Hong Kong UNESCO Global Geopark (Chinese: 香港聯合國教科文組織世界地質公園), formerly Hong Kong National Geopark (香港國家地質公園), was inaugurated on November 3, 2009. It covers an area of 50 km2 across parts of the Eastern and Northeastern New Territories. It includes eight sites (and combinations of sites). On September 18, 2011, UNESCO listed the Geopark as part of its Global Geoparks Network.
The Hong Kong Global Geopark consists of two geological regions: the widely distributed hexagonal rock columns in Sai Kung, which are of international geological significance, and the northeast New Territories region, which comprises sedimentary rocks formed in different geologic periods, showcasing the complete geological history of Hong Kong.
The Geopark is made up of eight Geo-Areas distributed across the Sai Kung Volcanic Rock Region and Northeast New Territories Sedimentary Rock Region.
High Island (Chinese: 糧船灣) is the home of the spectacular hexagonal columnar-jointed volcanic rocks. Most of the columns are sub-vertical, straight-sided and parallel. It covers a large area around Sai Kung, includes High Island Reservoir and Tai Long Wan, Sai Kung.
Ung Kong island Group (Chinese: 甕缸群島) is located in southeastern Hong Kong, immediately to the south of the High Island peninsula and to the northwest of the Ninepin group of islands. It consists of Wang Chau (Chinese: 橫洲), Basalt Island (Chinese: 火石洲) and Bluff Island(Chinese: 沙塘口山). Columnar-jointed rocks underlie these islands, giving their cliff coastline a distinctive appearance, and leading to the development of many sea caves and sea arches.