On December 4, 2017, the third international training course on UNESCO Global Geoparks officially opened at the International Conference Center of China University of Geosciences (Beijing). The five-day training was conducted at China University of Geosciences (Beijing) and the Fangshan Global Geopark.

The course was coordinated and hosted by Zhang Jianping, a professor at the China University of Geosciences and a member of the Global Geoparks Network Executive Board, and Nicholas Zouros, chairman of the Global Geoparks Network. The professional teachers, including Jin Xiaochi and Kristin Rangnes, members of the UNESCO Global Geoparks Council, and Tian Mingzhong, a professor at the China University of Geosciences, gave an in-depth interpretation and analysis of Global Geopark management for the relevant staff from the current Global Geoparks and those applying to be Global Geoparks in China.

In addition to the interpretation and analysis from experts, specialists also exchanged their geopark management experience with the participants to jointly identify and settle the existing problems and confusions.

During the days of training, Prof. Nicholas Zouros and Dr. Kristin Rangnes from the Gea Norvegica Geopark in Norway

introduced the meaning, effect and activities of the UNESCO Global Geoparks and the Global Geoparks Network (GGN). Prof. Zouros emphasized that the establishment of geoparks was to protect the earth's heritage and promote sustainable development. The geoparks in the world should unite together the principles of network, collaboration, and sharing to achieve this goal. The establishment of GGN played an important role in realizing the exchange and collaboration among geological parks. He also explained the management and operation of the Geopark Museums. He said that the museum should serve as a promoter, protector and communicator of geological relics, and  must have its own overall strategic plan, clarify its own tasks and goals, and give full play to its role in popular science education, relics protection, scientific research, and tourist services.

On December 7, all participants and experts in the training visited the main museum of Fangshan Global Geopark and the Museum of Zhoukoudian Site to learn the museum management experience and know about their interpretation system. In addition, Shihuadong Scenic Area, known as the "Cave Museum", in the Fangshan Global Geopark, was also visited. The Shihuadong Scenic Area is a karst cave landscape. There are more than 30 karst caves of different types in the park. The most famous ones are Yinhu Cave and Shihua Cave. It is a typical karst cave in northern temperate climate. The layout and design of the interpretation cards in those caves and the setting of the security system can be good examples for other similar caves.