Genesis of sandstone geomorphic landscapes on Shiba Luohan Moutain, Guangzhou, China

On the summit and along the cliff faces of Shiba Luohan Mountain Park in Guangzhou, a diverse suite of sandstone landforms is documented. The existing interpretations—reflected in both scholarly literature and the park's official interpretive signage—attribute these features to marine processes, specifically the remnants of submarine lava flows and wave-erosion pits at 127.3 m above present sea level, and ancient wave-cut platforms at 87 m along the cliff faces. However, these interpretations are inconsistent with regional geological and geomorphological constraints and no diagnostic evidence supports their marine origin. The central scientific question thus arises: Are these landforms of marine origin, or do they represent products of in-situ sandstone weathering and erosion? To address this, we conduct a systematic investigation into the formation processes of these landforms and the Cenozoic–Quaternary geological evolution of the broader region encompassing the park. Integrating field geological mapping, geochemical element analysis, quantitative mineralogical characterization, and rock mechanical property testing, this study demonstrates that the observed landforms were predominantly formed through subaerial sandstone weathering and surface runoff–driven erosion, rather than marine or coastal processes. These findings fundamentally revise prevailing geological interpretations and the park's official interpretive narratives, highlighting the imperative for evidence-based geoscience communication in geoheritage management.