geoconservation and geotourism in luochuan loess national geopark, china

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Quaternary International xxx (2013) 1e12

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Geoconservation and geotourism in Luochuan Loess National Geopark,China

Hongmei Dong a,b, Yougui Song c,*, Tao Chen c, Jingbo Zhao a, Linpeng Yu d

aCollege of Tourism and Environmental Sciences, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi’an 710062, Chinab School of Management, Xi’an University of Science and Technology, Xi’an 710054, Chinac State Key Laboratory of Loess and Quaternary Geology, Institute of Earth and Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, No. 10 Fenghui Nan Road, Xi’an,Shaanxi 710075, ChinadAdministration of Luochuan Loess National Geopark, Luochuan 727400, China

a r t i c l e i n f o

Article history:Available online xxx

* Corresponding author.E-mail addresses: [email protected], syg@iee

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a b s t r a c t

The Chinese Loess Plateau (CLP) is the largest area of loess deposits in the world. Loess sediments in theCLP have high scientific value for global climate change research and are also important resources fortourism, especially science-based tourism. Unfortunately, loess conservation and geotourism do notattract much attention from the general public in China. This study briefly introduces the history ofgeoconservation and geotourism in China and uses Luochuan Loess National Geopark (LLNG) as anexample to review problems with the development of geotourism and geoconservation. The mainproblems identified are inadequate measures to protect the loess geoheritage, a conflict betweenecological restoration and scientific observation, ineffective interpretation of geological features forvisitors, a lack of an engaging way to exhibit the materials in the Loess Museum and insufficient financialsupport. We propose new strategies for the sustainable development of LLNG, such as improvinginfrastructure, improving management actions, planting grass rather than trees for ecological restoration,popularizing science and increasing its practical use, developing a modern geological museum, andintegrating the park into a global network of geological parks.

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1. Introduction

Geoconservation, geotourism and geopark are relatively newterms and are rapidly expanding worldwide in terms of their in-ternational use and understanding (Dowling, 2010; Farsani et al.,2012; Hose, 2012; Ollier, 2012). Geoconservation, or the conserva-tion of geodiversity, is a management strategy for geoheritage sitesbased on idea that geological resources have high value for scien-tific and tourism and face major threats from human activities(Gray, 2005). For any important geological resource, the way theresource is protected will increase or decrease its attractiveness totourists and its value to geoscientists. “Geodiversity” can be simplydefined as “the natural range (diversity) of geological (rocks, min-erals, fossils), geomorphological (landform, physical processes) andsoil features” (Gray, 2005). Geoheritage refers to the existing geo-diversity in a given place (Gray, 2004) with the idea is that as longas the heritage of geological sites is preserved, Earth’s geodiversity

cas.cn (Y. Song).

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will be sustained. In practice, geoconservation mainly refers to theconservation of various geoheritage sites. Geoconservation is thedynamic preservation and maintenance of geoheritage sites (Hose,2003). Geoconservation not only prevents unnecessary damage orloss of geoheritage but also enhances and promotes geological andgeomorphological features, processes, sites and specimens (Burekand Prosser, 2008). Geoconservation is currently defined as “theact of protecting geosites and geomorphosites from damage,deterioration or loss through the implementation of protection andmanagement measures” (Hose, 2012). The most efficient way toachieve geoconservation is to increase public awareness about thevalue of geoheritage sites (scientific, aesthetic, educational,tourism, economic, intrinsic) through promotion and interpreta-tion via geotourism (Hose, 1995, 2008, 2012; Burek and Prosser,2008; Hose and Vasiljevi�c, 2012). However, geoconservation isalso a prerequisite for the development of a geotourism industry(Dowling, 2010; Hose, 2011; Hose and Vasiljevi�c, 2012).

Geotourism is fundamentally a geosite-based activity (Hose,2011). Modern geotourism was first defined by Hose (1995). Earlygeotourism was strictly defined as geological and geomorpholog-ical tourism (Hose, 1995, 2000; Allan, 2011; Ollier, 2012) and waslater determined to be a form of nature tourism focused on

geotourism in Luochuan Loess National Geopark, China, Quaternary

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H. Dong et al. / Quaternary International xxx (2013) 1e122

