Leiqiong UNESCO Global Geopark situates at the southern tip of China. It is under the administration of Zhanjiang City (Lei) of Guangdong Province and Haikou City (Qiong) of Hainan Province. From north to south, the geopark extends from Zhanjiang City, via Leizhou, Xuwen, across the Qiongzhou Strait to Haikou City. It has a unified single boundary with total area of 3,050km2. The Leiqiong volcanoes (volcanic belt) are (is) an important representation of the Quaternary volcanoes in China, consisting of cinder cones, lava cones and composite cones developed by volcanic eruptions as well as Maars – Maar lakes formed by hydromagmatic (or phreatomagmatic) explosions. The diversity, typicality and representativeness of the volcanoes constitute their outstanding values. The geopark is located in the transition zone between tropical and southern subtropical areas. Dominated by tropical rainforests with rare plants, abundant fauna and favourable environment, it is renowned as the “Tropical Volcanic Ecological Museum of China”. People have been living with volcanoes since ancient times. During which, a unique volcano culture has been gradually developed – volcano totems and basalt dog sculptures; stone houses、stone tools and ancient villages; volcanic farmlands together with cultural landscapes of ancient pagodas, schools, temples and the originating port of the Maritime Silk Road. The diverse types of volcanoes, deep blue sea, fertile red soil, evergreen green mountains and clear waters all tone up to the harmonious beauty of red, blue and green. Leiqiong UNESCO Global Geopark is an important destination for volcanic tourism in China, the vast outdoor classroom for volcanism and ecology popularisation as well as the paradise for fitness and leisure.
