From July 13 to 17, 2026, Wudalianchi Global Geopark welcomed the "international examination" of reassessment organized by UNESCO Global Geoparks Network. The field evaluation was conducted over five days by two authoritative experts: Dr. Ilias Valiakos from Greece and Dr. Hisanari Sugawara from Japan. During their comprehensive, in-depth inspection, every landscape ranging from fertile black soil fields to volcanic wonders, from children’s popular science activities to local community life deeply impressed the visiting international specialists.
The word "Amazing" echoed throughout the whole assessment trip as their most frequent compliment. These sincere praises represent the international community’s genuine recognition of Wudalianchi’s achievements in geological heritage conservation, scientific innovation, popular science education and community co-development, and also reflect the geopark’s solid, rigorous preparation for the UNESCO review.
This reassessment serves as a comprehensive review of the geopark’s performance in geological resource protection, scientific monitoring, popular science outreach, sustainable development and community collaboration. It also marks a vital opportunity for the park to align with international standards and polish its world-class ecological brand. During the preparation phase, Wudalianchi refined management measures across the board, improved service systems, boosted popular science capacity, and integrated ecological industries with local livelihoods. With thorough preparations, complete standardized archives and tangible development outcomes, the park delivered an outstanding report card for the assessment.
Beneath a clear blue sky dotted with drifting clouds stand fourteen dormant volcanoes. Rugged ancient volcanic lava stretches across the land, with tiny yellow wildflowers blooming through cracks in the rock, forming a striking natural landscape of softness and grandeur that captivated the evaluation team. Following research and study trails, the expert team toured all core scenic spots to explore Wudalianchi’s unique volcanic geological heritage, with every landscape unfolding brand-new wonders.
At the Colorful Sand Beach Scenic Area, professional English-speaking geological interpreters introduced the formation of the colorful sand beaches and the evolutionary history of volcanic landforms, elaborating on the geomorphic features of young volcanic formations. To make geological knowledge more intuitive, interpreters demonstrated a fascinating experiment: clear water was poured into a cup, and small pieces of volcanic pumice were placed inside. The stones floated effortlessly on the water’s surface, presenting the magical sight of "floating stones". Interpreters explained in detail how porous cavities form in pumice: massive gas bubbles trapped in magma during volcanic eruptions create countless air pockets as the lava cools, producing this unique pumice landscape. The vivid on-site demonstration astonished the two experts, who marveled at the wonders of volcanic geology.
As China’s most intact representative of young volcanic landforms, Laoheishan (Old Black Mountain) stood out as the core highlight of the inspection. Standing at its summit, visitors overlook a giant crater measuring 350 meters in diameter and 145 meters deep. Preserved perfectly for centuries, it records the complete evolutionary cycle of volcanic eruption, lava flow, land coverage and ecological regeneration, embodying nature’s enduring vitality. The breathtaking volcanic panorama drew repeated exclamations of "Amazing". The two experts paused frequently to take photos and gaze into the distance, utterly captivated by the completeness and grandeur of these volcanic relics.
The inspection route wound through serene birch forests that divide the vast volcanic terrain and fertile farmland, painting a unique landscape blending mountains, water, forests and volcanic rock.
Diverse lava formations unfolded one after another. Stopping before rope-shaped lava, Dr. Hisanari Sugawara from Japan bent down to run his palm over the rippled rock surface, nodding repeatedly and praising it as geological art that froze the moment of lava flow forever. At the Roaring Stone Sea, jagged rock spires spread out like stone blossoms in full bloom. Standing on the boardwalk overlooking the expanse, Greek expert Dr. Ilias Valiakos asked whether the entire stone sea formed from a single eruption. After listening to the interpreter’s explanation of overlapping lava layers from multiple eruptive phases, he commented that such vast, spectacular formations are rarely seen across Europe.
At the cluster of lava cones and lava plates formed by volcanic gas jets, the experts learned that more than 1,500 such structures scatter across the territory, each built layer by layer by intermittent volcanic gas eruptions. The two specialists circled a well-preserved jet cone, examining it closely and constantly taking photos with their phones, commenting that this one-of-a-kind landmark geomorphology opened their eyes to new geological phenomena. They remained absorbed in the scenery, voicing unceasing admiration.
Volcanic barrier lakes stretch out with crystal-clear, tranquil water, lined with tidy shorelines and lush vegetation. The refined ecological management and intact aquatic environment fully convinced the experts of Wudalianchi’s robust results in ecological conservation and resource restoration. Cruising across the lake, visitors are surrounded by distant volcanic peaks, black lava rock, blue water and clear skies, with every turn revealing natural treasures of global significance.
Fertile black soil nurtures productive farmlands, empowered by scientific innovation. At the Wudalianchi Black Soil Seed Breeding Demonstration Base, the experts witnessed a striking integration of traditional farming and modern technology. Base director Yan Wei explained the local black soil protection models, high-quality grain and oil seed research achievements, and introduced the distinctive varieties and growth advantages of Northeast soybeans and high-yield corn, showcasing Wudalianchi’s steady progress in leveraging rare black soil resources to develop characteristic agriculture and advance seed industry revitalization.