geological sites (Newsome and Dowling, 2010; Gray, 2011) withemphasis on the “geological” element (Newsome et al., 2012) andgeo-interpretation (Hose, 2003, 2006,2008; Vasiljevi�c et al., 2011a;Newsome et al., 2012). In contrast, National Geographic (2013)defines geotourism as “tourism that sustains or enhances thegeographical character of a placedits environment, culture, aes-thetics, heritage, and the well-being of its residents.” The prefix‘geo-’ in geotourism is related to geography and does not neces-sarily relate to geology or geomorphology. However, because everyplace on earth has a geographical location, this use of ‘geo-’ is non-informative (Ollier, 2012). Recently, Hose (2012) summarised andredefined geotourism as, “the provision of interpretative and ser-vice facilities for geosites and geomorphosites and their encom-passing topography, together with their associated in situ and exsitu artefacts, to constituency-build for their conservation bygenerating appreciation, learning and research by and for currentand future generations.” Geotourism can promote geoconservationand an understanding of earth sciences through appreciation andlearning (Newsome and Dowling, 2010; Hose, 2011, 2012).

A geopark is an area enclosing features of special geologicalsignificance, rarity or beauty (UNSCEO, 1999). The major purpose ofestablishing geoparks is to conserve Earth’s geoheritage, educatethe public and promote the socio-economically sustainable devel-opment of the local community. That is, a geopark should be asustainable development model for the preservation of geo-heritage. The establishment of a geopark not only opens up newopportunities and creates enthusiasm for geoconservation (Burekand Prosser, 2008), but the park also becomes a new touristattraction. The establishment of geoparks should generate new jobopportunities and new economic and cultural activities, be sus-tainable and bring real economic benefits to local populations(UNESCO, 2010; Farsani et al., 2011).

With more attention being paid to geoconservation and therapid growth of geotourism in recent years (Dowling, 2010;Newsome and Dowling, 2010; Farsani et al., 2012), more andmore geoparks are being established as demonstration areas ofgeoconservation and exploratory sites for geotourism. As of April,2013, 92 geoparks were current members of the Global GeoparksNetwork facilitated by UNESCO (http://www.globalgeopark.org).The number of symposiums and conferences about geoparks hasincreased quickly, especially in Europe (Hose and Vasiljevi�c, 2012).The 12th European Geoparks Conference is to be held at Cilento andVallo di Diano Geopark in Italy in September 2013, and the 3rd Asia-Pacific Geoparks Network Symposium will be held in Jej, Korea inSeptember 2013.

Loess sediments are a significant component of the Earth’sgeoheritage and provide the most complete and detailed conti-nental records of climatic and environmental changes during theQuaternary (Liu and Ding, 1998). They play a crucial role in globalchange research, as well as having important tourism value (Hose,2000; Dong et al., 2009; Allan, 2011; Vasiljevi�c et al., 2013). Inaddition to geologists, some tourism experts and scholars arebeginning to pay attention to the geoheritage of loess. In recentyears, literature on loess geoheritage, geoconservation and geo-tourism (Dong et al., 2009; Vasiljevi�c et al., 2009, 2011a,b, 2013;Vuji�ci�c et al., 2011; Vasiljevi�c, 2012; Solarska et al., 2013) hasappeared in international journals. Loess not only has importantscientific and educational value, but also has cultural and socialvalue (Vasiljevi�c et al., 2013).

The Chinese Loess Plateau (CLP) is the largest area of loesssediments in the world. While there is a considerable volume ofscientific publications about typical loess sections in the CLP,including Luochuan (e.g., Liu, 1985; Kukla and An, 1989; An et al.,1990), Xifeng (e.g., Liu et al., 1988, 1995; Guo et al., 2001; Jahnet al., 2001; Wu and Wu, 2011), Lingtai (e.g., Ding et al., 1998,

Please cite this article in press as: Dong, H., et al., Geoconservation andInternational (2013), http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.quaint.2013.10.023

2001; Sun et al., 1998; Yang and Ding, 2001; Balsam et al., 2004;Gylesjö and Arnold, 2006; Sun et al., 2006; Isozaki et al., 2008;Rao et al., 2008; Xie et al., 2008) and Chaona (e.g., Song et al.,2001, 2007; Nie et al., 2007, 2010, 2013; Wu et al., 2007; Baiet al., 2009; Han et al., 2011), there are few reports of geotourismand geoconservation in the CLP (Dong et al., 2009). Moreover, mostpublications about the CLP are generally inaccessible, poorlyexplained, and published in Chinese (e.g., Pang et al., 2003; Haoet al., 2004, 2007; Li et al., 2010; Mi, 2011; Zhang et al., 2011).Therefore, this study has four objectives: 1) to review the history ofgeoconservation and geotourism in China; 2) to introduce Luo-chuan Loess National Geopark (LLNG), the first loess geopark inChina, which contains the most famous loess deposits in the field ofQuaternary geology around the world as well as loess landscapes tobe enjoyed by the public; 3) to examine geoconservation andgeotourism in LLNG; and 4) to discuss the main problems andchallenges in preserving geoheritage and developing geotourismand provide recommendations for the future development ofgeotourism.

