2023 Public Welfare Study Tour of Zigong UNESCO Global Geopark Concludes Successfully

On 16 September 2023, the "Museum Tours for Kids in Zigong" in Shenhai Well & the Closing Ceremony of the 2023 Public Welfare Study Tour of Zigong UNESCO Global Geopark were held in Shenhai Well Scenic Area. A total of 50 teenagers from Zigong participated in the activity.

The "Museum Tours for Kids in Zigong" in Shenhai Well was the last Public Welfare Study Tour of Zigong UNESCO Global Geopark in 2023. During the activity, under the guidance of the nature instructors, the children learned interesting knowledge such as the story of digging Shenhai Well, the skills of drilling for brine and making salt, and the process of land and sea changes through field visits, science popularisation and explanations and hands-on practice. Using salt as a medium, the study tour aimed to guide children to explore the geological changes from sea to land in Zigong 200 million years ago and understand the fusion and co-existence of nature and people in the place.

Since its launch in April, the 2023 Public Welfare Study Tour of Zigong UNESCO Global Geopark has carried out ten study tour activities in the forms of, for example, outdoor nature explorations, natural science classes, and expert lectures. Nature instructors visited the campuses to carry out science popularisation activities for children. Meanwhile, children were invited to the Geopark's scenic areas for field explorations. So far, the Geopark has received more than 2,100 student visits.

This year's Public Welfare Study Tour course was jointly developed by the Administrator Centre of Zigong UNESCO Global Geopark and Yiqu Nature Conservation Centre. By making the best use of geology and landform, culture and history, biodiversity, and other existing resources in the Geopark and introducing a series of new contents such as nature notes, environmental sand table, green map, and bird collision prevention, the course boasted characteristic features and made the Geopark a natural science classroom for children.

In the future, Zigong UNESCO Global Geopark will continue to maximise its brand advantages to carry out various characteristic practice activities and play its role in science popularisation education, so as to help people learn more about its nature, culture, and history. Meanwhile, it will further combine its existing resources with social practice courses for primary and secondary school students in the city to enhance students' understanding of geoparks, and let them feel the charm and diversity of geoparks more deeply.