Zhangye and Longyan Concert the Development and Construction of Global Geoparks Together

Recently, a team from Longyan Aspiring UNESCO Global Geopark, Fujian Province, came to Zhangye UNESCO Global Geopark for learning and experience exchange.

On May 9, the team visited Colorful Hills, Binggou Danxia, Yugur Customs Corridor, Zhangye UGGp Museum, Science Popularization and Educational Excursion Practice Base within Zhangye UGGp. They discussed and analyzed with the staff of Zhangye UGGp how to strengthen the protection and research of the geoheritage, how to conduct the science popularization, promotion, and education, how to improve the signage and guide systems, and proposed reasonable improvement measures. Later, the team went to Liyuan New Village in Nijiaying County, Danxiakou Cultural and Tourism Town, Hexi Folklore Park, and other communities and partner companies of Zhangye UGGp. They shared their experiences and practices on how to promote the construction of geopark communities and how to promote mutual benefit and win-win cooperation among partners.

On May 10, an exchange meeting was held at Zhangye National Geopark Administration. The staff of Zhangye UGGp introduced the whole process and precautions for Zhangye to prepare for the evaluators from UNESCO. During the meeting, the two geoparks expressed their intention to further deepen their “sister geoparks” cooperation and jointly promote high-quality development.

The director of Zhangye National Geopark Administration also claimed that Zhangye UGGp would take the four-year revalidation, the application of the Natural Heritage List, and the construction of World-Class Tourist Attraction as the starting point, strengthen the protective management of geoheritages, deepen the science popularization, develop the new-model consumption such as educational excursion, and constantly drive the development of the communities of the geopark. The natural and cultural resources will be protected better, the geoscience knowledge will be spread wider, the geotourism industry will be developed stronger, and the leading role of Zhangye UGGp will be played further.