Chengjiang Fossil Site Natural History Museum
The Chengjiang Fossil Site is China’s first and Asia’s only fossil-related World Heritage site, and it is the core area for preserving the Chengjiang biota fossils. Discovered by Professor Hou Xian-Guang on July 1, 1984, the Chengjiang biota includes over 280 species of rare Cambrian plants and animals across 20 phyla, with 80% being new species. It is considered one of the most significant paleontological discoveries of the 20th century, earning the titles “Paleontological Holy Land” and “World-class Fossil Treasure Trove” in the international scientific community. On July 1, 2012, the site was successfully listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site, making it one of only three fossil-based natural heritage sites globally. UNESCO has praised the site for its exceptional preservation of fossils, offering a complete record of early Cambrian marine life and serving as a witness to the rapid evolutionary radiation of life on Earth 518 million years ago.
Chen Taimin, Secretary of the Party Committee and Executive Deputy Director of the Chengjiang Fossil Site World Natural Heritage Management Committee, as well as the Director of the Chengjiang Fossil Site World Natural Heritage Museum, once explained, “Why is the Chengjiang Fossil Site called the birthplace of life? Because the Chengjiang fossils represent the root of the evolutionary tree of modern animals. From this root, the tree branched out and eventually evolved into biological diversity.” One of the most significant discoveries at Chengjiang is the Kunming Fish fossil, which is the earliest vertebrate fossil ever found. It provides crucial evidence for the evolutionary transition from fish to humans, shedding light on the origins of vertebrate life.
The Chengjiang Fossil Site World Natural Heritage Museum houses over 60,000 rare specimens from various geological periods, including more than 50,000 Chengjiang biota fossils. In addition, the museum’s collection includes over 10,000 fossils from other geological periods and specimens of present-day animals. This extensive collection makes the museum a key destination for understanding the evolution of life through fossil records.
The Chengjiang Fossil Site World Natural Heritage Museum is a large-scale natural history museum that integrates collection, research, exhibition, and education. The museum’s theme centers around the Cambrian Explosion, showcasing fossil specimens from various geological periods. It highlights key topics such as the origin of life, the evolution of life, and biodiversity, providing visitors with a comprehensive understanding of the development of life on Earth.
The main exhibition hall of the Chengjiang Fossil Site World Natural Heritage Museum is spread across three floors, showcasing a total of 4,738 specimens:
- First Floor: Focuses on the Cambrian Explosion, highlighting the Chengjiang fossils and their significant role in the history of life on Earth.
- Second Floor: Explores The Great Evolution of Life, presenting dazzling life forms that once existed throughout Earth’s history and illustrating the geological changes in Chengjiang, from the ancient seas to the present landforms.
- Third Floor: Celebrates Biodiversity, featuring specimens donated by the Global Health and Education Foundation from Africa and the Americas. It also depicts various animal habitats such as grasslands, rainforests, polar regions, and wetlands, showcasing the rich diversity of life on Earth.
- This multi-layered exhibition offers visitors a deep dive into the origins, evolution, and diversity of life across different geological and ecological contexts.
The museum employs modern optical and electronic technologies, including VR, AR, and OLED flexible screens, along with over 200 multimedia videos, live exhibits, and interactive facilities. These cutting-edge features offer a comprehensive and dynamic presentation of Cambrian-era paleontological fossils, creating an engaging visual experience for visitors. The exhibits vividly illustrate the Cambrian Explosion and the evolutionary history of life on Earth. As an ideal venue for advancing paleontological research, popularizing evolutionary science, and fostering academic exchange, the museum has become a highly sought-after destination for science tourism.
Suggested Tour Route
The main exhibition hall is divided into three floors, each offering a unique theme:
- First Floor: Focuses on the Cambrian Explosion (Life’s Big Bang), divided into sections such as Big Bang I, Big Bang II, Big Bang III, and Big Bang IV.
- Second Floor: Covers The Great Evolution of Life, with sections Evolution I and Evolution II.
- Third Floor: Displays Biodiversity, including the Belling Hall (Biological Diversity Hall).
Additional areas include the Preliminary Hall, Shanshui Chengjiang (Landscape Chengjiang), Temporary Exhibition Hall, and Interactive Experience Hall.
The content across the three floors is coherent and progressively unfolds. It is recommended to start from the Preliminary Hall and follow the sequence through to the Biodiversity Hall, ensuring a well-rounded and immersive experience.
