Liangcuo Reef of Yutou island, a geological landform in Pingtan Comprehensive Pilot Zone, Fujian province. [Photo/ptnet.cn]

Authorities in Pingtan Comprehensive Pilot Zone, Fujian province announced recently that Pingtan got approval from the Provincial Department of Land and Resources to set up a provincial geopark, local news portal ptnet.cn reported on Jan 8.

The decision was made on the basis of the county's beautiful geological landscape with mountains and sea and good preservation of geological relics.

The Pingtan Provincial Geopark will be narrow-shaped along local coastline. It will cover a combined area of about 58 square kilometers and include 24 rare geological relics such as Double-Sail Rock, Tannan Bay beach and Haitan Deity. The relics can be divided into five categories featuring geological structure, paleontological species, landscape, waterscape and environment.

According to the authorities, the application of the park started in 2015. To ensure the provincial officials to get a better understanding the county's geological landscape, local government made a video to introduce the formation of Pingtan island including its ocean scenery and sea erosion landforms.

Mao Lingyun, a provincial official commented that this new geopark is an island park that features ocean and cultural landscapes.

Local authorities said that the geopark will be a new name card of the island's tourism. It will help Pingtan reach its goal of becoming an international tourist destination and facilitate the development of its economy. The authorities added that they plan to apply for a national geopark in 2017.

A geopark is a unified area that advances the protection and use of geological heritage in a sustainable way and promotes the economic well-being of the people who live there. Officials said that Fujian now has two global geoparks, nine national ones and some provincial ones.