From April 8 to 11, 2025, a team of experts from the National Forestry and Grassland Administration visited Mt. Siguniang Geopark for inspection and guidance, conducting a pre-inspection of the site for the application to become a UNESCO Global Geopark.
The "Proposed Mt. Siguniang UNESCO Global Geopark Application Evaluation Meeting" was held at the Mountain Outdoor Center in Xiaojin County. Yan Chenggao, First-level Inspector of the Protected Areas Department of the National Forestry and Grassland Administration, Cheng Mengni, First-level Principal Staff Member of the Protected Areas Department of the National Forestry and Grassland Administration, Zhao Zhizhong, Researcher of the Institute of Geomechanics at the Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences, and Ren Fang, Director and Associate Researcher of the Geoheritage Laboratory at the Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences, attended the meeting, which was chaired by Yan Chenggao.
At the meeting, Wang Shuming, the Deputy Governor of the Aba Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous Prefecture, delivered a speech. Chen Yu, the Deputy Director of the Mt.Siguniang Geopark Administration, presented a "Report on the Application for the Proposed Mt. Siguniang UNESCO Global Geopark". The participants watched the "Application Video for the Proposed Mt. Siguniang UNESCO Global Geopark" together. The expert group inquired in detail about the preparations for the inspection and made suggestions such as simplifying the report content and highlighting the key assessment points.
Experts review promotional materials for the park
Next, the expert group conducted a four-day field inspection and assessment along the preset route for the assessment. The team visited the UNESCO Global Geopark Visitor Center, the UNESCO Global Geopark Museum Complex, Shuangqiao Valley, Jiesi Valley, Mu'erzhai Valley, Majia Valley, Alanda Tibetan Village, Maoshui Village, and Sijunshan Town Primary School. Focusing on the preparation for the on-site assessment of the UNESCO Global Geopark, including digital management of the park (archives, databases, websites), construction of the science popularization system, geological relic protection, biodiversity conservation, publicity and education, park visibility, community development, intangible cultural heritage exhibition and performance, and assessment-oriented interpretation, the expert group provided specific guidance.
Experts inspect the plateau cirque lakes through drones
Experts inspect the Nianyu Dam in Shuangqiao Valley
Experts inspect Majiagou Scale-shape Cast
At the evaluation feedback meeting, experts affirmed the preparatory work for the park's application, believing that the park has demonstrated professional standards in data compilation, popular science materials, and atmosphere creation. The proposed evaluation route comprehensively showcases the important geological relics, rich biodiversity, and colorful cultural landscapes of the park, reflecting the concept and vision of a UNESCO Global Geopark. At the same time, based on the actual inspection, the expert group comprehensively and thoroughly pointed out the existing problems and deficiencies, and put forward targeted suggestions and opinions.
Relevant leaders from the National Forestry and Grassland Administration and the provincial forestry and grassland bureaus respectively made guiding speeches, while leaders from relevant units also spoke and expressed their positions. 
Next, Mt. Siguniang Geopark will closely follow the feedback from experts, refer to the "Assessment Criteria", and refine work measures around key aspects such as "park infrastructure construction, museum cluster improvement and renovation, visualization level, data collection and organization, atmosphere creation, and inspection preparation and reception work". A rectification plan will be formulated, with responsibilities assigned to individuals and measures put in place. The county bureau-department linkage mechanism will be effectively utilized, and the "5+2" and "day and night" work schedules will be adopted to work hard, forming a strong joint force for the application and ensuring the successful completion of the application work.
Tong Wei, the second-level inspector of the Sichuan Provincial Forestry and Grassland Administration, Gu Xiaodong, the director of the Natural Protected Area Management Office, Liao Weifan, Wang Shuming, the deputy governor of the Aba Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous Prefecture, Sun Fuhua, the director of the Aba Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous Prefecture Forestry and Grassland Administration, Liu Minggang, the deputy secretary of the Xiaojin County Party Committee and the county mayor, Zeli Wang, the deputy secretary of the Party Committee and the director of the Mt.Siguniang Geopark Administration, Li Zhongdong, a geological expert from the Expert Committee of Mt. Siguniang Geopark, and the technical support team, as well as the leaders in charge of the county bureau, relevant units, departments, and township comrades, accompanied the inspection and attended the meeting.
Mt. Siguniang Geopark is located in Xiaojin County, Aba Prefecture, China, situated at the transition zone between the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau and the Sichuan Basin. Covering an area of 2764.01K㎡, it encompasses Siguniangshan Town, Dawei Town, Rier Township, Jiesi Township, Wori Town, and Lianghekou Town. The park is characterized by the turbidite rocks of the "Xikang Group" of the Triassic System, the "Xikang-type" folds of the Songpan-Garzê Orogenic Belt, granite high mountain peaks, and unique glacial landforms. Together, they record the geological evolution process of the region from the ancient Tethyan Ocean to the uplift of the eastern margin of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, which holds significant scientific value and global comparative significance. The park is located in one of the global biodiversity hotspots. It is home to over 2000 species of higher plants, including the world's largest and oldest natural forest of Hippophae rhamnoides, and over 300 species of vertebrates such as Ailuropoda melanoleuca and Uncia uncia. The park also stands at the intersection of Tibetan and Han cultural regions, serving as a cradle for the historical and cultural fusion of multiple ethnic groups. It preserves a rich Jiarong Tibetan culture, with distinctive regional characteristics such as the Chaoshan Festival, Guozhuang Dance, and Tibetan Song Festival.