Published : 2025-02-13
On February 13, 2004, China's first batch of UNESCO Global Geoparks was established.
China's first batch of UNESCO Global Geoparks are located in Huangshan, Anhui Province; Lushan, Jiangxi Province; Yuntaishan, Henan Province; Shilin, Yunnan Province; Danxiashan, Guangdong Province; Zhangjiajie, Hunan Province; Wudalianchi, Heilongjiang Province; and Songshan, Henan Province.
In order to protect existing geological heritage and landscape features worldwide, UNESCO's Division of Earth Sciences proposed in 1996 that countries could recommend some of their national geoparks for assessment as UNESCO Global Geoparks.
This aims to establish a global network of geological heritage sites with tourism and leisure functions focused on geological features and landscapes.
China had previously selected more than 20 national geoparks. After rigorous selection by the National Geoparks Evaluation Committee, 8 were included in the nomination list, all of which were ultimately approved by the UNESCO Global Geoparks experts' evaluation meeting.
As of March 2024, there are a total of 213 UNESCO Global Geoparks worldwide, of which 47 are in China having, ranking first.
It is worth mentioning that there is also a UNESCO Global Geopark in Hong Kong. The Hong Kong UNESCO Global Geopark covers Sai Kung and the northeastern part of Hong Kong, spanning about 5,000 hectares.
After obtaining the status of national geopark in November 2009, it was listed as a UNESCO Global Geopark in 2011, making it a rare UNESCO Global Geopark located in an international metropolis.
