The file photo of Shi Xian Ge Hotle located at the south gate of Mount Hengshan.

With an explosive sound and extensive smoke, a hotel located at the south gate of Mount Hengshan, one of China's Five Sacred Mountains, is been blasted out of existence. Before the Spring Festival, another seven such hotels will be demolished.

Mount Hengshan is one of China’s famous tourist attractions. As the tourist industry has developed, more and more privately-owned village houses and hotels have appeared. Such short-term commercialism and urbanization has threatened the sustainable development of the area. So the local government has begun a demolition project to protect the mountain's environment.

A total of 28 restaurants and hotels, occupying a floor space of 55,900 square meters, will be moved out. 434 households are involved in the resettlement project, costing 230 million yuan (US$29.6 million).

The demolition will be divided into three phases. But the process of hotel clearance, conservation initiatives and the restoration of old architecture will each be underway at the same time.

Mount Hengshan, also called The South Mountain, is situated in the Hengyang city, south China's Hunan Province.

(CRI February 6, 2007)