Table Of Content

Springer Geography Anze Chen Yunting Lu Young C.Y. Ng The Principles of Geotourism Science Press Beijing Springer Geography The Springer Geography series seeks to publish a broad portfolio of scientific books, aiming at researchers, students, and everyone interested in geographical research. The series includes peer-reviewed monographs, edited volumes, text- books, and conference proceedings. It covers the entire research area of geography including, but not limited to, Economic Geography, Physical Geography, Quantitative Geography, and Regional/Urban Planning. More information about this series at http://www.springer.com/series/10180 Anze Chen · Yunting Lu · Young C.Y. Ng The Principles of Geotourism 1 3 Anze Chen Young C.Y. Ng Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences Association for Geoconservation, Beijing Hong Kong China Hong Kong China Yunting Lu School of Geography Beijing Normal University Beijing China ISSN 2194-315X ISSN 2194-3168 (electronic) Springer Geography ISBN 978-3-662-46696-4 ISBN 978-3-662-46697-1 (eBook) DOI 10.1007/978-3-662-46697-1 Jointly published with Science Press, Beijing ISBN: 978-7-03-043495-1 Science Press, Beijing Library of Congress Control Number: 2015934915 Springer Heidelberg New York Dordrecht London © Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg and Science Press Ltd. 2015 This work is subject to copyright. All rights are reserved by the Publishers, whether the whole or part of the material is concerned, specifically the rights of translation, reprinting, reuse of illustrations, recitation, broadcasting, reproduction on microfilms or in any other physical way, and transmission or information storage and retrieval, electronic adaptation, computer software, or by similar or dissimilar methodology now known or hereafter developed. The use of general descriptive names, registered names, trademarks, service marks, etc. in this publication does not imply, even in the absence of a specific statement, that such names are exempt from the relevant protective laws and regulations and therefore free for general use. The publishers, the authors and the editors are safe to assume that the advice and information in this book are believed to be true and accurate at the date of publication. Neither the publishers nor the authors or the editors give a warranty, express or implied, with respect to the material contained herein or for any errors or omissions that may have been made. Printed on acid-free paper Springer-Verlag GmbH Berlin Heidelberg is part of Springer Science+Business Media (www.springer.com) Foreword 1 The Principles of Geotourism (1991), compiled by Anze Chen, Yunting Lu, et al. of China Tourism Earth-science Research Association, is a summary of research findings of several 100 members of the Association in five years since its establishment, as well as a pioneering move of China’s earth-science workers to serve tourism and apply the theories and methods of earth-science to tourism. It basically reflects China’s research level of contemporary tourism earth-science. The publication of this work is of significance for both the earth-science circle and the tourist circle. I, as the honorary chairman of the Association, feel very happy about so many research findings in just several years after the establishment of the Association, and feel it necessary for me to recommend this monograph to the earth-science, tourist and academic circles and say a few words about the birth of this new discipline. “Tourism earth-science” is an emerging marginal discipline which uses the theories and methods of earth-science and draws the essences of other disciplines to serve the needs of survey, evaluation, planning, development, management and protection of tourism resources, thereby boosting tourism development. It comes into being along with the emergence of China’s tourism industry. It is known to all that tourism, as a social phenomenon, has been in existence in China for thou- sands of years. However, tourism as an industry did not take shape in China until 10 years ago. In the late 1970s, China launched its reform and opening up, giving rise to the booming development of tourism, and in the early 1980s, tourism has come up as a sizeable sector of national economy. In this process, varied industries and disciplines had been penetrating into tourism and serving tourism by various scientific means. Geological and geographical circles take the lead. They have not only inaugurated “tourism earth-science”, but also achieved a series of highly academic research findings, built up a research team with adequate qualifications, thereby promoting the formation and development of tourism earth-science. Despite different research areas, geology and geography belong to the same category of Earth-science and both serve the tourism industry. With a view to finding an intersection of the two in tourism researches, a seminar on tourism earth-science was held in the spring of 1985 as proposed by Committee of v vi Foreword 1 Science Popularization of Geological Society of China. Scholars of geological, geographical, gardening, environmental and tourist circles got together, exchang- ing their research findings in combining with tourism science and serving tourism. All the attendants felt much wiser and unanimously thought it necessary to set up an academic team beyond all branches of science in order to research and explore the varied earthscientific issues relating to tourism. On careful discussion and consultation, the attendants accepted “tourism earth-science” as the name of the new discipline, and “China Tourism Earth-science Research Association” was established. Comrade Daguang Sun, the then Minister of Geology and Mineral Resources, Prof. Renzhi Hou, a famous geographer, and I (the then chairman of Geological Society of China) were elected honorary chairmen. I was pleased to take this honorable position. After establishment of the Association, the members have enriched and improved theories and gradually built up this new discipline— tourism earth-science in line with the guidelines of science and technology serving the construction of national economy and “practice–theory–further practice”. As assigned by State Planning Commission and Bureau of Land and Resources in the year of establishment of the “Association”, it drew the perspective zoning map (1:6,000,000) of China’s tourism resources, showing over 70 tourist areas and spots, and proposed the preliminary