On September 17^th, the opening ceremony of 12^th Ningde Global Geopark Cultural Tourism Festival was grandly held in Shuangxi Ancient Town, Pingnan County, Ningde City. Representatives from the Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences, the Forestry Bureau of Fujian Province and some domestic Global Geoparks, and experts and scholars attended this event.

Themed as “Fresh Fujian, Mountainous Ningde, Romantic Pingnan”, the opening ceremony provided a series of multimedia interactive performance, showcasing the unique ecological resources, natural landscapes, and cultural heritage of the local area, which brought a visual feast to attendees.

Guy Martini, the Chairman of the UNESCO Global Geoparks Council and General Secretary of Global Geoparks Network, said in the greeting video, “Geological landscapes of Ningde Geopark are very wonderful. I can’t forget. At the time during my visit, I was thinking the protection, construction and management of Ningde Global Geopark is a very good example. It is one of the best among the world’s global geoparks.” Martina Pásková, a member of the UNESCO Global Geoparks Council, also sent video greetings from thousands of miles away. She said, “This is really something very appropriate for any geopark to celebrate human beings and their cultural traditions in their cultural landscapes. And I really think you are on a good try with your interpretation of your nice landscapes, combination of culture and scenes in your geopark.”

On September 18^th, the 2023 Ningde UNESCO Global Geopark Sustainable Development Communication Event was held at the Baishuiyang-Yuanyangxi Scenic Area of Ningde UNESCO Global Geopark. Representatives of domestic Global Geoparks, experts and scholars conducted academic communication here to provide guidance and suggestions for the development direction and brand building of Ningde UNESCO Global Geopark. The participants had a deep understanding of the distinctive local culture and enjoyed the beautiful scenery of the scenic area, marveling at the rare and stunning geological wonders of Ningde UNESCO Global Geopark and the cultural landscape of eastern Fujian.

Since 2011, the Ningde UNESCO Global Geopark Cultural Tourism Festival has been successfully held for twelve years, with supporting activities such as global geopark communication activities and folk culture exhibitions and performances. With continuous efforts, the brand influence of this event has been increasing, and it has become one of the most influential festivals in Ningde, with its popularity and reputation constantly improving.