On July 1st, reporters learned from the on-site assessment report meeting for the proposed Mt. Siguniang UNESCO Global Geopark that, appointed by UNESCO, the UNESCO Global Geopark assessment experts Hiroko Torigian and Joanna Rodriguez arrived at Mt. Siguniang Geopark to conduct an on-site inspection and assessment of the work to establish Mt. Siguniang Geopark as a UNESCO Global Geopark. This marks the final hurdle for Mt. Siguniang to obtain this "world-class calling card," and the results will be announced at the 2026 Asia-Pacific Conference on UNESCO Global Geoparks.
During the five-day inspection and evaluation, the two experts will form a complete and detailed report by listening to reports, reviewing archival materials, and combining with on-site inspections, and submit it to UNESCO, comprehensively presenting the work progress of Mt. Siguniang Geopark in its application for becoming a UNESCO Global Geopark.
Amidst the swirling clouds, the Yao Mei Peak is visible. C Vision Photographer Chen Shudong
Mt. Siguniang Geopark initiated its application for the Unesco Global Geopark in 2022, and in 2024, it successfully passed the assessment conducted by the National Forestry and Grassland Administration, thereby being included as a candidate site for the UNESCO Global Geopark in China for 2024.
Mt. Siguniang Geopark is located at or situated within Xiaojin County, Aba Prefecture, Sichuan Province. It is situated in the transitional zone between the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau and the Sichuan Basin. The park is centered around the "Xikang-style" folds of the Songpan-Ganzi orogenic belt, the extremely high mountain ranges on the eastern edge of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, and the Relics of the Quaternary Glaciers. It comprehensively records the geological evolutionary history from the closure of the Paleo-Tethys Ocean to the uplift of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, and holds global comparative research value.
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Unesco Global Geopark
A UNESCO Global Geopark is a sustainably developed area, recognized by UNESCO, that possesses geological heritages of global or international significance and abundant natural and cultural resources, with clearly defined boundaries and an appropriate size. UNESCO Global Geoparks, alongside World Heritage sites and Man and the Biosphere Reserves, are known as the three flagship brands of UNESCO. They are the most prestigious world-class titles in the field of resources and serve as golden signboards for the development of local cultural and tourism industries.
The concept of "Geopark" was introduced in the mid-1990s, aiming to protect and promote Earth's heritage through local sustainable development. As of June 2025, the total number of Unesco Global Geoparks stands at 229, distributed across 50 countries. Among them, China boasts 49 Unesco Global Geoparks, ranking first globally. Sichuan currently has three Unesco Global Geoparks, including Xingwen Unesco Global Geopark, Zigong Unesco Global Geopark, and Guangmu Mountain-Nuoshui River Unesco Global Geopark.