2. History of geoconservation and geotourism in China

Awareness about geoconservation in China dates to the 1950s.In 1956, the Chinese Government included the country’s importantgeosites in a National Nature Reserve. Only since the economicreform beginning in the 1980s, however, has China begun to payattention to preserving its geoheritage. In 1985, the First NationalGeological Natural Reserve (NGNR), named for its Middle UpperProterozoic geological deposits, was established in China. In 1987,the Ministry of Geology and Mineral Resources (MGMR) of P. R.China (this organization was later incorporated into the Ministry ofLand and Resources in 1998) issued a “Circular on EstablishingGeological Natural Reserves (GNR) (proposed)” (MGMR, 1987) inwhich the MGMR introduced the idea that geoparks are part of theGNRs. For the first time, the conservation of geosites was proposedin the form of ministerial regulations (Zhao and Zhao, 2003). In1994, the Nature Reserve regulation of China was issued, in whicha basic framework for protecting the country’s geoheritage wasoutlined. In 1995, the MGMR published the “Regulations on theProtection and Management of Geosites” (MGMR, 1995), in whichthe establishment of geoparks was considered a tool for protectingsuch sites. These regulations documented the principles of con-servation, identified appraisal criteria for the different levels ofGNRs (e.g., national, provincial and county), and outlined a clas-sification system for protection. By 1999, 86 GNRs (including 12NGNRs) were established, but they were all geological nature re-serves rather than geoparks. Since the UNESCO’s Global Geoparksprogramme (Patzack and Eder, 1998) was launched in 1999, Chinahas begun to develop the National Geopark of China (NGC). In2000, the Ministry of Land and Resources (MLR) approved a reportprepared by the Department of the Geological Environment onlaunching geoparks. In the same year, a “Circular on the LeadingOrganization and Staffing of National Geosites (Geoparks)” (MLR,2000a) and a “Circular on the Nomination of National Geoparks”(MLR, 2000b) were issued, and the Review Committee of NationalGeosites (Geoparks) was formed to draft detailed evaluationstandards and application processes for geoparks. A series ofdocuments and regulations about NGCs were issued (Zhao andZhao, 2003, 2004). The establishment of the China GeoparksNetwork and the Global Geoparks Network can be seen as positivesteps towards the preservation of geoheritage and the promotionof geological sites as a new tourist attraction (Zhao and Zhao,2008).

Since 2000, the provinces, autonomous regions and munici-palities of China have recommended a large number of geoheritage


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H. Dong et al. / Quaternary International xxx (2013) 1e12 3

sites and applied for their designation as National Geoparks. As of2011, the MLR had approved six batches of National Geoparks(Fig. 1), and through strict review and appraisal of applications, thenumber of NGCs had reached 218. By 2012, 27 geoparks in Chinahad been selected for inclusion in UNESCO’s Global GeoparksNetwork (GGN) (Fig. 1). Many local governments have alsoreviewed and approved local parks. The rise of geoparks not only

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potentially promoted regional economic development fromtourism and created a new field of employment but also hasattracted the attention of Chinese scholars. However, the exami-nation of numerous world heritage site and geopark proposals andmanagement plans reveals little explicit mention of geo-conservation (Hose, 2011), so geoconservation is still an importantissue for geoparks. Since Luochuan Loess National Geopark (LLNG)

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was approved in 2002 as a loess geopark unique in China andprobably the world, the park’s invaluable scientific resources havebeenwidely embraced in international Quaternary academic circles(e.g., Balsam et al., 2004; Nugteren et al., 2004; Bloemendal et al.,2008; Zhao et al., 2012; Nie et al., 2013a,b; Wang et al., 2013), butits tourism value has not been recognised by the public.

3. Overview of Luochuan Loess National Geopark

3.1. Location and origin

Luochuan Loess National Geopark (LLNG), one of the secondround of national geoparks approved by the MLR of China, islocated in Luochuan County, northwest China (Fig. 2). To thesouth, it is only 2.5 h (approximately 230 km) by highway fromXi’an, a world-famous ancient capital with well-known attrac-tions such as the Terracotta Warriors, the ancient City Wall, andthe Big Wild Goose Pagoda. Approximately 100 km to the north isthe sacred place of the Chinese revolution, Yan’an city, in whichthere are more than 140 revolutionary relics. Approximately130 km to the east are the Hukou waterfalls of the Yellow River(Fig. 2). There are many nature reserves (e.g., the Giant Panda andNipponia Nippon Nature Reserves) and historical sites (e.g., Yel-low Emperor mausoleum and Famen Temple) within 3 h’ drive ofLLNG (Fig. 2).

