On June 22, the School of Earth and Environmental Sciences at Lanzhou University successfully held a seminar on the construction of the national first-class undergraduate program in Human Geography and Urban-Rural Planning and the master's degree program in Territorial Spatial Planning at the Chengguan Campus of Lanzhou University. The seminar invited 14 renowned experts and scholars from Peking University, Northeast Normal University, East China Normal University, South China University of Technology, South China Normal University, Henan University, Hunan Normal University, Ningxia University, Tianjin University, Northwest University, Northwest Normal University, and Sun Yat-sen University. Attendees included Gou Xiaohua, Vice President of Lanzhou University, Li Yu, Dean of the School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, department heads, associate department heads, faculty members, and student representatives. The seminar consisted of three sessions: academic reports, a roundtable meeting, and presentations on young academic progress.

The opening ceremony was hosted by Professor Wang Xin, Deputy Dean of the School of Earth and Environmental Sciences at Lanzhou University. Vice President Gou Xiaohua and Dean Li Yu extended a warm welcome to the attending experts on behalf of the university and the school, expressing heartfelt gratitude for their long-term care, assistance, and support for the development of Geography, especially Human Geography, at Lanzhou University. Vice President Gou Xiaohua highlighted the unique geographical advantages and strong disciplinary foundation of Lanzhou University, using Geography as an example to introduce the construction of national first-class undergraduate programs and the achievements in talent cultivation at the university. Dean Li Yu provided an overview of the school's construction of national first-class undergraduate programs, discipline development, and talent cultivation.

The keynote reports were chaired by Professors Gao Hongshan and Yang Yongchun from Lanzhou University. Professor He Canfei, Vice President of the Geographical Society of China, Director of the Teaching Steering Committee of Geography Science Programs of the Ministry of Education, and Dean of the College of Urban and Environmental Sciences at Peking University (online); Professor Xue Desheng, Vice President of the Geographical Society of China, member of the Eighth Discipline Evaluation Group for Geography of the Academic Degrees Committee of the State Council, and Professor at the School of Geography and Planning at Sun Yat-sen University; Professor Zhao Pengjun, Dean of the School of Urban Planning and Design at Peking University; Professor Wang Shifu, member of the Urban and Rural Planning Discipline Evaluation Group of the Academic Degrees Committee of the State Council, member of the National Steering Committee for Urban and Rural Planning Education, and Vice Dean of the School of Architecture at South China University of Technology; Professor Kong Xiang, Vice Dean of the School of Geographic Sciences at East China Normal University; Professor Qiao Jiajun, Party Secretary of the School of Geography and Environmental Sciences at Henan University; Professor Liu Yungang, Vice Secretary General and Executive Director of the Geographical Society of China, and Dean of the School of Geographic Sciences at South China Normal University; and Professor Zhou Guohua, member of the Teaching Steering Committee of Geography Science Programs of the Ministry of Education and Dean of the School of Geographic Sciences at Hunan Normal University, delivered reports on themes such as "Training Top Talents in Geography in the New Era," "International Fieldwork and Training Geographical Talents with Global Vision," "Disciplinary System and Strategic Development Points of Human Geography," "Transformation of Urban-Rural Planning Discipline from the Perspective of Spatial Governance," "Challenges in Building National First-Class Programs in Human Geography and Urban-Rural Planning," "Spatial Interface Research in Rural Geography," "Political Geography and Nation-Building," and "Reflections on the Reform of Human Geography and Urban-Rural Planning Programs." They conducted in-depth discussions on the construction of Human Geography and Urban-Rural Planning programs and talent cultivation.

In the afternoon roundtable forum, Professor Zhang Zilong, Head of the Human Geography and Urban Planning Program and the Master's Degree Program in Territorial Spatial Planning at Lanzhou University, reported on the construction of these programs. Experts shared unique insights on important aspects such as program characteristics, research directions, curriculum systems, practical teaching, textbook development, and the accumulation of teaching achievements. They provided targeted, guiding, and practical suggestions for the construction of the national first-class undergraduate program in Human Geography and Urban-Rural Planning and the master's degree program in Territorial Spatial Planning at Lanzhou University.

In the session on young academic progress, Dr. Wang Yuliang, Researcher Lü Rongfang, Associate Professor Jia Zhuo, and Associate Professor Wang Meimei from Lanzhou University presented on "Urban Sustainable Development Research Based on Nature-Based Solutions," "Three-Dimensional Cities and Ecosystem Services," "Urban-Rural Spatial Integration and Spatial Convergence Effects in the Lanxi Urban Agglomeration," and "Influence Paths and Heterogeneity of Human Capital on Urban Innovation Competitive Advantage in the Yellow River Basin," respectively. The experts provided insightful comments on the presented topics.

The successful convening of this seminar actively promoted the exchange and mutual learning in the construction of the national first-class undergraduate program in Human Geography and Urban-Rural Planning, discipline development in Human Geography, and talent cultivation. It further strengthened the cooperation and exchange between Lanzhou University and domestic peer institutions in program construction, discipline development, and talent cultivation.