April 22, 2025 — On the occasion of the 56th World Earth Day, Qinling Zhongnanshan UNESCO Global Geopark in Xi’an, along with 39 other global geoparks across China, jointly launched the “Sister-Parks Joint Initiative” and the 6th Asia-Pacific Geopark Week series of activities. Under the theme “Cherish the Earth: Harmony Between Humanity and Nature,” the events combined online and offline activities to promote Earth science education, showcase the conservation achievements of global geoparks, and advance the sustainable development vision of “Celebrating Nature’s Wonders, Empowering Regional Prosperity.”
Diverse Activities: Blending Online Engagement with Offline Experiences
The initiative features a year-round, multidimensional program. From April 22 to 28, during the core promotional period, the “My Vision of the Geopark” Short Video Competition and “My Earth Story” Photo Contest will invite the public to submit creative works highlighting geoparks, with top prizes of CNY 1,000 and exclusive Earth Day-themed cultural merchandises. Participants are encouraged to share their travel stories and convey messages of ecological harmony. Simultaneously, the “Geopark Knowledge Challenge” interactive game will debut, blending geological quizzes, displays of intangible cultural heritage, and local specialty products. Players can earn points for prize draws.
Geopark Knowledge Challenge
Offline highlights include the “Earth’s Most Beautiful Imprints” Photography Exhibition, touring visitor centers of all 40 geoparks and universities nationwide. The exhibition spans six geographic regions of China—North, Northeast, Northwest, East, Central and Southwest—showcasing diverse geological landscapes such as the Qinling orogenic belt, Danxia landforms, granite peaks, glaciers, karst formations, volcanoes, quartz sandstone forests, Yardang formations, and deserts. These images traverse geological eras, climate zones, ecosystems, and multicultural traditions, vividly illustrating China’s breathtaking geological diversity and the evolution of UNESCO Global Geoparks.
The “Global Geoparks Enter Universities” program will host lectures by geopark experts and scholars on topics aligned with the UN’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and unique geological features, paired with photo exhibitions and interactive games to create immersive learning experiences. Additionally, year-round live-streamed tours—“Explore Geoparks with Directors and Experts”—will guide virtual visitors through geological research routes, with real-time Q&A and chances to win geopark tickets or cultural prizes.
Collaborative Innovation: Resource Sharing and Regional Partnerships
Guided by the UNESCO Global Geoparks Network (GGN) and the Asia-Pacific Geoparks Network (APGN), the initiative adopts a “leading geopark + collaborative partners” model, with Qinling Zhongnanshan Geopark spearheading efforts alongside organizations such as the Tourism Earth Science Branch of the Geological Society of China and the Yifu Museum of China University of Geosciences (Wuhan).
A key focus is the “SDGs in Action: UNESCO Global Geoparks’ Contributions” symposium series, addressing gender equality, intangible heritage preservation, community health, and other SDGs. Case studies from geoparks will be analyzed by the Guangxi Institute of Karst Geology, with the support from Danxiashan Global Geopark, Xiangxi Global Geopark, and Yunyang Global Geopark, highlighting China’s solutions for global sustainable development.
Year-Round Impact: Building Brand Awareness
Beyond the Earth Day campaign, exhibitions, lectures, and live streams will continue throughout 2025. A special exhibition marking the 10th anniversary of China’s participation in the UNESCO Global Geoparks Network will highlight conservation milestones and innovations. Custom-designed cultural products—such as geopark-themed board games, notebooks, and puzzle kits—will be distributed across the 40 geoparks, universities, and communities to enhance public engagement.
This collaboration embodies our commitment to “lucid waters and lush mountains as invaluable assets”. The initiative aims to establish a long-term mechanism for “resource sharing, market synergy, and science popularization” to integrate geological heritage protection with regional sustainable development. The public is invited to participate in contests, games, and the “Discover China’s Geoparks” video series via official geopark platforms, exploring the scientific and ecological treasures of these natural wonders.