LLNG is centrally located within the CLP, which contains themost complete Quaternary loess-paleosol sequences in the world.The geopark is located in the Heimugou valley, where naturalloess outcrops were discovered in the 1950s by Liu Tungshengand other geologists (Liu, 1985) who found that the loess-paleosolsequence could be well correlated with marine sediments (Hellerand Liu, 1984). Luochuan’s loess-paleosol sequences have beenregarded as a record of the typical Quaternary glacial-interglacialclimate. They contain important information about the evolutionof climate (East Asian Monsoon and aridification) in the CLP andthe Northern Hemisphere and are a record of global changes overthe past 2.5 million years (Liu and Ding, 1998). International ac-ademic circles have begun to pay much more attention to Chineseloess, and researchers have carried out a tremendous amount ofscientific research on its standard Quaternary Loess-paleosolsequence during the last thirty years (e.g., Heller and Liu, 1982;Liu, 1985; Kukla et al., 1988; Kukla and An, 1989; An et al.,1990; Liu and Ding, 1998; Fang et al., 1999; An et al., 2001; Guoet al., 2002; Sun et al., 2010; Hao et al., 2012). Loess sedimentshave now been listed as one of the three pillars of past globalchanges by Quaternary geologists and paleoclimatic scholars (e.g.,Liu and Ding, 1998). Unfortunately, due to local economic devel-opment and the natural processes of weathering and erosion, theloess sections are endangered by numerous threats includingagriculture activity, landslides, earthquakes, and uncontrolledsampling. To protect the geoheritage of loess and open up thisnatural wonder to the public, in the late 1990s, loess researchpioneer Prof Liu Tungsheng from the Chinese Academy of Sci-ences suggested that the government establish a geopark topreserve loess geoheritage and promote local socio-economicallysustainable development. The local government planned toconstruct a loess geopark in 2000. The Luochuan Loess Geoparkprogramme was approved by the MLR in 2002. Prof Liu Tung-sheng was honoured with the 2002 Tyler Prize, a premier awardfor individuals or organizations with outstanding, world-classenvironmental accomplishments. He received the award for hispioneering contributions in recognizing and using terrestrialsediments to understand global environmental change. In 2003,Prof Liu also received the prestigious State Preeminent Scienceand Technology Award, the highest scientific prize awarded in


China. These great achievements promoted the formal establish-ment of LLNG in 2004.

3.2. Major geoheritage sites

The protected area of LLNG (35�4103100 to 35�4501600 N;109�2403000 to 109�2600400 E) has a total area of 8.2 km2 and ismainly located in the Heimugou valley. The major geoheritage sitesinclude the Luochuan loess section (located in Potou village, alsocalled the Potou section) and various other loess landscapes (Fig. 3).

3.3. The Luochuan section and its scientific status

The world-famous Luochuan loess section (Fig. 4) lies on thewestern side of the Heimugou valley, has a total thickness of 130 m,and is a core attraction in LLNG. It is used as a standard loess sectionin China and around the world. The alternating loess-paleosolsequence is clear and complete (Fig. 4). The sequence is sub-divided into five major stratigraphic units ranked as different for-mations (Liu, 1985). From the base to the top of the sequence, theseformations are the Wucheng Loess, Lower Lishi Loess, Upper LishiLoess, Malan Loess (L1), and Black Loam. Under the Wucheng Loessis Pliocene Red clay, which unconformably overlies Lower Triassicsandstone and shale (Fig. 4). Within the Luochuan section, there areeleven loess layers over 2m in thickness, each indicating a long dry,cold period. Among these, Ll (Malan Loess), L9 (the upper sandyloess), and L15 (the lower sandy loess) are the thickest and mostspectacular. Both L9 and L15 are important aquifer layers, and evenwhen exposed in gullies they are usually moist. Paleosols Sl, S5, andWS2 are well-developed cinnamon soils, and S5 is a polygeneticcomplex of three superimposed cinnamon brown soils (Fig. 4). S5 iseasily recognised in the field because of its clear stratigraphic po-sition, greater thickness and redder colour. These special loess andpaleosol layers have been widely used as standard markers forstratigraphic correlation and age determination in the CLP.