Museum’s Treasure
Kunming Fish
The Kunming Fish belongs to the Cambrian period Chengjiang biota and is one of the three genera in the Kunming Fish family, along with Haikouichthys and Zhongjianichthys. These fish are small, about 3 cm in length, and exhibit a typical fish-like body structure. Their anatomical design follows a “three-part structure” (head, torso, and tail behind the anus).
As the oldest known primitive vertebrate on Earth, the Kunming Fish is regarded by the international academic community as “The First Fish.” It holds immense significance in the history of animal evolution, as it may have developed essential features such as a true head (including eyes and olfactory sacs), as well as a spine and circulatory system. The discovery of the Kunming Fish marks a pivotal moment in the evolutionary timeline, representing the first comprehensive formation of the basic organ systems in vertebrates. This laid the groundwork for the evolution of more complex organisms, ultimately leading to the rise of intelligent human beings in the future.
Long-tailed Naraoia
One of the most common arthropods in the Chengjiang biota, Naraoia was one of the first specimens discovered by Professor Hou Xian-Guang when he first identified the Chengjiang fossils in 1984. It was also the first species to be reported from the Chengjiang biota in 1985. Naraoia originally comes from the Burgess Shale biota in northern Canada, and its characteristics, including its carapace and appendages, closely resemble those of the long-tailed Naraoia found in Chengjiang.
There are two types of Naraoia commonly found in the Chengjiang biota: the long-tailed Naraoia (also known as the “Miss Zhou’s Worm”) and the spiny-tailed Naraoia. These fossils are related to trilobites and other arthropods, and they are characterized by a segmented body structure with two divisions and a lack of true eyes. They provide important insight into the early development of arthropods in the Cambrian period.
Strange Shrimp
The Strange Shrimp is known for its large, segmented front claws used for hunting. Its streamlined body features 11 to 13 pairs of paddle-like appendages for swimming and a tail fin that helps with balance. The mouth can reach up to 20 centimeters in diameter and contains circularly arranged sharp teeth, giving it a powerful dismembering ability that allowed it to prey on large creatures of its time.
The Strange Shrimp was a formidable carnivore in the Cambrian seas, capable of attacking and consuming nearly any sizable organism. While the average size of marine animals in the Cambrian period was only a few centimeters, the Strange Shrimp could grow to over 2 meters, making it a true giant of its time.
In 1994, the discovery of a complete Strange Shrimp fossil from the Chengjiang biota garnered global attention when it was published in Science magazine. It was hailed as the “Cambrian Giant Monster” by major media outlets worldwide, showcasing the predatory prowess of this ancient creature.
Fuxianhuia
Fuxianhuia is considered one of the primitive ancestors of arthropods. The adult specimens of this creature can exceed 10 cm in length and have 31 body segments, divided into the head, thorax, and abdomen. Notably, the number of segments on its back and abdomen is not consistent.
In 1995, Chen Junyuan published an article in Science reporting the discovery of the double-segmented head structure in Fuxianhuia. This finding suggests that arthropods may have originated from branchiopod-like organisms with a double-segmented head. The compound eyes on the first head segment, supported by stalks, represent the prototype of arthropod eyes. These eye stalks are believed to have evolved from the first head appendages in branchiopod ancestors, marking an important evolutionary link between early arthropods and their relatives.
This discovery sheds light on the evolutionary origins of arthropods and provides key evidence for understanding their complex anatomy and development.
Chinese Microtrichia (Zhonghua Microtrichia)
Zhonghua Microtrichia is a species that has only been found in the Chengjiang biota. It has a long, streamlined body with a small, short head and a long tail. Its thorax features 9 pairs of net-like bony plates and 10 pairs of clawed appendages. Due to the lack of soft tissue preservation, the net-like bony plates of this creature have been subject to many unusual interpretations: some suggested it was a shell-bearing group, others believed it served as an egg storage compartment, while others even proposed it was the earliest type of radiolarian.
The discovery of a complete Zhonghua Microtrichia fossil in Chengjiang was a surprising and remarkable find, as no one had previously expected these bizarre bone plates to be attached to a soft-bodied animal. As a result, Zhonghua Microtrichia became the star of the fossil world, gracing the cover of Nature magazine (Issue 6232) in the UK, further cementing its significance in the scientific community.