Baishui River in Pingnan, in southeast China's Fujian Province is a popular tourist destination.

Three sites in Ningde, in south China's Fujian Province have applied for membership of the UNESCO International Network of Geoparks.

The three sites are Baishui River in Pingnan, Taimu Mountain in Fuding, and Baiyun Mountain in Fu'an. They received authorization to apply to UNESCO's Geoparks program in 2009 after an evaluation carried out by the Ministry of Land and Resources.

Taimu Mountain in Fuding, in southeast China's Fujian Province

Because of their rare geological features, Baishui River and Taimu Mountain had already been designated as national parks. The twin volcanic peaks of Baiyun Mountain form one of the most striking views in China.

The twin peaks of Baiyun Mountain, Fu'an, in southeast China's Fujian Province

The three sites were exhaustively evaluated by geological experts for their typicality, scientific interest, rarity and visual features before being designated as non-renewable natural resources, qualified to apply to join the international geoparks program.

The sites came third in a national competition to qualify for a UNESCO geoparks application. Staff from Ningde were delighted that their presentations, evidence and commitments had won them inclusion on the list.

(China.org.cn by Wu Huanshu October 15, 2008)