From November 6 to 8, 2018, the 2018 China UNESCO Global Geoparks Annual Conference was held at Zhejiang Yandangshan Global Geopark. This was the first Global Geoparks Annual Conference convened after the management of geoparks was transferred to the National Forestry and Grassland Administration. Leaders from the Department of Nature Reserve Management of the National Forestry and Grassland Administration, including Yang Chao, Liu Yuan, and Yuan Xiaohong, attended the conference, and representatives from Sanqingshan Global Geopark also participated.

The conference first reviewed the main activities and achievements of China’s Global Geoparks in 2018, shared advanced experiences in geopark management, application and re-evaluation, and conservation and development, and provided suggestions and opinions on the future construction and development of geoparks and other protected areas, management systems, organizational setup, and talent cultivation. The conference also awarded plaques to newly joined Global Geoparks, namely Guangwushan-Nuoshuihe Global Geopark and Huanggang Dabieshan Global Geopark.

During the conference, Sanqingshan Global Geopark held discussions with sister parks including Yandangshan Global Geopark and Tianzhushan Global Geopark, focusing on in-depth exchanges regarding geopark museum construction, park protection and harmonious coexistence with indigenous communities, mutual visits, and re-evaluation work.