Jiuhuashan Global Geopark: Innovative Practices in Building a World-Class Tourist Destination

In recent years, Jiuhuashan Global Geopark has adhered to the principles of protecting geological heritage, promoting natural and cultural values, and advancing sustainable development. Through expanded international engagement, the integration of culture and tourism, and the growth of study-tour programs, the Geopark has continued to enhance its global influence while supporting coordinated regional development.

Expanding international cooperation and global markets

Leveraging its unique combination of geological features and cultural heritage, Jiuhuashan has actively engaged with international tourism markets, attracting visitors, scholars, and industry representatives from around the world. Efforts in Southeast Asia have accelerated, with a Vietnamese travel delegation recently visiting key scenic areas and the Dayuan Cultural Park and expressing strong interest in developing customized tour routes. Partnerships with Malaysian travel operators have also been established, with multiple tour groups expected within the year.

(Photo: Vietnamese travel delegation visiting Jiuhuashan)

Cooperation in Northeast Asia continues to deepen. Preferential policies for Korean visitors have further stimulated the regional market, while youth exchange groups from Gurye County, South Korea, have participated in geoscience study programs at Huatai Scenic Area, gaining firsthand experience of Jiuhuashan’s geological features.

(Photo: Youth exchange group from Gurye County, South Korea visiting Huatai Scenic Area)

Representatives of travel agencies from 23 countries, including Japan, Indonesia, and the United Arab Emirates, gathered at Jiuhuashan to conduct in-depth cooperation discussions on promoting cultural-tourism resources and route design, promoting Jiuhuashan onto a broader international stage.

(Photo: Delegations visiting Jiuhuashan’s core scenic areas and Dayuan Cultural Park, among other sites)

Cultural-Tourism Integration Highlighting the Unique Value of the Geopark

Jiuhuashan leverages the dual engines of“geology + culture”to organically combine natural heritage protection with traditional cultural inheritance, creating a distinctive international tourism brand.

Geological study-tourism empowers youth education. Through immersive experiences such as field measurements and expert explanations, Jiuhuashan provides South Korean youth with vivid scientific lessons, promoting cross-cultural understanding and knowledge dissemination.

(Photo: South Korean youth listening to Professor Zhang Yinhu’s lecture)

(Photo: Jiuhuashan Global Geopark Geological Exploration Summer Camp)

Innovative expression of traditional culture. The integration of Jiuhuashan’s religious culture, intangible cultural heritage, folk customs, and geological wonders has become a highlight attracting international tourists. Attractions such as Dayuan Cultural Park and Baishou Palace convey Eastern philosophy and ecological wisdom to the world through internationalized narratives.

(Photo: Science volunteers of Jiuhuashan Global Geopark conducting field inspections at Jiuhuashan)

Promoting Rural Revitalization and Sustainable Development Together

Jiuhuashan actively explores the“agriculture-culture-tourism integration”model, achieving a win-win between ecological protection and local economic development, offering China’s solutions for global sustainable development.

Rural revitalization practices receive international recognition. Trainees from Burkina Faso inspected Laotian Village in Jiuhua Township, highly praising its development model of“supporting tourism through agriculture and enriching farmers through tourism,”and considered it globally exemplary.

(Photo: Burkina Faso trainees inspecting Laotian Village in Jiuhua Township)

Balancing ecological protection with tourism development. Jiuhuashan strictly implements geopark protection measures and ensures the harmonious coexistence of tourism activities and ecological conservation through measures such as visitor flow management and environmental facility upgrades.

Policy Support and Moving Towards a World-Class Goal

To enhance international attractiveness, Jiuhuashan has introduced a series of targeted measures, such as special policies for the Korean market. Starting from April 2025, Korean tourist groups can enjoy a 50% discount on entrance tickets, expected to significantly increase the Northeast Asian market share. Through cross-border inspections, online marketing, cultural exchanges, and other means, Jiuhuashan is building an international marketing system covering Southeast Asia, Northeast Asia, and countries along the Belt and Road, gradually establishing a global promotion network.

Jiuhuashan Global Geopark embraces the world with an open attitude, using geological wonders as its foundation, cultural integration as its link, and sustainable development as its path, steadily advancing towards a “world-class tourist destination.” In the future, Jiuhuashan will continue to deepen international cooperation, innovate cultural-tourism experiences, safeguard natural and cultural heritage, present global visitors with an extraordinary journey spanning geology and civilization, and contribute to China’s ecological civilization construction and international cultural exchange.

(Photo: Scenery of Jiuhuashan)