Mount Siguniang designated as UNESCO Global Geoparks with strong support from NJU School of E...

Mount Siguniang designated as UNESCO Global Geoparks with strong support from NJU School of Earth Sciences and Engineering

On April 17, 2026, the Mount Siguniang National Nature Reserve Administration Bureau sent a letter of thanks to the School of Earth Sciences and Engineering (SESE) at Nanjing University, expressing heartfelt gratitude and high respect for the outstanding contributions made by the scientific research team led by Academician Xu Zhiqin during the application process for the Mount Siguniang UNESCO Global Geopark.

In 2026, Mount Siguniang was officially designated as a UNESCO Global Geopark at the 224th session of the UNESCO Executive Board on Wednesday in Paris, France. This not only marks another major achievement in the protection and utilization of world-class geological heritage in China, but also reflects the academic strength and sense of responsibility of the SESE in serving the strategic needs of the nation and promoting the protection of geological relics, popular science education, and sustainable development.

Since the launch of the Mount Siguniang Global Geopark application in 2022, SESE proactively responded by assembling a high-level scientific research team led by Academician Xu Zhiqin, with core members including Professor Shu Liangshu, Professor Hu Xiumian, Professor Zhu Wenbin, Professor Wang Qin, Professor Li Guangwei, Associate Professor Wang Guoguang, Dr. Zheng Bihai, and Dr. Gao Jianguo. The team traveled to the high-altitude region of Mount Siguniang to carry out systematic and intensive research. With the Academician personally leading the way, team members overcame extreme natural conditions such as severe cold, oxygen deficiency, and complex terrain to root themselves on the front lines and carry out high-intensity scientific research and technical support work.

Academician Xu Zhiqin leading a team on a field investigation in Mount Siguniang.

The team from the School of Earth Sciences and Engineering, Nanjing University inspecting Zhuganacuo in Mount Siguniang.

The team from the School of Earth Sciences and Engineering, Nanjing University inspecting the Mount Siguniang Ecological Theme Pavilion.

Professor Hu Xiumian discovered typical flute casts outside the Mount Siguniang Geopark Visitor Center and conducted on-site teaching.

Centering on the core requirements for declaring a Global Geopark, the Nanjing University team collaborated closely with units such as the Sichuan Institute of Geophysical Survey to systematically execute key tasks, including geological heritage verification, scientific value promotion and evaluation, geological evolution model construction, and the preparation of application materials. From the precise analysis of stratigraphic sections to the comprehensive study of regional tectonic movements, and from the systematic reconstruction of the geological evolution process to the deep excavation of popular science value, the team comprehensively extracted the geological landscape features of Mount Siguniang, including its "Xikang-type folds," "turbidite flysch formations," "glacial geomorphology," and "extremely high mountain peaks." They also highlighted Mount Siguniang's unique geological significance and international value in the geological evolution of the eastern margin of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. Simultaneously, strictly aligning with international evaluation standards, the team repeatedly polished the application texts and argumentation systems, completing multiple rounds of written and on-site evaluations and defenses with UNESCO international experts at a high level of quality, providing authoritative, systematic, and reliable technical support for the project's successful approval.

The team from the School of Earth Sciences and Engineering, Nanjing University explaining the construction of the Mount Siguniang Geopark to UNESCO on-site evaluation experts.

The letter of thanks highly praised the college team's scientific spirit of "braving severe cold, risking oxygen deficiency, and battling hardships and dangers" and their rigorous and realistic work style. It recognized that the team, with their striving for excellence in scientific research and outstanding professional capabilities, fully demonstrated the scientific value of Mount Siguniang's geological heritage, powerfully driving the successful completion of the application process.

The official designation of Mount Siguniang as a Global Geopark is an important milestone in China's advancement of ecological civilization construction and the strengthening of systematic natural heritage protection. It vividly illustrates the efforts and commitment of Nanjing University in deepening school-local cooperation and promoting the integration of science and education. The successful implementation of the project not only provides scientific support for the protection and management of regional geological relics but will also further promote geoscience popularization education and green sustainable development, injecting new momentum into the high-quality economic and social development of the local area.

For a long time, SESE has consistently adhered to the principle of "writing papers on the vast land of the motherland," actively aligning with major national needs, continuously leveraging the advantages of geoscience disciplines, and achieving a series of influential results in fields such as geological heritage protection, resources and environmental research, and science communication. Helping Mount Siguniang successfully attain Global Geopark status this time fully demonstrates the comprehensive strength of the school in serving national strategies and leading disciplinary development.

Facing the future, SESE will take this as an opportunity to further deepen cooperation with important geological heritage sites like Mount Siguniang, continuously strengthen the collaborative innovation of basic and applied research, and promote the translation of geoscience achievements into ecological protection, popular science education, and sustainable development, contributing even greater strength to the construction of China's global geopark system and a Beautiful China.