The 14th Ningde Global Geopark Culture and Tourism Festival was successfully held in Fu'an, Ningde, Fujian Province from May 28 to 31, 2025. This prestigious event gathered distinguished participants including members of the GGN Executive Board, members from the UGGp Council , geological experts and scholars, as well as delegates from various global geoparks.
The cultur e and tourism festival featured diverse highlights and abundant activities, including an opening ceremony, a geopark symposium, and field investigations. The geopark symposium held on May 29 focused on the theme "Global Geopark Partnerships and Sustainable Development". The event was attended by distinguished experts such as Jin Xiaochi (Vice President of GGN Executive Board) , Zhang Jianping (Member of UGGp Council), and Alireza Amrikazemi (Member of UGGp Council). Provincial and municipal officials including Wang Yimei (Deputy Director of Fujian Forestry Bureau) and Xu Guangzhong (Vice Chairman of Ningde People's Congress) participated and delivered speeches, with the meeting chaired by Huang Xiaoying (Director of Ningde Global Geopark Management Committee). Experts conducted in-depth discussions on successful partnership cases among global geoparks, brand building and promotion strategies, community engagement approaches, and local cultural preservation methods, contributing valuable insights to advance the Global Geoparks Network development.
During the conference, Ningde UGGp entered into a sister-park cooperation agreement with Lushan UGGp and Zigong UGGp. The agreement establishes comprehensive collaboration in management models, park planning, geoheritage conservation, science education, and tourism promotion. Through resource sharing, personnel exchanges, joint research initiatives, and mutual promotional platforms, the parks will achieve coordinated development. In compliance with national policies, they will grant each other preferential treatment regarding investment opportunities and tourism development projects. This partnership aims to jointly advance sustainable development and enhance the international influence of these geoparks.
The field investigation commenced on May 30, with experts and delegates conducting on-site inspections at Baiyun shan and Taimushan. The team first visited Baiyunshan, the core area of the Ningde UGGp, focusing on volcanic rock formations and granite peak forest landscapes. Experts highly praised the park's comprehensive geological interpretation facilities. In the afternoon, the group proceeded to Taimushan scenic area, thoroughly examining marine erosion landforms and granite cave systems while exchanging practical experiences in geoheritage conservation and tourism development.
The current cultur e and tourism festival has fully unleashed the scientific, aesthetic and ecological values of the geopark. Participants not only admired world-class geological wonders, but also experienced She ethnic culture, savored Ningde's specialty cuisine, and appreciated the unique cultural charm of the geopark. This symposium will serve as a bridge for in-depth exchanges and mutual learning among sister parks, translating advanced experiences into practical momentum to make geoparks powerful engines for activating regional green economies.
