From April 22 to 23, 2024, Sanqingshan UNESCO Global Geopark hosted activities for the 55^th World Earth Day and the 5^th Asia Pacific Geoparks Week themed Cherish the Earth and Pursue Harmonious Coexistence Between Humans and Nature at Jinsha Visitor Square. Partnering with 45 other geoparks including Yandangshan, Danxiashan, Dali Cangshan, Leye-Fengshan and Enshi Grand Canyon-Tenglong Cave, Sanqingshan rolled out the cross-site Sister Geopark Interactive Exhibition & Exchange campaign. The event invited the public to appreciate magnificent geological scenery across UNESCO Global Geoparks, mark World Earth Day as well as the 20^th Anniversary of the Global Geoparks Network (GGN), explore natural mysteries and safeguard the planet.

All 46 participating geoparks simultaneously put on sister-geopark photo exhibitions showcasing China’s conservation achievements and development milestones of UNESCO Global Geoparks over the past two decades since GGN’s founding. The displays help deepen public understanding of geoparks and boost their visibility and reputation nationwide.

Visitors enjoyed a panoramic showcase of diverse landform types at the exhibition: granite landscapes of Sanqingshan, Huangshan, Tianzhushan and Ningde; Danxia landforms of Danxiashan, Longhushan, Longyan and Taining; colourful hills of Zhangye; volcanic terrains scattered across Wudalianchi, Yandangshan, Jingpo Lake, Leiqiong, Aershan and Hexigten; desert and yardang landforms of Alxa and Dunhuang; quartz sandstone peaks of Zhangjiajie; Global Stratotype Section and Point (GSSP, Golden Spike) sites at Xiangxi and Changshan; karst formations including Shilin, Leye-Fengshan, Guangwushan-Nuoshuihe and Enshi Grand Canyon-Tenglong Cave; prehistoric fossil outcrops in Yanqing, Funiushan, Zigong and Linxia; historic mine pits of Keketuohai, plus spectacular mountain vistas of Lushan, Taishan, Songshan, Shennongjia and Wugongshan. Attendees marvelled at the splendid geological wonders and lingered on-site.

Inside science education tents, visitors learned about geological features, biodiversity and intangible cultural heritage of Sanqingshan and sister geoparks via guided interpretation and informational brochures. Many joined prize-winning quizzes to win educational souvenirs such as Sanqingshan science education book sets, geopark mascot dolls, three-dimensional flight chess, scenic notebooks and custom printed umbrellas, creating a lively festive atmosphere with enthusiastic participation from tourists and local residents.

Signature-wall keepsake activities and the stamp-themed check-in game Tour UNESCO Global Geoparks via Postage Stamps also drew active engagement.

An online World Earth Day geoscience quiz co-launched by all 46 geoparks proved equally popular. Participants scanned QR codes to answer geoscience questions online for a chance to win tens of thousands of prizes donated collectively by the participating sites, including scenic spot tickets for Sanqingshan, Danxiashan, Yandangshan, Shennongjia and Longyan, plus commemorative cultural gifts marking the Global Geoparks Network’s 20^th anniversary and exclusive souvenirs from each geopark.

On April 23, over 400 teachers and students from Shangrao Xinzhou Secondary Vocational School visited Sanqingshan UNESCO Global Geopark for an educational study tour. The group paid tribute to revolutionary martyrs and experienced ancient academy culture at Huaiyushan, explored planetary mysteries and geoscience knowledge inside Sanqingshan Geological Museum, and hiked amid the geopark’s distinctive granite peak forest landforms to enjoy the pleasure of immersive field learning at high altitude. The field trip broadened students’ scientific horizons, helped them fully recognize the importance of protecting the Earth, and fostered their ecological civilization philosophy of respecting, conforming to and safeguarding nature.

Throughout the World Earth Day observance, a host of supplementary events were rolled out, including the Weibo check-in campaign themed #20YearsWithGeoparks, the Most Beautiful Marks of the Earth science education activity, and the UNESCO Global Geopark Study Tour Passport stamp-collection program. These initiatives convey the scientific, aesthetic and cultural values of global geoparks to the general public, raise environmental protection awareness, and jointly advance the harmonious coexistence between humanity and nature.