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Cross-Straits geographical field practice held in Pingtan

By Chen Zhilin and Gai Shuqin

Updated: 2012-08-15

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On the afternoon of Aug 9, the closing ceremony for the 2012 Joint Field Practice of China's National Geographic Bases was held in Fujian Normal University. As many as 113 teachers and students from 21 universities from the mainland, Hong Kong and Taiwan attended the ceremony. The group will make geographical investigations in Pingtan, an island county in Fujian province.

The joint field practice began on July 28. Participants arrived at the Pingtan Comprehensive Pilot Zone on Aug 6, and studied Pingtan's coastal landscape, which has unique river geomorphology and mountain flora.

Accompanied by the teachers and students from Fujian Normal University, participants also visited Shi Pai Yang, (the most famous natural scenic spot in Pingtan), General Mountain, and other geographic areas in the zone.

Wang, a student from the Chinese University of Hong Kong, was deeply attracted by the stone house on Pingtan Island. "This is a unique cultural landscape," she said.

"How can we ensure economic development and protect these unique landforms at the same time? I'm really interested in this subject," said Jiang, a student from Wuhan University. He said Pingtan Island developed slowly in the past, so the landscape was well preserved. But it has developed at a rapid pace since its opening up to Taiwan. As a student of geography, he hopes to apply his geographical knowledge to Pingtan's landscape protection.

Luo is a student from the Taipei Municipal University of Education. He said Taiwan shares the same geographical features with Pingtan. But Pingtan Island is doing better than Taiwan in terms of landscape protection.

According to Zeng Congsheng, a professor at the School of Geographical Sciences in Fujian Normal University, Pingtan Island has the most typical landforms in the country, such as sea stacks, accumulation-erosion coasts, bedrock coasts and granite landforms. The area is still well preserved, which is rarely seen.

The event has been held since 2009 by Fujian Normal University, Nanjing University and East China Normal University and is also supported by the Ministry of Education. Activities for the event include acoastal landscape practices in various regions such as Pingtan, Lushan Mountain in Jiangxi province, and the Fuchun River region in Zhejiang province.

The two-week practice crosses three provinces and spans 3,000 kilometers, reaching islands, plains and mountains. The event has been held four times and continues to attract more universities.

Edited by Michael Thai