The Luochuan loess-paleosol sequence provides valuable infor-mation about Quaternary paleoclimatic and paleoenvironmentalchanges. Hundreds of papers about this section from multidisci-plinary fields such as sedimentology, geochronology, magnetism,geochemistry, paleontology, geomorphology, and paleoclimatehave been published in many languages (e.g., Chinese, English,Germany, Japanese, French, Russian, and Korean). The high scien-tific value of the sequence has been widely accepted by interna-tional researchers. Every year, more than ten groups of scientists orstudents from different countries visit and/or carry out scientificresearch on the loess-paleosol sequence. Several universities (e.g.,Northwest University, Shaanxi Normal University) and institutes(e.g., Institute of Earth Environment, Institute of Geology andGeophysics, CAS) have established their own education or trainingbases in LLNG.

3.4. Loess landscapes

LNNG contains well-developed loess landforms such as loesstablelands (Yuan in Chinese), loess long ridges (Liang in Chinese)and loess round hills (Mao in Chinese), and natural loess sections(Fig. 5aec). There are many attractive micro-landforms such asloess walls (Fig. 5d), loess columns (Fig. 5e) and forest (Fig. 5f), loesscliffs (Fig. 5g), loess bridges (Fig. 5h), steep ravines (Fig. 5i), dam-med lakes (Fig. 5j) and loess holes. There are also cultural attrac-tions in the Loess Geopark Museum (Fig. 5k) and historical sitessuch as a beacon tower (Fig. 5l). The natural peculiar shapes of theloess features have been named as tourism attractions, includingthe Loess Pyramids, Peacock Down from Mountain, Dolphin out ofWater, and Sleeping Child (Fig. 3).


Fig. 3. Locations of loess geoheritage sites, monitoring stations and protective structures in Luochuan Loess National Geopark.


4. Geoconservation and geotourism in Luochuan LoessNational Geopark

4.1. Geoconservation in Luochuan Loess National Geopark

Different geoheritage sites need to be protected andmanaged indifferent ways. Gray (2005) suggested that the objectives of geo-conservation of landscapes and landforms are to maintain theintegrity of the landforms, maintain the contribution of thetopography, rock outcrops and active geomorphological processesto the landscape and restore or encourage natural contours. Simi-larly, the conservation objectives in LLNG are to maintain theintegrity of the outcrops of the loess-paleosol sequence as well asother loess landscapes.

The Luochuan section and other loess landscapes have suffereddamage and destruction from natural erosion and human activities.For example, the 8.0 Wenchuan earthquake that occurred inSichuan province onMay 12, 2008 caused a landslidewith a volumeof 5500 m3 of earth in the Potou loess section (Fig. 6aeb). Othersteep loess outcrops have collapsed due to continuous erosion bywind, rain or earthquakes (Fig. 6c). Hundreds of sampling pits have


been excavated at the Luochuan section (Fig. 6d), and this scientificsampling has accelerated the degradation of the deposits (Fig. 6e).Since the establishment of LLNG, some measures have been takento conserve the loess features. First, 8.2 km2 of the park has beenoutlined as an area that is important to protect the geoheritage ofloess, and farming activities such as tillage, clearing of trees, andfarm-building construction are now forbidden in this protectedarea. Administrative officials have been appointed to managegeoconservation and geotourism in the park. Second, a series ofengineering structures have been installed to protect outcrops andcliffs. Water bars have been built on the top of loess slopes and asteep red clay cliff to prevent erosion and collapse. The channelwalls of the major stream (Heimugou) have been lined with stonesand cement. A number of features have been constructed or createdfor the guidance and safety of visitors to the geopark, including atourism guide map (Fig. 6f), a bridge (Fig. 6g), lanes (Fig. 6h) and aresting pavilion with interpretative panels (Fig. 6i). Afforestationhas been implemented for geoconservation in some areas. Reveg-etation projects not only improve and beautify the environment,but they also reduce the destruction caused by soil erosion andprotect the main loess section and other loess features. Lastly, a


Fig. 4. Loess cross-section in the Potou valley in Luochuan Loess National Geopark.Loess cross-section was modified from Liu (1985). Photo: Song Yougui.


loess museumwas built to preserve the geoheritage of the park andpromote scientific research. The staff of LLNG and approximatelyone thousand local residents have been trained and educated ingeology. However, there are still some problems with geo-conservation projects, such as a lack of transportation and conser-vation facilities, an understaffed administration and limitedmaintenance funds. The impact of these geoconservation measureshas therefore been very limited.

4.2. The development of geotourism in Luochuan Loess NationalGeopark

Geotourism is a special form of tourism focusing on geologicalelements, but geotourism also implies the sustainable developmentof geoparks and local communities (Hose, 2011). Therefore, inaddition to installing basic infrastructure such as roads, servicefacilities and sanitary services, LLNG management focuses ondeveloping and sustainably managing the geo-attractions in thepark, including designing and erecting geo-interpretation featuresand engaging local communities in geoconservation.

