From October 9 to 15, 2026, the 10th UNESCO Global Geoparks International Training Course was successfully held in Yandangshan Global Geopark. With the theme “Challenges, Opportunities and Sustainable Development,” the course was co-hosted by China University of Geosciences (Beijing) and Yandangshan Global Geopark. It brought together 132 representatives from 13 countries, including officials from Global Geoparks Network management bodies, industry experts, geopark operators and managers, and key personnel from research institutes and universities.
Group photo of participants
The opening ceremony was chaired by Zhang Jianping, Vice Chair of the Global Geoparks Network and member of the UNESCO Global Geoparks Council. Artur SÁ, Chair of the Global Geoparks Network; Nikolaos Zouros, Secretary General of the Global Geoparks Network; Kristof Vandenberghe, Secretary General of the UNESCO Global Geoparks Secretariat; Jin Xiaochi, Coordinator of the Asia Pacific Geoparks Network; and Lei Yalin, Party Secretary of China University of Geosciences (Beijing), delivered remarks in person or via video.
Training session
The training combined thematic lectures, roundtable discussions, case studies and field visits. It focused on core topics including the core concepts of global geoparks, evaluation criteria, evaluation procedures, operational management, international network collaboration and sustainable development practices.
Invited to attend the full program, Qinling Zhongnanshan Global Geopark studied the thematic courses, participated in a workshop on international disaster risk reduction cases, and engaged in in-depth exchanges and mutual learning with representatives from various countries. Participants also visited Fangdong and Lingfeng scenic areas and Yandangshan Museum, gaining a deeper understanding of global best practices in global geopark development.
Exchange with experts and professors during the course
Exchange with experts and professors during the course
The training provided an international dialogue platform for Qinling Zhongnanshan Global Geopark, broadened participants’ international perspectives, and strengthened the geopark’s standardized management capacity and foundation for international cooperation networks. Next, the geopark will align with UNESCO revalidation requirements, fully apply the training outcomes, focus on key tasks for the revalidation, and coordinate geological heritage protection, science popularization brand building, and international exchange and cooperation. It will use high-level ecological protection to empower green and sustainable development in the Qinling region and strive to protect Qinling Zhongnanshan’s world-class ecological brand.
