On July 8, according to the National Forestry and Grassland Administration, China has added another two geological parks to its list of UNESCO World Geoparks. Now, the number of China's world geoparks has risen to 41, more than a quarter of the world's total geoparks, ranking the first in the world.
The Xiangxi World Geopark in central China's Hunan Province and Zhangye World Geopark in northwest China's Gansu Province were approved as UNESCO World Geoparks by the Executive Board of UNESCO at its 209th session.
The Xiangxi World Geopark boasts 160 Paleolithic and Neolithic cultural heritage sites, which witnessed the history of human civilization. This is the main settlement area of Tujia and Miao peoples, whose long history and cultures have created unique folk customs. The geology of this area records the formation process of the Yangtze Platform and the multiple tectonic evolution. The Zhangye World Geopark features color hills, composed of colorful folds of mudstone and sandstone, unique Danxia landform formed by natural erosion on the mountain and ophiolite suite.