A geo-landscape tour area is a very important attraction. LLNGhas five functional areas, namely, a geo-landscape tour area, anecological protection area, an orchard experience area, a resort areaand a management and service centre (Fig. 7). Of these, the geo-landscape tour area, which is the core area of the geopark, in-cludes major loess attractions such as the classic loess-paleosolsection (Fig. 5aeb), other loess features and micro-landforms(Fig. 5cei), a small lake (Fig. 5j) and loess landslide sites (Fig. 6aec). In addition, the ecological protection area functions like a bufferzone. Its purpose is to improve the health of the ecosystem throughafforestation and help protect the core area of the park.


In the management and service centre there is the LoessGeological Museum (LGM). The LGM opened in 2004 and isdesigned to look like a local residential building. The exhibits at themuseum are centred around six themes related to loess:

(1) What is loess;(2) Loess scientific value and research;(3) The loess section;(4) Loess landscapes;(5) Loess and Chinese civilization;(6) The local customs of Luochuan.

The “What is loess?” theme includes general information aboutloess, including the definition of loess, loess features, formationprocesses and causes of loess, and loess distribution and compo-sition. “Loess scientific value and research” introduces the signifi-cant scientific role of loess and a number of the scientificachievements made at Luochuan by Chinese and foreign re-searchers. “The loess section” highlights the Heimugou valley andthe Luochuan standard section. “Loess landscapes” clarifies theconcept of these special loess landforms. “Loess and Chinese civi-lization” is about ancient mankind archaeological remains in theCLP. “The local customs of Luochuan” presents cultural artefacts andfolk art, such as dough modelling, clay sculpture and paper-cutting.Unfortunately, these exhibits mainly consist of pictures and texts.

The orchard experience area and the resort area play an impor-tant role in the economic development of local communities. Theformer attraction has the potential to enrich tourism activities andextend the duration of tourist visits by allowing visitors to enjoypicking fruits or vegetables such as apples, peaches and straw-berries. The latter attraction not only provides accommodation and


Fig. 5. Loess sections, loess micro-landforms and other loess features in Luochuan Loess National Geopark. a) Loess landscape in Luochuan (2004); b) Potou loess section (2012); c)Xiaheimu loess section; d) Loess wall; e) Loess column; f) Loess forest; g) Loess cliff; h) Loess bridge; i) Loess ravine; j) Ganluo Lake; k) The gate of Luochuan Loess Geopark; l)Beacon tower.Photo: Song Yougui.


food for visitors, but is also an opportunity for visitors to enjoy theculture and customs of the Loess Plateau, with artistic performancesgiven by locals. For example, visitors can watch paper-cuttingdemonstrations and learn how to do it themselves. By offeringthese products and services, local residents can increase theirincome.

Lastly, the most important aspect of geotourism is to interpretthe geoheritage of loess to the public, which requires accuratescientific knowledge and understanding coupled with effectiveinterpretation. The interpretative panels in the park include infor-mation about the Luochuan tableland; loess; paleosols; chro-nostratigraphic units including the Holocene and Pleistocene of theQuaternary; Neogene, Pliocene and Triassic; and some represen-tative geo-landscapes. Unfortunately, these panels are only inChinese and are densely placed at a few sites rather than at the


location of each corresponding chronostratigraphic unit. Most ofthem use technical terms and are too academic to be understood bya broad audience. Some of them are even incorrect or inconsistent,which is a common problem in European geo-interpretation, asidentified in several published studies (Hose, 2000, 2006, 2012). Insummary, the explanations on the interpretative panels are rich ingeological information but are generally not intellectually acces-sible to the public.

5. Discussion

LLNG has made some significant advances in developing geo-tourism and promoting and implementing geoconservation. How-ever, LLNG is still in the primary stages of development, and thereare still problems to be addressed. These problems are as follows:


Fig. 6. Geoconservation activities, tourist facilities and interpretative panels in Luochuan Loess National Geopark. a) Loess landslide caused by the 8.0 Wenchuan earthquake(distant view); b) Loess landslide (close view); c) Loess collapse caused by weathering; d) Sampling pits; e) Sampling the Potou section; f) Guide map of Luochuan Loess NationalGeopark; g) Bridge and forest at the bottom of Heimugou valley; h) Lane; i) Resting pavilion and interpretative panels.Photos f and i: Dong Jibao; other photos: Song Yougui.


