On December 27, 2025, Zanhuang County Forestry Bureau invited five experts to form an expert panel and held an expert review meeting in Zanhuang County for the Comprehensive Investigation Report on the Application for Taihang Mountain Zhangshiyan UNESCO Global Geopark hereinafter referred to as the Report. Relevant leaders and experts from Shijiazhuang Municipal Forestry Bureau attended the meeting. The expert panel reviewed the full text of the Report and related supporting materials, listened to the report by the preparation unit, and conducted full inquiries and in-depth discussions on relevant issues in the Report. After expert review, the following opinions were formed:
I. The Report is prepared on a sufficient basis and strictly follows the relevant standards of UNESCO Global Geoparks and the Technical Requirements for the Construction of China National Geoparks. Its overall framework is complete, its logic is clear, and it complies with the preparation standards and core requirements for a comprehensive investigation report of a UNESCO Global Geopark.
II. The Report covers a comprehensive investigation scope and contains detailed basic data. It systematically reviews the distribution, characteristics, and formation causes of core geological heritage sites within the park, including geological structures, stratigraphic sections, and Zhangshiyan landforms. It also takes into account the park’s ecosystem, biodiversity, historical and cultural resources, and regional social and economic conditions, with relatively in-depth analysis and demonstration.
III. The world-class geological heritage sites identified in the Report are accurately evaluated, well supported by evidence, and credible in conclusion. The resources are outstanding in uniqueness, rarity, and global comparative significance, and possess important scientific research value, science popularization and educational value, and aesthetic appreciation value. They meet the core element requirements of a UNESCO Global Geopark and can serve as typical representatives of the park’s geological heritage, laying a solid foundation for the application for UNESCO Global Geopark status.
IV. To further improve the quality of the Report, it is recommended that the preparation unit further refine and improve the relevant demonstration content and supplement necessary data in accordance with the experts’ opinions.
The expert panel unanimously agreed to approve the Report and recommended that it be revised and improved before being submitted in accordance with the prescribed procedures.
