In line with President Xi Jinping's ecological civilization concept and the requirements for the construction and development of the Global Geopark, adhering to the three core principles of "protecting geological heritage, popularizing Earth science knowledge, and promoting local economic development through geo-tourism", there is a concerted effort to explore sustainable pathways for geopark development, environmental conservation, and socioeconomic progress. Recently, a delegation of four led by Director HUANG Tianbing from the Alxa Desert Global Geopark Administration embarked on a study visit to the Aheitan Geological Culture Village. Located in Gadan Town, Halong County, Qinghai Province, Aheitan is the first geological culture village in China with a focus on minority culture within the Yellow River Basin. It is a product of meticulous planning and construction, guided by an expert team from the China University of Geosciences (Beijing), in collaboration with the Tourism Bureau of Halong County and the Chinese Geological Survey, based on comprehensive indoor research, The Operation Guidelines for the establishment of Geological Culture Villages and Towns issued by China Geological Survey .
Aheitan Village is located on the third terrace of the Yellow River, replete with valuable geological heritage sites such as the meanders of the Yellow River, river terraces, springs, and colorful hill formations. It is also adorned with abundant cultural heritage, including ancient city walls, clusters of ancient tombs, bronze artifacts, and polychrome pottery. The village notably features ancient poplar trees, with the oldest tree dating back to over 800 years, serving as a prominent tourist attraction. In the village, there is a mosque built in 1323, which combines Tibetan, Han, and Islamic architectural styles, and was designated as a national key cultural heritage site by the State Council on March 14, 2013, as one of the seventh batch of such sites in China. The village also offers exquisite Salar people embroidery, the decelicious Hualong homemade noodles, and sophisticated Salar people banquets. These diverse geological and cultural resources provide an ideal setting for the development of cultural and tourism industries in the locality.
Stepping into Aheitan Village, one is greeted by a scenic vista at every turn, replete with both natural beauty and educational insights. The village's tourist promotional kiosk at the entrance provides a comprehensive and detailed overview of Aheitan's geological culture village, highlighting its main attractions and distinctive features, which instantly captures the visitor's attention as they enter. The educational walls dedicated to geology and culture within the village serve as a platform for educating both locals and visitors about geological principles and cultural heritage, enriching their experience with knowledge as they explore. The geological culture corridor at the Ancient Poplar Resort seamlessly weaves together the geological landscape of Aheitan, the Yellow River civilization, the history and culture of the Salar people, offering a narrative that traces the past and present of Aheitan's geological culture village, along with tales of its geological and cultural heritage.
Through the investigation, learning, and exchange of the geotourism project of Ahetan Geological Culture Village, we aim to contribute to the rural revitalization development strategy of Alxa Desert Global Geopark, further leverage the brand advantages of the global geopark, focus on geotourism development, protect and conserve geological heritage, promote the development of characteristic tourism in Alxa League, accelerate the cultivation of the tourism industry, actively create brand attractions, and play a positive reference role in promoting the new development of beautiful Alxa Desert UGGp.
