   From October 8th to 13th, 2023, Qinling Zhongnanshan Global Geopark Management Center led a team of 10 responsible persons and staff from 5 major scenic areas to participate in the 7th UNESCO International Training Course on Global Geopark Management and Development held in Zhangye, Gansu.
The training was jointly organized by China University of Geosciences (Beijing) and Zhangye Global Geopark, and received strong support from the UNESCO Global Geopark Secretariat, the Global Geopark Network, the Asia-pacific Global Geopark Network, the Natural Reserve Management Department of the National Forestry and Grassland Administration, and the Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences. Technical support was provided by the University of Aegean in Greece. About 160 experts, scholars and geopark colleagues participated in the training.
The theme of this training course was “The Connection between Geological Heritage, Nature, Biodiversity and Cultural Heritage”. Members of the UNESCO Global Geoparks Council, the Executive Board of the Global Geoparks Network, experts, and outstanding managers of the global geoparks were invited as lecturers. The training offered lectures on global geopark concept, management, communication, sustainable development, capacity building, and the application, evaluation, and re-evaluation of global geoparks by means of thematic lectures, problem analysis, collective discussions, case studies and so on, and an on-site inspection of the Zhangye Global Geopark was provided to all participants.
Professor Zhang Jianping, member of the Executive Board of the Global Geopark Network and member of the China University of Geosciences (Beijing), presided over the training opening ceremony and also gave the lecture.
Professor Nikolas Zouros, Chairman of the Global Geopark Network, attended the training and gave the lecture
Representatives of Qinling Zhongnanshan Global Geopark consulted with experts on-site
  Qinling Zhongnanshan Global Geopark Management Center conducted various forms of cooperation and exchange activities during the training. One was to report to the experts on the reevaluation preparation; Secondly, our staff were invited to an interview with local media in Zhangye to introduce Qinling Zhongnanshan Geopark and its good interaction with Zhangye Global Geopark, and promote mutual benefits; Thirdly, sister-park discussions and exchanges were held with Funiushan in Henan and Alxa Global Geopark in Inner Mongolia, providing ample exchange and experience sharing on the operation and management of the Geopark.
A symposium and exchange meeting was held between representatives of Qinling Zhongnanshan Geopark and sister-parks
  During the on-site investigation, participants from Qinling Zhongnanshan Global Geopark accompanied Professor Nakata Jieya, member of the UNESCO Global Geopark Council and the Executive Board of the Global Geopark Network, to conduct an in-depth geological relic protection survey on the colorful hilly area of Zhangye Global Geopark. And the participants actively communicated and exchanged ideas with Ibrahim Komoo, Vice Chairman of the Global Geopark Network, Professor Marie Louise Frey, member of the UNESCO Global Geopark Council and Executive Board of the Global Geopark Network, as well as multiple UNESCO Global Geopark Assessment Experts, to introduce the Qinling Zhongnanshan Global Geopark
Accompanying Professor Nakata Jieya during the field trip
Group photo with Professor Marie Louise Frey during the field trip
  The leaders of Xi’an Tourism Group attached great importance to this training. Wu Wenli, Secretary of the Party Committee of Xi'an Tourism Group, Chairman of the Board, and Jiang Jianjun, Assistant to the General Manager, went to Zhangye Global Geopark to visit the participants and requested them to actively apply to hold the future geopark trainings.  
Leaders of Xi'an Tourism Group visited the participants of the training
Experts issued certificates to representatives of Qinling Zhongnanshan Global Geopark
  Through this training course, participants in Qinling Zhongnanshan Global Geopark gained a deep understanding of the global geopark construction concept, learned more excellent innovative practices and management experience, and laid the foundation for the upcoming reevaluation.