To visually demonstrate the superior quality of local soybeans, staff staged an impressive live demonstration: a fresh sheet of local dried tofu was lit with a lighter. The tofu burned steadily with rich oil oozing out, directly illustrating the high oil content of Wudalianchi soybeans. The eye-catching experiment fascinated the two foreign experts, who exclaimed "Amazing" repeatedly and remarked that such natural endowments and agricultural quality are truly extraordinary.
Technology injects new vitality into black soil farmlands. After the demonstration, five large agricultural drones took off smoothly against the blue sky, hovering precisely over cornfields to carry out targeted fertilization operations. The efficient, intelligent and eco-friendly modern farming model transformed their perception of traditional agriculture, vividly demonstrating the region’s achievements in smart and ecological agriculture, and letting the international specialists witness the diverse value and vibrant development of this volcanic black soil land.
Geological popular science takes root in local primary schools, passing down natural knowledge to younger generations. At Wudalianchi Global Geopark Primary School, a lively hands-on volcanic simulation experiment brought cross-border warmth to the formal assessment tour.
In class, students crafted miniature volcanic models and simulated eruptions using simple materials: baking soda, citric acid, dish soap, red food coloring, clay, syringes and plastic cups. Working in well-organized teams, the students mastered the function of each material: baking soda generates gas, citric acid triggers chemical reactions, dish soap creates foamy magma, red pigment mimics molten rock, syringes represent underground magma chambers, and clay is molded around plastic cups to form realistic volcanic cones.
As the students mixed their ingredients, red foam surged out of the miniature craters, perfectly recreating the spectacular sight of volcanic eruptions. Four groups took turns presenting their models, with varying ingredient ratios producing different eruption effects. Applause and laughter filled the classroom, brimming with the joy of scientific exploration.
The two foreign experts leaned in to observe carefully, interacted with the children, and listened intently to their experimental ideas and geological sharing, immersing themselves in Wudalianchi’s consistent and fruitful youth popular science work. At the end of the session, the experts selected their favorite student groups, praised the children’s efforts, and presented illustrated atlases of UNESCO Global Geoparks as gifts, capturing a warm moment of connection across borders and languages. The collision of childlike curiosity and geological science blends warmth with international recognition, fully demonstrating Wudalianchi’s solid track record of cultivating youth awareness of natural geology.
The high-quality development of the geopark relies on coexistence between local residents and the land. During the stakeholder forum, local representatives from all walks of life shared plain, heartfelt stories about the deep bond between people and volcanoes, and between the geopark and hometowns, helping the two experts understand the ecological warmth and cultural heritage of Wudalianchi.
Wang Rongsheng, founder of a mineral spring food enterprise, shared his entrepreneurial story of developing characteristic industries relying on the geopark’s ecological and mineral spring resources, explaining how geopark development drives local employment and increases residents’ income, realizing a win-win balance between ecological protection and people’s livelihood improvement. Dou Shengyuan, a young woman of the Daur ethnic group, recounted growing up alongside volcanoes and sacred mineral springs, and introduced the inheritance of local folk customs such as the Sacred Water Festival, showcasing the enduring cultural heritage of volcanic lands. Senior tour guide Li Dawei shared his years of dedication to popularizing volcanic geology and promoting his hometown, striving to uphold the reputation of Wudalianchi Global Geopark with every word and deed.
These vivid personal stories helped the two experts grasp that Wudalianchi Global Geopark does not merely focus on isolated ecological protection, but operates under a shared governance model where all residents participate in, benefit from and safeguard the park together.
After five days of immersive field visits, the two UNESCO experts delivered extremely positive international evaluations of Wudalianchi. Dr. Hisanari Sugawara from Japan stated that Wudalianchi integrates unique volcanic formations, natural river ecosystems, rare volcanic rock landscapes and premium black soil resources. Its diverse and coexisting natural scenery and ecological resources form an irreplicable landscape unmatched in Japan, boasting immense scientific research and ornamental value.
Dr. Ilias Valiakos from Greece added that he has visited numerous Global Geoparks worldwide over his career, and Wudalianchi has long been a top destination he dreamed of exploring. As a world-famous geopark with profound heritage, the site fully lived up to his expectations during the field inspection. Its spectacular volcanic landscapes, complete conservation systems, vibrant popular science atmosphere and harmonious community ecosystem made the entire assessment journey pleasant and rewarding.
This reassessment represents both a rigorous international review and a valuable opportunity for further improvement. For years, Wudalianchi Global Geopark has adhered to the philosophy of "prioritizing protection, empowering popular science, enriching communities through ecology, and pursuing sustainable development". It has made steady progress and achieved remarkable results in geological relic conservation, scientific monitoring, popular science outreach, community co-governance and smart management.
Moving forward, Wudalianchi Global Geopark will take this reassessment as a new starting point. The park will earnestly adopt the experts’ valuable advice, continuously advance geological heritage protection, refine its popular science education system, deepen integrated ecological industrial development, and expand community co-construction pathways. It will keep polishing its world-class ecological cultural tourism brand, strive to build a global model of harmonious coexistence between humans and nature, and let Wudalianchi’s volcanic charm, black soil heritage and humanistic warmth continue to amaze the world.
