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Geological features and geology of international significance Xiangxi Geopark, which lies in the southeastern fringe areas of Yangtze Platform in China and just next to South China Landmass , records the evolutionary history of the 820 million-year-old Yangtze Platform. It is a foreland basin that has been developed on the basis of the Middle and Upper Yangtze Craton, and has undergone multiple stages of tectonic evolution. Its tectonic evolution and pattern were subject to the control of the extensional cracking of the Pan-South China Paleo-continent, as well as the intra-continental collision and compression of the North China Plate, and the Cathaysian Plate. The strata in the Late Jurassic, Mesozoic era were also affected by the subduction of the Pacific Plate, forming a series of curved and deep, large faults (e.g., the Fault Zone of Hubei-Hunan-Guizhou Lithosphere, Mayang-Lixian Deep Fault Zone), as well as strongly uplifted, folded mountain ranges (i.e., Sangzhi composite syncline, Wanyan-Siduping composite anticline). The geopark is home to 82 types of rocks, which are dominated by sedimentary rocks. Among them, the outcrop areas of carbonate rock, clastic rock and metamorphic rock are about 2,528.28 km2 , 416.92 km2 and 34.8 km2 , accounting for 83.3%, 15.5% and 1.2% of the total geopark area, respectively. These rocks provide foundation for the landscapes of the geopark. The geopark is rich in geosites which feature various types and distinct characteristics. The geological relics with international significance in the geopark mainly include: Guzhangian Stage and Paibian Stage of GSSPs in the Cambrian system, the world’s largest red stone forests of carbonate rocks, and the spectacular, plateau incision-type karst platform-canyon landscapes. By combining some typical geological phenomena, such as paleogeological tectonic events, paleoglacial climatic events and paleontological relics, the geopark completely records the history of geological evolution of Yangtze Platform, as well as the incision and fragmentation of the fringe area of Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau. Therefore, the geopark has significant values in scientific research, science education and aesthetics, playing a crucial role in conducting global comparative studies.