The commendation conference for the 30th Anniversary of Geotourism and the 15th Anniversary of Geoparks was held in the international conference center of China University of Geosciences (Beijing), jointly held by Geotourism and Geoparks Seminar of Geological Society of China, Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences and China University of Geosciences. More than 200 representatives from Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences, Ministry of Land and Resources, National Tourism Administration, related institutes and geoparks attended the conference, hosted by Jiang Jianjun, director of Science and Technology section of Ministry of Land and Resources. Meng Xianlai, deputy director of Geological Society of China, Li Tingdong, the academician of Chinese Academy of Sciences and other experts respectively presented awards to advanced units that made great contributions to the science popularization work of geoparks, excellent works and papers about geotourism, planning and designing exhibitions of geoparks. Mr. Zheng Yangui, a cultural scholar of Tianzhushan won the first award of advanced individual for the science popularization work of geoparks and the third award of excellent geotourism thesis.

So far, China has 31 geoparks totally, and Tianzhushan joined in GGN in 2011. Tianzhushan has made great progress in establishing scientific interpretation system, improving related hardware and software, holding science popularization activities for tourists especially students from primary and middle schools. Tianzhushan geopark popularizes the knowledge about the earth’s plate movement through unique UHP metamorphic belt heritage, the evolution history of mammals through precious fossils and the evolution of igneous rocks through granite landform and also holds science popularization activities in schools and communities. Tianzhushan Global Geopark was successively approved as the national science popularization base by Chinese Association of Science and Technology and Ministry of Land and Resources, and has set up a science popularization team. Mr. Zheng Yangui, an excellent representative, makes great contributions in the designing and nomination of scientific trails, compiling scientific materials, giving classes in schools and communities and training staffs, residents and guides. In this April, he wrote a series of articles “Exploring Tianzhushan Global Geopark” listed in the book Anhui Geoparks, and achieved 2015 National Excellent Science Popularization Book Award in Land and Resources Field.