Qijiehe River Gorge--Typical representative of down-top formation and evolution mode of gorge

Qijiehe River Gorge: it is a typical gorge developed during the process of Qijiehe River’s development from underground to the surface. At present, Zhijin double layer natural bridge group, Dacaokou Tiankeng, Xiaocaokou Tiankeng and the underground river caves at both end of upstream and downstream in the gorge are the direct proof of this geological phenomenon that it develops from underground to surface.

The formation and evolution process of Qijiehe River Gorge can be divided into three stages: underground river stage→stage of being exposed on the surface→stage of surface transformation and degradation.

Schematic diagrams of formation of Zhijin gorge (underground genesis)