# Chengjiang Fossil Site, China: what it is and when to go

> Chengjiang Fossil Site is an assemblage of organisms found in the Maotianshan Shales (澄江动物群古生物国家地质公园) in China. Interests: Nature and Wildlife. The best time to visit is April to May and September to October. In June there are 13 h 31 of daylight, and in December, 10 h 29. It has articles in 14 Wikipedias, so it is not one of the busiest places in China: one to enjoy at a calmer pace. Here is what it is, where it lies, when to come, how to get there and what else is nearby to turn it into a trip.

- Address: https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/china/chengjiang-fossil-site/
- Reviewed on: 2026-10-08
- Language: en

## In a nutshell

- **What it is:** Assemblage of organisms found in the Maotianshan Shales · Nature, Wildlife
- **Local name:** 澄江动物群古生物国家地质公园
- **Where:** China
- **Best time:** April to May and September to October.
- **Nearest airport:** CTU Chengdu (Shuangliu), 664 km as the crow flies
- **Coordinates:** 24.66025, 102.96913

## What it is and where

Chengjiang Fossil Site is an assemblage of organisms found in the Maotianshan Shales (澄江动物群古生物国家地质公园) in China. It has articles in 14 Wikipedias, so it is not one of the busiest places in China: one to enjoy at a calmer pace.

Its coordinates are 24.66025, 102.96913; the nearest main airport is Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport (CTU, Chengdu (Shuangliu)), 664 km as the crow flies. How to get around China (train, car, bus) is covered in [its country guide](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/china/#moverse).

- [Where it is](https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=24.660248%2C102.96913)
- [Directions](https://www.google.com/maps/dir/?api=1&destination=24.660248%2C102.96913)

It is one of the [Nature](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/china/naturaleza/) and [Wildlife](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/china/fauna/) places in China. In [Kokai](https://kokai.app/en/) it is already on your trip map next to the places you save yourself, and it goes into a day's plan with one tap.

## When to go

The best time to visit Chengjiang Fossil Site is **April to May and September to October**.

| Mes | Época | Hours of daylight |
| --- | --- | --- |
| January | Possible | 10 h 38 |
| February | Possible | 11 h 10 |
| March | Possible | 11 h 50 |
| April | Best time | 12 h 35 |
| May | Best time | 13 h 12 |
| June | Possible | 13 h 31 |
| July | Possible | 13 h 23 |
| August | Possible | 12 h 52 |
| September | Best time | 12 h 08 |
| October | Best time | 11 h 24 |
| November | Possible | 10 h 47 |
| December | Possible | 10 h 29 |

In June there are 13 h 31 of daylight, and in December, 10 h 29. Daylight hours are calculated from the site's latitude for the 15th of each month; when planning a full day on foot they matter as much as the weather.

| What you come for | Best time | Possible |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Nature | April to May and September to October | November to March and June to August |
| Wildlife | April to May and September to October | November to March and June to August |

It is not the same trip whatever you come for: Chengjiang Fossil Site has a different season depending on what you want to do here, and [Kokai](https://kokai.app/en/) puts it in the right month for you.

When to go to China in general, with its festivals and peak seasons, is in [its country guide](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/china/#cuando-ir).

## Before you go to China

To enter China there are 9 things to sort out before you leave, starting with “Passport valid for six months”: they are all, with their deadlines, in [the China checklist](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/china/#antes-de-salir). Currency: Yuan or renminbi (CNY); plugs: Type A, C and I · 220 V · 50 Hz (you need an adapter); emergencies: 110 police · 120 ambulance · 119 fire brigade.

In [Kokai](https://kokai.app/en/) you tick off the checklist inside your trip, and each item reminds you when it is time to do it.

## What is nearby

- [Fuxian Solar Observatory, YAO](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/china/fuxian-solar-observatory-yao/): Observatory · 9.1 km
- [Cosmic Ray Observation Station](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/china/cosmic-ray-observation-station/): Observatory · 14 km
- [Liangshuijing](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/china/liangshuijing/): Mountain in People's Republic of China · 22 km
- [Da dieshui Waterfall (Closed)](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/china/da-dieshui-waterfall-closed/): Protected area · 23 km
- [Qicai Yunnan Gudian Hot Spring Villa](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/china/qicai-yunnan-gudian-hot-spring-villa/): Onsen · 25 km

Distances are as the crow flies. Everything else is in [the China guide](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/china/).

## More in China: Nature

- [Mount Everest](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/china/monte-everest/): Earth's highest mountain above sea level, located in the Mahalangur Himal sub-range of the Himalayas
- [K2](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/china/k2/): 2nd-highest mountain on Earth
- [Terracotta Army](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/china/guerreros-de-terracota/): collection of ancient Chinese military statues
- [Makalu](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/china/mount-makalu/): mountain in Nepal/China; 5th highest in the world
- [Lhotse](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/china/lhotse/): mountain in Nepal
- [Mount Kailash](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/china/kailash/): mountain in Tibet, China

Every China place under Nature, each with its season, is on [its page](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/china/naturaleza/).

## Frequently asked questions

### What is Chengjiang Fossil Site?

It is an assemblage of organisms found in the Maotianshan Shales (澄江动物群古生物国家地质公园 in the local language) in China. It has articles in 14 Wikipedias, so it is not one of the busiest places in China: one to enjoy at a calmer pace.

### When is the best time to visit Chengjiang Fossil Site?

April to May and September to October. In June there are 13 h 31 of daylight, and in December, 10 h 29.

### How do you get to Chengjiang Fossil Site?

The nearest main airport is Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport (CTU), 664 km as the crow flies. From there, [directions](https://www.google.com/maps/dir/?api=1&destination=24.660248%2C102.96913) opens the route on the map, and how to get around China is explained in [its country guide](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/china/#moverse).

### How do I add it to my trip?

With one tap. In Kokai it is already on the China map, next to the places you save yourself: add it to a day's plan, give it a time and, if you like, get a reminder when you pass nearby.

### What else is around here?

Nearby you have [Fuxian Solar Observatory, YAO](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/china/fuxian-solar-observatory-yao/), [Cosmic Ray Observation Station](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/china/cosmic-ray-observation-station/), [Liangshuijing](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/china/liangshuijing/). The rest is in [the China guide](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/china/).

Data from [OpenStreetMap](https://www.openstreetmap.org/way/1125663775), licensed under the ODbL, and from [Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q3485434), CC0. More about Chengjiang Fossil Site on [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chengjiang_Fossil_Site). Daylight hours are calculated from the latitude. More in [credits](https://kokai.app/en/aviso/#creditos).