Lushan UNESCO Global Geopark Establishes Three New Twin Geoparks Partnerships

From September 6 to 8, 2025, a delegation from Lushan UNESCO Global Geopark (UGGp), led by Mayor Xiong Duming of Lushan Municipal People’s Government, signed twin-geopark agreements with three UGGps in Spain, Chile, and Republic of Korea.

Situated in northern Jiangxi Province, with Poyang Lake to its east and the Yangtze River to its north, Mount Lushan is where mighty rivers, vast lakes, and majestic mountains meet. Its enchanting scenery has long been celebrated as “the most magnificent under sky”. As China’s first World Cultural Landscape inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List, one of the first members of Global Geopark Networks, and the birthplace of the China’s Quaternary Glaciation Theory, Lushan has been shaped by hundreds of millions of years of geological forces, where horst-fault-block mountains, glacial erosion, and fluvial erosion landform exquisitely integrated, carving out magnificent landscapes of towering peaks and rushing waterfalls. Renowned for its six unique wonders: precipitous peaks, flying waterfalls, flowing springs, surging clouds sea, hot springs, and drifting snow—these natural marvels, together with its profound cultural legacy, make Mount Lushan a true embodiment of the harmony between nature and culture.

Twin Geopark Partnership with Molina–Alto Tajo UGGp, Spain

On September 6, the delegation visited the Molina–Alto Tajo UGGp in Spain. Often hailed as “a living chronicle of Earth’s evolution”, the geopark boasts more than 20 stratigraphic sequences and geological boundaries world-class geological value, making it a treasure house of geo-diversity. With rich experience in heritage conservation and sustainable development, the geopark provides valuable models for exchange. Building on this partnership, the two sides will deepen cooperation in management and conservation, science education, community sustainable development, and geotourism, knowledge and best practices sharing.

Twin Geopark Partnership with Kütralkura UGGp, Chile

On September 8, during the 11^thInternational Conference on UGGps, Lushan UGGp established twin-geopark partnership with Kütralkura UGGp in Chile. Located in the Andes region, Kütralkura covers an area of 8,053 square kilometers and is renowned for its volcanic activity and glacial features. In 2019, it became Chile’s first UGGp. The geopark has been home to the indigenous Mapuche people for millennia, giving rise to unique cultural traditions. Both sides will strengthen cooperation in areas such as science education, green development, geological disaster prevention, and community engagement, jointly promoting the conservation of natural and cultural heritage.

Twin Geopark Partnership with Jeonbuk West Coast UGGp in Republic of Korea

Lushan UGGp also established twin-geopark partnership with Jeonbuk West Coast UGGp in Republic of Korea. Jeonbuk West Coast UGGpark, covering 1,892.5 square kilometers, has over 1.8 billion years of geological history. Its Gochang Getbol (Gochang Tidal Flats) is one of 19 coastal wetland areas in the world with a tidal range greater than 5 m (macrotidal), where up to 40 meters of mud sediment layers have accumulated for 8,500 years, making it one of the thickest tidal sediment layers in the world. It has also been designated as a Ramsar Site of International Importance. The region holds other three of UNESCO’s international designations: World Natural and Cultural Heritage, and Biosphere Reserve. Future cooperation between the two geoparks will focus on management and protection, geo-hazard prevention, science education, and geotourism development.