(1) One serious problem is damage to the loess deposits,although protection of the loess has improved since 2002(e.g., by reducing destructive human behaviour and slowingthe process of gully erosion). The upper section of thePleistocene deposits collapsed in the Wenchuan earthquake(Fig. 6aeb) and is now incomplete. Moreover, damage to thissection is expected to continue under current conditions,because existing cracks and crevices will be prone to land-slides and erosion. In addition, a number of rare features,including the loess bridge and the loess hole, have beendestroyed and can no longer be appreciated by visitors. Thereis an urgent need to reinforce the loess and steep red claycliffs and prevent further water and soil erosion. It wouldalso be beneficial to re-construct a new loess section in thecorrect location.

(2) A second challenge is the lack of effective conservationmanagement. For example, in LLNG there is a designatedloess heritage protection area but there is no clear indicationof places where sampling is allowed or prohibited for sci-entific research, which has resulted in damage to the stan-dard loess-paleosol sequence. Because of the lack ofregulation, an increasing area of the loess slopes is nowexposed to erosion. Moreover, there are nomeasures in placeto rapidly respond to landslide debris on the tourist trails byremoving such material and replacing boundary markersthat have fallen down, been damaged or moved. The toilet


facilities in the geopark are not kept clean and large amountsof rubbish remain for long periods of time in the park beforebeing cleared away. It is necessary to implement new man-agement actions, such as establishing a closed fence aroundthe loess section and loess landscapes to prevent people,including researchers, away from the features (for the safetyof both the geological features and the visitors); regulatingsampling procedures; and appointing personnel to clearloess that falls on roads.

(3) A third issue is the conflict between ecological restorationand scientific observation. The Luochuan section is animportant attraction that requires providing access to theentire exposure of the loess-paleosol sequence as well asgood visual access to individual sites. However, LLNG hasplanted large numbers of trees to prevent soil erosion. Withthe growth of the trees and increasingly dense foliage, thevegetation is now blocking visitors’ views of the loess sectionand the loess landscapes (Fig. 6g). We therefore proposecutting back the trees or branches that affect the visitors’view. However, in the long run, LLNG must abandon thismeans of ecological restoration and find a solution that ismore suitable to preserving the loess geoheritage. Pollenanalyses at six loess sections in the CLP indicate that herbswere the dominant vegetation both in the coldedry LastGlacial Maximum and the warmehumid earlyemid-Holo-cene (Jiang et al., 2013). Ecological restoration of herbaceous


a

Fig. 7. The five functional regions of Luochuan Loess National Geopark.


vegetation should be considered a priority, even though theinstallation of trees and shrubs was previously the goal.Planting grass or other herbaceous species may be a goodway to solve this conflict between an unobstructed view ofthe loess and ecological restoration.

(4) One critical problem is the poor interpretation of thegeological features in the park. Interpretative materials aretoo academic and are only in Chinese. It is necessary toengage the public with geoscience. Often, the interpretationof geological science engages visitors more than the scienceitself (Hose, 2012). Geological history can provide the un-derpinnings for effective interpretation of geological sites(Hose, 2000, 2006). Geo-interpretation is not about ‘dumb-ing down’ the science but rather developing vehicles toconvey a message to tourists using a gradual journey of


knowledge (Hose, 2012). The description of loess geoheritageshould be clear and concise, and the interpretation shoulduse straightforward language. For example, the explanationof geological periods such as the Holocene, Pleistocene,Neogene, Pliocene and Triassic should include both the nu-merical ages of the period and significant events thatoccurred during the period. Explanations of stratigraphicunits and deposits such as loess, paleosols, silt layers andcalcareous nodules should include information about for-mation processes and possible applications in agriculture,industry and everyday life. This information can enhance thequality of the experience for visitors and encouragecontinued visitor interest. Besides the transmission ofknowledge, geo-interpretation should engender concernabout the geosite and interest in geoconservation (Hose,



2012). Effective interpretation can contribute to sustainabletourism and recreation (Moscardo, 1998). Interpretativepanels should be placed in the vicinity of the featuresdescribed rather than grouped densely at a few sites. Inter-pretation should be provided in English as well as Chinese forinternational visitors.

(5) The Loess Geopark Museum (LGM) exhibits include picturesand a limited number of animal fossils, but lack actualspecimens of loess. To create greater interest in the LGM, wesuggest presenting actual specimens from the Luochuansection in a brand new exhibit. LLNG must cooperate withloess research institutions to select an appropriate locationfor drilling and sampling, obtain section specimens, and thendesign an interpretative display for the specimens. Further-more, the hole drilled in the section can be enlarged and usedas a tourism attraction through design and construction. Inthe exhibit, LLNG should make full use of technology andeducational methods such as multi-media equipment,modern acoustic, optic and electronic techniques, 3D tech-nology and virtual reality technology (Vasiljevi�c et al., 2013).For example, a 3D animation of the formation of the loesssection, the Luochuan tableland and the Heimugou valleywould make large-scale geological processes come to life forvisitors, increasing the popularity of loess and the geologicalsciences. The use of such technology would become animportant multimedia technique for promoting the LGM,helping the LGM to become an innovative and interactivegeotourism attraction.

