Planning and Design of Geological Landscape Popular Science Exhibition in Urban Geopark:A Case Study of Zhengzhou Yellow River National Geopark

Urban geopark is the backyard garden of urban residents’life.Geological landscape popular science exhibition enables people to receive geological popular science knowledge easily and happily while playing,which will virtually strengthen people’s protection awareness of urban geological landscape.Urban geopark landscape is featured by unique typical geological characteristics.It is a realistic problem that troubles the planning and design of geological landscape popular science exhibition in urban geopark by effectively protecting these geological landscapes and upgrading them into urban popular science leisure tourism resources.Taking Zhengzhou Yellow River National Geopark as an example,this paper systematically studies the planning and design of geological landscape popular science exhibition in urban geopark.

The impact of tourism on soils in Zhangjiajie World Geopark

The soil hardness, soil water content and soil bulk density along the trails of six scenic spots in the Zhangjiajie World Geopark were measured and analyzed, and the integrated effects of tourism trampling on soils were evaluated for each scenic spots by calculating its soil impact indexes （SII） in the park. The results indicated that visitors＇ activities caused a serious influence on the soil in the park, especially in the two most used scenic spots-- Yellowstone Village and Gold Whip Stream. The impact of tourism on soil mainly occurred within 3 m along the trails. The impact shapes are classified into six type as single-sided node type, double-sided node type, cross node type, single-sided linkage type, double-sided linkage type and short-cut linkage type. Of six types of impact shapes, the single-sided node type and double-sided type were dominant. The average water contents of soil for six scenic spots at sample areas of 1 m, 2 m and 3 m from trial is 36.6%, 24.5% and 2.2% lower than that of the control area, respectively. The average soil hardness for six scenic spots at 1m, 2 m, and 3m from the trails tramped increased 167.9%, and 122.2%, and 15.8%, respectively, compared with the control area. Soil bulk density increased 26.5% at 1 m and 20.9% at 2 m from the trails. The main countermeasures for reducing the range and extent of tourism impact on soil are discussed.

Satisfaction Evaluation on Tourism Interpretation of Cuihuashan National Geopark in Xi'an

Through questionnaire,satisfaction evaluation of tourism interpretation was obtained in Cuihuashan National Geopark in Xi'an.The result showed that tourists' evaluation of interpretation system was bad;the worst evaluation was that on tour guidance and visitor center;the worsen evaluation was that on advice brand,prints,audio-visual products and signboards.The reasons were:the guide quality was low and interpretation content was not scientific;signboards were few in quantity and unreasonable in arrangement;audio-visual products and guideposts were few in species,poor in practical applicability and not exquisite in design;visitor center of the scenic area provided less information services and convenient services.Finally,some suggestions were proposed to perfect tourism interpretation of Cuihuashan National Geopark.

Multi-designated geoparks face challenges in China’s heritage conservation

The author selects a thorny issue of doubled designations that bother policy-makers, professional planners and managers in the field of conservation for protected areas. The analyzed case study areas cover 5 National Geoparks of China in Sichuan Province, 18 UNESCO Global Geoparks in China, and 219 World Heritage sites in China and 8 European nations. Through analysis and synthesis, the author concludes that doubled designation, which also leads to unbalanced park distribution, is particularly prevalent in China other than in Europe. Therefore, on-site management agencies and related governments in China should carefully translate the doubled designations into responsibilities and harmonious partnerships between all stakeholders in order to enhance the management effectiveness and avoid paper park phenomenon.

Late Jurassic-Early Cretaceous Plutonism in the Northern Part of the Precambrian North China Craton:SHRIMP Zircon U-Pb Dating of Diorites and Granites from the Yunmengshan Geopark,Beijing

The Yunmengshan Geopark in northern Beijing is located within the Yanshan range. It contains the Yunmengshan batholith, which is dominated by two plutons： the Yunmengshan gneissic granite and the Shicheng gneissic diorite. Four samples of the Yunmengshan gneissic granite give SHRIMP zircon U-Pb ages from 145 to 141 Ma, whereas four samples of the Shicheng gneissic diorite have ages from 159 Ma to 151 Ma. Dikes that cut the Yunmengshan diorite record SHRIMP zircon U-Pb age of 162±2 and 156±4 Ma. The cumulative plots of zircons from the diorites show a peak age of 155 Ma, without inherited zircon cores, and the peak age of 142 Ma for granite is interpreted as the emplacement age of the Yunmengshan granitic pluton, whose igneous zircons contain inherited zircon cores. The data presented here show that there were two pulses of magmatism： early diorites, followed c13 Ma later by true granites, which incorporated material from an older continental crust.

