the former capital of the Tang-era “Beiting Protectorate” — a perfect historical counterpoint to the deep-time geology of the dinosaur park.
Scientific Context: Why Qitai Matters Globally
The Qitai petrified forest isn’t just a tourist attraction — it’s an active research site. Teams from the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the American Museum of Natural History, and several Japanese universities have all worked here. The site helps answer a fundamental question: why did sauropod dinosaurs grow so large in the Jurassic, and how did the flora support them? The petrified wood preserves evidence of a warm, humid, high-CO₂ Jurassic climate — a data point that climate scientists now use to model future warming scenarios. If you’re a science traveler, this is one of the few places on Earth where the rocks themselves are still publishing papers.
Respect the Site — Leave No Trace
The petrified wood here is scientifically irreplaceable. Removing even a palm-sized piece is a criminal offense under Xinjiang heritage protection law. The park was badly damaged by looters in the 1990s before protection ramped up; what remains is carefully monitored. Stay on the marked paths, don’t climb on the wood specimens, and don’t bury the experience in geotag-heavy social media posts that might encourage souvenir hunting. Enjoy it — then leave it exactly as you found it.
Getting to the Qitai Petrified Forest Dinosaur Geopark takes effort — but that’s exactly why it remains one of Xinjiang’s most rewarding uncrowded experiences. If your idea of travel includes geology, deep time, and landscapes that make you feel small, this is your place.