Yimeng Mountain added to UNESCO geopark list

Yimeng Mountain in East China's Shandong province, which was added recently to the UNESCO Global Geopark List, will feature construction, management and conservation with sustainable development, according to information released at a press conference held by the Information Office of Shandong province on Tuesday.

Covering an area of 1,804 square kilometers, the Yimeng Mountain Geopark site in Linyi city covers 14 towns. It consists of five areas with specific features, including a diamond area that is one of Asia's largest kimberlite diamond mines, Li Chengjin of Shandong Provincial Department of Natural Resources, said at the press conference.

The site's landscape is dotted with castle-like land formations and it is endowed with historical and cultural significance, he said.

One of the multiple cultural heritage sites is the Xialou Pavilion, which Confucius is believed to have visited.

The Yimeng Mountain site will focus on protecting geological relics and the ecological environment, promoting science education and improving infrastructure facilities to let people benefit from the site development, said Xie Dong, head of the Yimeng Mountain Geopark Management Bureau.

China has 39 global geological parks, accounting for 26.5 percent of the world's total. A total of 274 national geological parks and 343 provincial-level ones had been established around the country by the end of last year.

Shandong now has two global geological parks, 13 national ones and 51 provincial ones, according to figures provided by the Shandong provincial Department of Natural Resources.