(6) A lack of funding affects the development of geotourism. Theconstruction of the National Geopark in China mainly reliedon self-financing by local governments and incomes fromticket sales. Agricultural production, including apples andwheat, is themain source of income in Luochuan, where localeconomic development is slow. Luochuan is also locatedrelatively far from the two bigger cities of Xi’an and Yan’an,so the economic effects from these larger urban centres aresmall. Only approximately 30,000e40,000 visitors arereceived annually, mainly consisting of researchers and stu-dents. Admission to the geopark is free for the public, andtickets are only needed for the LGM. Income from tickets isvery limited, with annual average revenue of 15,000 yuan(approximately 2400 U.S. dollars), while the cost of main-taining the facility and paying the staff exceeds 100,000 yuan(approximately 16,000 dollars). Therefore, finances are achallenge for the sustainable development of LLNG. LLNGshould seek funding from various funding sources, includingnational, provincial and municipal governments and evenprivate businesses. In addition, measures should be imple-mented to increase the participation of local residents ingeotourism and promote local economic and social devel-opment, such as developing agri-tainment (a form of leisuretourism where entertainment occurs on a farm) and tradi-tional folklore and handicrafts. As shown in Fig. 1, there aremany tourist attractions in the area surrounding the park.LLNG should try to combine or integrate these attractions,which include Luochuan, the Yanan revolution relics, theTerracotta Army, Huangling, the Yellow River Hukou water-fall and Yanchuan Meandering National Geopark. The parkshould also join the Northern Shaanxi or even the Shaanxitourism circle, which would gradually raise the visibility ofLLNG. It is also necessary to further promote tourism.Currently, LLNG does not have its own website and has notinvested in advertising with various media, which hascontributed to the low popularity of the park. It would bewise to combine the park with Yellow River Hukou waterfall


and Yanchuan Meandering National Geopark to apply formembership in the UNESCO Global Geoparks Network.

6. Summary

Since LLNG was approved as a park in 2002, protection of thepark’s resources has improved to some degree. For example, theboundary of LLNG has been established, revegetation projects havebeen implemented, engineering projects have been implementedto reinforce existing structures, training and education for staff andlocal residents has grown, and geo-environmental monitoringstations have been constructed. Meanwhile, geotourism has alsoundergone some development, including the construction of a geo-landscape tourism area, the founding of the Loess GeologicalMuseum, and advances in geo-interpretation. However, given thatLLNG is the first loess geopark, there is no other park in China thatLLNG can use for reference in the development of geoconservation.Problems have inevitably arisen in preserving the geoheritage ofthe park and developing tourism. These problems include damageto the loess deposits, inadequate conservation management, aconflict between ecological restoration and scientific observation,ineffective interpretation of the geological resources and insuffi-cient funding. Fortunately, outside of China, conservation andpromotion of loess geoheritage has been put into practice at a fewEuropean loess sites, such as the Titel Loess Plateau in Serbia(Vasiljevic et al., 2011a,b; Mulec and Wise, 2012), the KarsticLandscape from Covalagua and Las Tuerces in Spain (Martín-Duqueet al., 2012), and some loess sites in Poland (Solarska et al., 2013).These European geoparks and geosites can be used by LLNG asmodels of good practices for interpretation.

By taking the correct measures to solve these problems, LLNGwould become a major tourist destination. We suggest that LLNGshould join with other nearby nature tourism areas to apply forGGN status, so as to improve the visibility of the geopark and itsinfluence on the public.

Acknowledgements

This study was co-sponsored by the Natural Science Foundationof China (Nos: 41290253, 41172166, 40772116), the Key ResearchProgramme of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (No: KZZD-EW-04-02), and Education Department of Shaanxi Provincial Government(No: 2013JK0184). We are grateful to guest editor Prof. Yang Shilingand two anonymous reviewers for their valuable comments andlanguage improvement. We also thank Dr. Thomas Hose for hisimportant references and Dr. Dong Jibao for his two beautifulphotos.

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http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.catena.2013.1006.1005

http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.catena.2013.1006.1005































































geoconservation and geotourism in luochuan loess national geopark, china

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