On December 20, Longyan and Danxiashan UNESCO Global Geoparks formalized their sister-park partnership during a signing ceremony at Danxiashan. Chen Fang, Deputy Director of Danxiashan Management Committee, and Fu Wenyuan, Director of Longyan Geopark Conservation Center, executed the agreement under the witness of senior engineer Zhang Yuanhai from the Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences' Karst Geology Institute, alongside representatives from sister geoparks including Alxa, Zhangjiajie, Yandangshan, and Taining.
These twin jewels along the 25°N parallel both showcase iconic Danxia landforms. Danxiashan—epitomized by its crimson cliffs "glowing like sunset clouds"—holds triple honors as the namesake of the Danxia landform, a UNESCO World Natural Heritage site, and among the inaugural UNESCO Global Geoparks. Newly designated in 2024, Longyan Geopark features Guanzhai Mountain's vertiginous red cliffs, acclaimed as southern China's counterpart to Danxia's geological marvels. This union represents both a symbolic convergence of Danxia's legacy and a pioneering model for intergenerational geopark collaboration.
The partnership commits to advancing knowledge exchange across geoheritage conservation, science education, tourism promotion, staff training, digital infrastructure, and sustainable development. Through resource sharing and joint branding initiatives, the geoparks will amplify global visibility while contributing to UNESCO's sustainability goals.
Immediately following the ceremony, the China Danxia – South China Karst World Heritage Conservation Alliance convened an expert forum. Participants addressed protection strategies and management coordination for these distinct World Heritage sites—Danxia representing continental red-bed formations and South China Karst showcasing carbonate landscapes—pledging intensified collaboration to advance global natural heritage stewardship.
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