Upper Cretaceous alluvial fan deposits in the Jianglangshan Geopark of Southeast China:implications for bedrock control on Danxia landform evolution

The Jianglangshan Geopark in the western Zhejiang Province of Southeast China is well-known for its spectacular red-colored sandstone landforms. Little is known about the depositional processes of the conglomerate-dominated Fangyan Formation, the lithologic base of the Danxia landforms in this geopark. Based on detailed field investigation of lithology, sedimentary structures, bed thickness and geometry, five facies are recognized: facies A(matrixsupported cobble conglomerate), facies B(pebble conglomerate), facies C(pebbly sandstone), facies D(fine-grained sandstone) and facies E(mudstone). The results show that streamflow-dominated fans were the main depositional processes responsible for the accumulation of the Fangyan Formation along the mountain fronts. These fan conglomerates form the base for the evolution of the Danxia landscapes owing to the uplift and erosion of the study area. In contrast, the fine-grained sedimentary successions produced by fluvial floodplains in the distal part of the fans were thinner and more easily weathered. Such sedimentary facies distribution patterns were thought to be similar during Late Cretaceous across Southeast China. The Danxia landforms are largely the geographical expressions of the conglomerate-dominated redbeds in the proximal-middle fans.

Origin of beaded tafoni in cliffs of Danxia landscapes,Longhushan Global Geopark, South China

The tafoni that develop in sandstone cliffs have attracted the interest of both scientists and the general public. A necklace-like tafone system, referred to here as beaded tafoni, has developed in the prominent cliffs of the Danxia landscapes within the Longhushan Global Geopark in the subtropical zone of South China. This paper presents a new model of the formation of this system of extraordinary beaded tafoni. The cliffs of the Danxia landscapes of the study area are composed of an alluvial conglomerate(i.e.,red beds). These Danxia landscapes have subrounded summits that are covered by vegetation and experience a nearly vertical water flow induced by gravity. Erosion and collapse of the outsized gravels and concentrated pebbles in the red beds give rise to the initial development of the beaded tafoni. The tafoni then become rounded and beaded as a result of reworking and decay by fluvial outwash. During storms, intense water flows run vertically down the cliffs and generate a whirling motion in the tafoni.Consequently, the inside walls of the tafoni gradually become wider and smoother. During the late development stage, the beaded tafoni tend to become indistinct or disappear because of the interconnection of the tafoni and subsequent merging with the bedding-controlled cavities.

Geoscientific Significance and Classification of National Geoparks of China

The conservation of geological remains in China, especially in renowned sites with historical or cultural significance, has long been paid attention to. As the urban residents become more interested in returning to and harmony with the nature, tourism related sciences and knowledge gets more attractive. Geosites and geoparks can definitely play an important role to lead this historic tendency.

The Theory and Practice of the Interpretation Identification System Designing of Geoparks

In this paper,the author defined the interpretation system of geoparks,studied the designing princeples and methods of the interpretation identification system,including the information,content and appearance. Furthermore,the designing of the interpretation identification system designing of the Hanas National Geopark was conducted as an empirical study,

The Realization of Popularity in the Geopark Interpretation System

By analyzing the existing research achievements on the geopark interpretation system,this article has brought up a new explanation of the system from the aspect of easy-understood principle.We try to present our tourists with geoheritage,natural and cultural resources by various medium,so that people could know more about geosciences during the tour.In the end,geoheritage protection is enhanced by such

Geo-heritage Landscape Types and Value Evaluation in Funiu Mountain World Geopark

To explore a practical and sustainable development path for Funiu Mountain World Geopark, the authors classified geo-heritage landscapes into 4 main categories, 12 categories and 20 sub-categories, according to Technical Specifications for Compiling Planning of National Geopark and other research results. Comparative significance of its typical geological heritages in domestic and international geoscience research was analyzed; scientific value of the geological remains was evaluated together with aesthetic value, science popularization and education value, and tourism development value.

