A view of Tianmu Lake in Liyang City (CFP Photo)

The Meiling jade-based development project in Tianmuhu Town, in the south of Liyang City, has been recognized as a 3-star "geological cultural destination" by the Geological Society of China (GSC), the highest grade rewarded by the organization.

The honor is conferred to villages or towns in which the geological resources and distinctive culture come into play to form a vibrant environment good for living and employment.

After assessment, GSC released the second batch of villages and towns recognized by the title on October 26, including the first winner in Jiangsu.

Home to three main types of rocks - sedimentary, igneous, and metamorphic, it boasts a variety of geological structures including faults and karsts, making an ideal venue to understand more than 200 million years of geological evolution. It's also generally accepted in the academic community that Meiling jade mine was a main source of Liangzhu Neolithic jade culture.

Based on the unique geological resources and cultural heritage, the development project is also combining recreation, travel, healthcare services to create tourist attraction.