Picture this: you’re hiking through the rugged mountains of China’s Guizhou Province when you stumble upon something that defies everything you thought you knew about geology. There’s a cliff that seems to give birth to perfectly round stones, just like eggs emerging from a hidden nest.
This isn’t science fiction or ancient folklore. Mount Gandang, a mountain in the southwest region of China, has an interesting phenomenon that geologists, researchers, and locals have been observing for decades. Located in the province of Guizhou, the rocky walls of the base of the mountain include a cliff that locals refer to as “Chan Dan Ya,” Mandarin for “egg-laying cliff,” due to its ability to “lay” stone “eggs” every 30 years. So let’s dive into this geological mystery that has puzzled scientists and amazed visitors for generations.
The Egg-Laying Cliff That Baffles Scientists
If you’ve never heard of an egg-laying mountain, you probably don’t know about Chan Da Ya, a mysterious cliff in China that reportedly lays perfectly round or oval stone eggs every 30 years. Located in Qiannan Buyi and Miao Autonomous Region, China’s Guizhou Province, Chan Da Ya – Mandarin for “egg laying cliff” – has been puzzling geologists for decades.
The egg-laying mountain cliff is approximately six meters (20 ft) wide and 20 meters (65 ft) long, which is fairly small in comparison to the size of the entire mountain. About every 30 years, the small cliff “lays” a stone egg from its side. The 9ft high and 65ft long heavily eroded formation has an uneven surface dotted with dozens of round and oval-shaped stones of various sizes.
How the Stone Eggs Actually Form
The truth behind these mysterious stone births is surprisingly grounded in science. Though it may appear that the stone eggs are being formed over the course of 30 years and being “birthed” by the cliffside, this is actually not the case. As previously stated, it is believed these stone eggs have existed for nearly 500 million years.
Over time, the cliffside of the Chan Dan Ya has worn down due to weathering and erosion. Changes in temperature and exposure to wind, water, ice, gravity, people, and animals can wear away at even the largest of rocks over time – including mountains. Because the composition of the stone eggs and the surrounding cliff are different from one another, it is believed that the surrounding cliff is simply wearing away faster than the stone eggs themselves. Their tests showed that while most of Mount Gandeng is made of harder sediments, this particular section is mostly made of calcareous rock, which is easily eroded. The eggs are made of much tougher rock, so the difference in time needed for the elements to go through the different types of rock explains the egg laying phenomenon.
The Perfect Timing That Created the Legend
What makes this phenomenon particularly fascinating is its timing. The locals in Gulu have estimated that it takes approximately 30 years for each stone egg to be “laid” by the mountain from its first appearance in the cliff to it falling to the ground. A stone egg that is just appearing may still have 30 years to go before the cliff erodes enough for it to fall, but a stone egg that is already partway out may only have 10 to 20 years to go.
Think of it like watching a very slow-motion movie where nature is the director. With all of the stone eggs being at different positions in the cliff, an egg could theoretically fall at any point for the next lucky person who finds one. The eggs are no more than 20 to 40 centimeters (8 to 16 inches) in diameter. Some of these geological treasures can weigh substantially more than you might expect.
The Ancient Origins Dating Back 500 Million Years
After analysis and evaluation, it was discovered that the geologic timescale of the rock egg region dates back to the Cambrian period, prior to the Triassic and Jurassic periods, making the formations about 500 million years old. According to one hypothesis, the “eggs” are chunks of calcium carbonate, formed 500 million years ago during the Cambrian period. It is believed that this region was the sea, which eventually turned into high mountains.
The composition reveals fascinating geological history. According to scientists, every stone egg has an organic core. They are made of shells, plant remains, fish teeth, and skeletons. The oval shape of the stones, they say, is because the sphere has the smallest surface area, and the molecules of calcium carbonate are easier to gather in these forms.
The Shui People and Their Sacred Stone Eggs
The closest village to Chan Dan Ya is Gulu Village, an old region in Sandu Shui Autonomous County home to 250,000 Shui, which is roughly half of China’s Shui population. The Shui people are one of China’s 56 officially recognized ethnic groups, and they’ve been living in this region since before the Han Dynasty. Though the region itself is large, the Gulu village is actually quite small, having around 100 families calling it home.
The Shui people believe that the stone eggs, born of the egg-laying mountain, bring luck and good fortune, and they even worship the stones at times. They can be found in nearly all houses in the village and are highly respected by those who collect them, as they are thought to bring prosperity and safety to their people, animals, and homes. The people of Gulu have known about the egg-laying cliff for generations, and many of them frequently visit it to touch the “god eggs” for good luck. Data from 2005 shows that almost every one of the families in Gulu had at least one of these mysterious eggs in their home as a good luck charm, as well as several others as part of the village collection.
The Tourism Revolution and Stone Egg Commerce
What began as a sacred local tradition has transformed into something quite different in recent years. However, in recent years, Chan Da Ya has become so popular as a tourist destination, that most of the eggs have been sold for profit. Currently, about 70 reside in the village and are shared amongst the families based on who found them first. The rest, they say, have either been sold or stolen.
Located just nine kilometers away from the county town, the cliff is located in a typical Shui village where residents still live in stilt houses and wear traditional costumes. Once every 30 years, several stones the size of dinosaur eggs are found at the foot of the cliff. The unique nature of this “egg-laying” cliff has also turned it into a minor tourist attraction, although its remote location might limit the scale of tourism. The transformation from sacred tradition to commercial opportunity reflects the complex relationship between preservation and progress.
Scientific Mysteries That Remain Unsolved
Despite decades of research, several questions continue to puzzle geologists and researchers. However, no one has yet been able to explain how a calcareous section that was formed during the Cambrian period can still be around 500 million years later, or why the stone eggs are all round or oval. Yet it’s still a mystery how these rock formations can be so perfectly spherical and smooth.
In explaining why the objects are round, Prof. Xu told DW News: ‘A sphere has the smallest superficial area compared to other shapes with the same volume. As such, it would take the least effort for the molecules to form a sphere than the other shapes.’ Prof. Xu said running water could also be a factor why the lumps are round. Still, the complete picture remains elusive to the scientific community.
Geologists still don’t completely understand why these stone eggs appear from the Chan Dan Ya cliff in China. No one knows where they come from. They aren’t pieces that have crumbled off the cliff, nor are there any such rocks on top of the cliff.
Conclusion
The egg-laying mountain of China stands as one of nature’s most intriguing puzzles, where ancient geology meets modern wonder. Here’s a cliff that has been silently birthing stone treasures for half a billion years, creating a rhythm that perfectly aligns with human memory yet spans geological time scales beyond our comprehension.
The story of Chan Dan Ya reminds us that our planet still holds secrets waiting to be fully understood. From the Shui people who have treasured these stones for generations to the scientists who continue studying their formation, this mysterious mountain connects us to both our cultural heritage and the deep time of Earth’s history.
What fascinates you more about this phenomenon – the scientific mystery behind the perfect timing, or the cultural significance these stones hold for the local people? Share your thoughts about this remarkable geological wonder.
Jan loves Wildlife and Animals and is one of the founders of Animals Around The Globe. He holds an MSc in Finance & Economics and is a passionate PADI Open Water Diver. His favorite animals are Mountain Gorillas, Tigers, and Great White Sharks. He lived in South Africa, Germany, the USA, Ireland, Italy, China, and Australia. Before AATG, Jan worked for Google, Axel Springer, BMW and others.