Construction of Popular Science Tourism Evaluation Index System for Geoparks and Empirical Analysis

Popular science tourism is a new tourism mode, and geopark scenic area is an important carrier of popular science tourism. It is the premise and foundation for the popular science tourism development of geoparks to establish a scientific evaluation index system and evaluation model. On the basis of analyzing relevant evaluation models, this paper explored the evaluation system and model of geopark popular science tourism in following steps. First, establish the index system. Based on the theory method, frequency method, and expert consultation method, this paper established the popular science tourism evaluation index system of geopark scenic area. The evaluation index system includes 3 primary indexes, 8 secondary indexes and 30 tertiary indexes. Second, define index weight and scoring standards. Index weights were defined using Analytic Hierarchy Process(AHP), the measuring method of each index and the scoring standards were specified. Third, evaluation model and grade. The evaluation model of popular science tourism development was constructed, and the evaluation results were classified into 4 grades. Fourth, empirical study. The evaluation model was applied to measure and investigate popular science tourism of Henan Yuntain Mountain World Geopark, and the final score was 7.619, indicating a higher evaluation grade of popular science tourism of the park.

Survey and Protection for Geological Heritage Resources of Water Landscape in Yandangshan Global Geopark

The geological heritage resource of water landscape in Yandangshan Global Geopark consists of 5 subclasses and 9 types,which cover more than 20 geological heritage spots.Including Dalongqiu Waterfall that is one of the four most famous waterfalls in China,Yanhu Wetland and Baixi Stream, which are the core of the geopark,By investigating

Evaluation of the Validity of Interpretation System for the Visitors to Yuntaishan Global Geopark in China

This study was conducted over a twelve-month period of study at Yuntaishan Global Geopark centered to assess the validity of interpretation system for the visitors there.And the author designed four sets of questionnaires for it,one for Chinese visitors, one for English-speaking visitors,one for the interpreters and one for management staffs of Yuntaishan Global Geopark.1149 Chinese visitors,15 English-speaking visitors,63 interpreters and

Key Technology Research and Exemplification Analysis on Investigation and Assessment of Geoheritages and Geopark Construction

In recent years,great efforts have been made on the geoparks’ application and construction,but there is a shortage of research on the theories and methodologies of geoheritage investigation and assessment. Based on the summaries of having finished geoheritage investtigation and assessment and geopark construction projects,some key technologic methods analyzed in this paper are as follows:(1)

TECC Applied in Geopark for a Case Study of Qixia Planning National Geopark

This paper applied the theory of TECC(Tourism Environmental Carrying Capacity) into the case of Qixia Planning National Geopark.We adopt new planning framework to do the planning of TECC。

The Geoheritage Resource Evaluation of Fossil-dominated Geoparks in China:Ningcheng Geopark of Inner Mongolia Case Study

There are more than 30 fossil-dominated geoparks established in China.Most of them are of high scientific values.Compared to landscape-dominated geoparks,the fossil-dominated ones generally lack of charming natural sceneries,but the abundant and exquisite preserved fossils in geoparks are very attractive to the public.In order to protect and exploit these fossils,the evaluation plays an important role in the geopark construction.Ningcheng geopark is famous for the Mesozoic Daohugou biota.The fossil assemblage is different from Jehol biota,which attracts many experts.In this paper the

Disciplinary System of Scientific Research on Geoparks and the Prospects

A geopark is a scientific theme park with the main body of geoheritage and is usually of significance of scientific research.Scientific research on geoparks may provide a sound basis for geoheritage conservation; enhance the scientificity of geoscience popularization and interpretation.In turn,it can promote the development of geosciences,technologies and other related disciplines.The purpose of this study is to define the concept of scientific

Alternative Framework for Tourism Environmental Carrying Capacity Planning in Wulingshan,Xinglong Geopark,China

Tourism Environmental Carrying Capacity Planning (TECCP)is a regulated part of the Geopark General Planning in China.But,because the exact numerical carrying capacities are difficult to confirm and the effects of tourism can take many forms,some of which are only loosely related to amount of users, the efforts of estimating of the maximum amount of tourists would mislead the manager and operator

The Role of NGO in the Establishment of Geopark and Promotion of Geoconservation:One Example from Hong Kong

A NGO can be extremely useful in assisting the government in the development of geopark and the promotion of geological conservation.The example of Hong Kong demonstrates the flexibility,efficiency and professionalism of a NGO which reinforces the government’s determination to make possible the establishment of a geopark in Hong Kong.The NGO plays active roles from initial preparation of proposal to final submission of nomination.Its initial presentations to government departments,other NGOs and the public have aroused extensive interests.They also raise concems which are carefully attended to during planning to avoid