28 Aug 2016

The 33rd International Geographical Congress was held in Beijing, P. R. China on August 21-25, 2016, with the participation of nearly 5,000 experts and scholars from more than 100 countries and regions around the world. The congress was hosted by International Geographical Union, organized by Geographical Society of China and Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences. The theme of the 2016 Congress is Shaping Our Harmonious Worlds, which highlights today’s common pursuit for harmony between humankind and nature, between environment and society, and for harmonious approaches to the world’s hazards and conflicts. Under this theme, five Congress key topics was focused, parallel to the quadrennial meeting of the IGU commissions and task forces.

The 33rd International Geographical Congress (Photo from the Internet)

The Congress aims to fully demonstrate the achievements of international geography in recent years and to promote exchanges among geographers of different countries through discussions on various aspects of the field of geography. It is understood that during the five-day session, 10 internationally renowned scientists will make invited reports for the Congress. At the same time, sessions will be set up around five main themes: "Geography and the Future Earth", "Climate Change and Global Understanding", "Urbanization and Sustainable Development", "Environmental Health and Human Well-Being" and "Geography and Multiculturalism", with a total of 260 topics and more than 400 presentations, forums and seminars.

Participants visitied Qingshuitang Stone Forest (photo by Bao Jihong)

In addition, a rich variety of field excursions was organized so as to provide participants a chance to appreciate some of the unique natural features and cultural traditions of this ancient and modern country. The Geographical Society of China and the Local Organizing Committee made every effort to offer an attractive environment for communication and networking among geographers all over the world.

Participants visitied Shilin Goepark Museum (photo by Bao Jihong)

The Shilin Karst in Yunnan province contains stone forests with sculpted pinnacle columns and is considered the world reference site for pinnacle karst. Shilin includes spectacular karst features and landscapes, which are both exceptional phenomena, and of outstanding aesthetic quality. It includes the stone forests of Shilin, superlative natural phenomena which include the Naigu stone forest occurring on dolomitic limestone and the Suoyishan stone forest arising from a lake. So it was selected as one of the post-congress karst field excursions.

Participants visitied the Natural Bridge, an important geosite in the Shilin UGGp (photo by Bao Jihong)