Geotourism is a new, emerging scientific discipline by applying the principles of earth science in the study of natural and human tourism resources. It involves the principles and methodologies of art, landscape architecture, environmental science and tourism in dealing with earth science issues of tourism activities and provides guidance to the establishment, management and protection of geoparks, forest parks and scenic areas. The Dictionary of Geotourism contains over 3,000 definitions, hundreds of diagrams and pictures with easy to understand explanations and illustrations in six different parts covering the concepts, principles, tourism earth science resources, applications, geopark establishment and management, geology-related parks and world heritage sites. It contains plenty of Chinese concepts and examples of nature-based tourism, natural and cultural landscapes, sustainable and rural developments, conservation systems and methods, park development and management, which are seldom being shared outside China while it also balances the views of other global counterparts.
This dictionary is a reference for geological heritage survey, assessment and research. It can also be used to assist designing and planning of geopark, national parks, heritage protection, museum, exhibition and scientific interpretation. It is a valuable teaching material for teachers and students of geoscience and tourism as well as providing useful guidance for geopark, national park managers and tour guides in their operation. In addition, it offers scientific knowledge of the surrounding natural and cultural landscapes to the general public.
Professor Anze Chen is a research scholar at the Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences. He specializes in petrology since the 1960s with early publications such as “Micro-structure of Igneous Rocks” and “Structure of Kimberlite.” In 1985, he set up the Tourism Earth Science Research Association of China and began promoting tourism earth science as a new academic discipline. His major publications in the past decade include “The Principles of Tourism Earth Science,” “Research on the Karst Landscape of China,” “Granite of Huangshan in China,” “China’s Geomorphological Landscape,” “The Dictionary of Tourism Earth Science,” and the latest English version of The Principles of Geotourism. Professor Chen is the initiator of the concepts of geotourism and geopark in China. He submitted a detailed proposal in 1985 to the State Council on the establishment of geoparks in China and has made signi?cant contribution to China’s national geopark development in the past two decades. He is currently a member of the National Geopark Assessment Board of the Ministry of Land and Resources. His major works in recent years involve the establishment of tourism earth science as an independent academic discipline in both Chinese and overseas universities.
Dr. Young Ng is a geoscientist at Danxiashan UNESCO Global Geopark and advisor of several other UNESCO global geoparks in China. He is a pioneer in geotourism, geological heritage conservation and geoparks in the Asia Paci?c region and has been awarded various medals for his contributions in geological heritage conservation including the Hong Kong Government’s Medal of Honor in 2012. He is the original proposer and advocator of the Hong Kong UNESCO Global Geopark and the founder of its Recommended Geopark Guides (R2G) System. Dr Ng is experienced in training, planning, nomination, assessment, and revalidation of national and global geoparks and world heritage sites since 2006. He co-authored The Principles of Geotourism in 2015, the ?rst English version of the Chinese geotourism book extensively used as a textbook in universities in China. His research interests are in geotourism, geological heritage conservation, geoparks, and sustainable development. He is currently a member of the advisory committee of the National Geotourism Strategy Reference Group of Australian Geoscience Council, assisting the formulation of geotourism strategy and policies for Australia. He is also a member of the Geotourism Standing Committee of the Geological Society of Australia and a founding member of the Geotourism Forum of Ecotourism Australia.
Professor Erkuang Zhang is the deputy secretary and deputy chair of the Tourism Earth Science and Geopark Research Sub-Committee of the Geological Society of China. He has played a signi?cant role in the establishment and development of the sub-committee since 1985. He is also a contributor to chapter three entitled “Basic Formation Conditions of Natural Tourism Resources” of the book The Principles of Geotourism. Professor Zhang had led the research and survey team in the compilation of the 1:2,000,000 map of “Distribution of tourism earth science resources in China.” His other important publications include “Discussion on the Distribution Pattern, Development and Utilisation of Tourism Earth Science Resources in China,” “Characteristics and Development of the Tourism Earth Science Resources of Hebei Province, China,” “Tourism Resource of Danxia Landform in Yanshan Region,” “Tourism Resource of Ancient Underground Warfare Tunnels Along the Song Liao Border,” and “Historical Wonder of Underground Great Wall.”
Professor Mingzhong Tian is a professor and a Ph.D. research supervisor of the School of Geosciences and Resources of the China University of Geosciences (Beijing). He is an awardee of the Special Allowance of the State Council and a member of the Assessment Board of National Geoparks. His research interests are in quaternary ecological environment and geology, geological heritage value assessment and planning. He has been working on many projects at national, provincial, and local levels under the Ministry of National Science and Technology, Ministry of Land and Resources, and different local governments in the areas of geological heritage survey, assessment, planning, nomination, establishment, and setting guidelines for Chinese national geoparks.
