Mount Taishan Global Geopark was unveiled and opened in the morning, May 31. Attendants of the unveiling ceremony included the geopark expert from UNESCO, Dr. Komoo, relevant leaders and experts from the Ministry of Land and Resources, P.R.C., the GGN (Global Geoparks Network) Office and the Tai’an City and the personnel from such global geoparks as Mount Lushan, Stone Forest, Zhangjiajie, Jingpohu, Songshan, Yandangshan, Hexigten, Wangwushan- Daimeishan and Leiqiong. Some global geoparks, e.g. Yuntaishan, Danxiashan, Wudalianchi, Taining, Xingwen, Huangshan, Fangshan and Funiushan, offered their congratulations via telecommunication.
The mayor of Tai’an City, Li Hongfeng, addressed the ceremony. He introduced that Mount Taishan was a perfect and harmonious integration of profound history and culture, magnificent natural landscapes and particular geological landforms, presenting the unparalleled geoheritage resources to the world. He also expressed that the conservation of valuable geoheritage in Mount Taishan was not only the common desire of all people throughout the world but also due responsibility of people in Tai’an City. Finally, he pointed out that they will certainly abide by the tenet of global geoparks to strengthen the geo-conservation and geo-environmental protection in Mount Taishan as well as the communication and cooperation with global geoparks home and abroad.
Mount Taishan Geopark passed through the valuation in the 2nd International Geoparks Conference to be designated as a “global geopark” in September, 2006. There are altogether 20 global geoparks and 138 national geoparks in China now.
