Northwest China's Qinghai Province has opened three national geological parks known for breathtaking plateaus, Website of Xinhua News Agency reported on Monday.

Nianbaoyuze National Geological Park preserves over five square kilometers of glacial landscape, which contains rare plateaus and ice lakes.

Cha'erhan National Saline Mining Park covers the world's second-largest natural saline outcropping, which occupies an area of 5,800 square kilometers.

Kunlun Mountain National Geological Park is located in the heart of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, and contains the only mud volcano in China.

According to local authorities, the designations as national geological parks will help them to protect area heritage.

(CRI August 5, 2008)