scheme of dividing national scenic areas into 86 sites (zones), which basically meets the requirement of the state for tourism resources in formulating national land rectification strategies. In recent years, the Association focused on researches on tourism resources and their development principles, including researches on structures, combinations, types and distribu- tion rules of tourism resources; made drawings of various national and regional tourism resources, and provided plenty of basic materials for central and local governments to develop tourism; researched the formation conditions and evolu- tion models of tourism resources, enriching the formation theories of tourism resources; drew perspective forecast maps of tourism resources to point out the direction for exploring new tourism resources; studied the methods of survey and evaluation of tourism resources, and development planning principles, reasonable use and protection schemes of tourist areas (spots) to provide scientific and tech- nological certifications for the overall development of tourism resources; studied earth-science and other sciences like history, economics, psychology and aesthet- ics relating to tourism; and studied the popularisation of earth-science in tourism, and combined tourism with spiritual civilisation education as well as the improvement of the scientific and cultural level of the whole nation. In a word, the studies on the above-mentioned issues have enriched and deepened the contents of tourism earth-science from different scopes and perspectives. Tourism earth-science, as an emerging science, needs more of our attention and support so as to give greater play to its potentials and functions in the expansive tourism field. However, we should also note that the theories, methods and contents of an emerging discipline are all pending for enrichment, improvement, as well as varied ordeals of practices. As we enter into the twenty-first century, I feel deeply that earth-science needs to develop and have its connotation deepened and service sectors expanded, and create more new disciplines with endless vitality Foreword 1 vii like tourism earth-science during practices. I believe, by virtue of the concerted efforts of earth-science and tourist circles, “tourism earth-science” aiming to serve tourism will surely have its theoretical and method systems improved day by day, and fully display its irreplaceable effects and values in China’s tourism. December 1989 Jiqing Huang Foreword 2 Earth, is a small rocky planet hurtling through space. From the edges of the solar system, it is barely visible as a small, blue dot. But this small, blue dot is special. Very special. For 4,600,000,000 years, as it orbits the Sun, the surface of this small planet has altered innumerable times. As the tectonic plates of the Earth’s thin solid outermost layer have moved across the eons of time, so oceans have come and gone, continents have collided and split apart, mountain ranges have risen and then been worn away and life, in all of its incredible diversity, has evolved and multiplied. How do we know all this? We know because the memory of these things are written in the stones and rocks all around us. Professor Anze Chen is one of those very special people who can not only read the memory of the Earth as it is recorded in the rocks, but also has the ability to share these stories with humanity, re-connecting them to the planet we call home. By engaging the Chinese people with their geological heritage, with their rich geodiversity, Prof. Chen has also assisted in the development of geotourism in China, and through that, in the sustainable economic development of communities across China. Through the sustainable approach used in geotourism and adopted by Global Geoparks, Prof. Chen has helped ensure that the geological heritage of China will remain intact for future generations to enjoy and that, through this English version of his book, the amazing journey of our small planet becomes more widely known across the world. Prof. Patrick J. Mc Keever Chief of Section, Earth-sciences and Geohazard Risk Reduction Secretary of the IGCP EES/NGR Natural Sciences Sector/Bureau 5.08 UNESCO ix Foreword 3 We all love our nature and stand ready to protect it, especially against the increasing human and urban encroachment. Rocks, landscapes and geological formations are not just spectacular creations by our mother nature but also the bedrock of our ecosystem and living planet. The understanding of the making of our planet earth should not be confined to academic pursuit. If we make it simple and well articulated, it could foster a greater sense of ownership by all walks of life and encourage all communities in the world to preserve our nature. Professor Anze Chen is a forerunner in this endeavour and his deeds, including the publication of this new book, set a good example. For decades, Prof. Anze Chen has pioneered the concepts of tourism earth- science and geopark in China. These concepts, supported by practical works and demonstrated results, have convinced geoscience academia and policy makers to promote the establishment of national geoparks and later UNESCO’s accredited global geoparks in China including the one recently established in Hongkong. Apart from effectively protecting China’s invaluable geological heritage and scenic wonders, well-managed geoparks have proven to be a healthy and sustainable engine bringing about improvement to the livelihood of the local people especially those in remote and less developed areas. On the education front, green-tourism- cum-earth-science, as a multidisciplinary academic subject, has gained its place and popularity among schools and colleges particularly for students studying geology and geography as well as those pursuing studies in tourism and development. I got to know Prof. Chen during the establishment of the Hongkong Geopark. We share the same vision of geoconservation and I am deeply impressed by his dedication and relentless efforts in promoting tourism earth-science in China for the benefits of all people. Professor Chen and his associates published the original Chinese version of their ground-breaking book ‘The Principles of Tourism Earth- science’ in 1989. They now take a step forward by publishing this English version to promote their ideas in the international arena. I take this opportunity to wish him and his team every success in this meaningful and challenging endeavour. August 2014 Edward Yau Tang-wah xi