--- SEARCH ---
WEATHER
CHINA
INTERNATIONAL
BUSINESS
CULTURE
GOVERNMENT
SCI-TECH
ENVIRONMENT
LIFE
PEOPLE
TRAVEL
WEEKLY REVIEW
Learning Chinese
Learn to Cook Chinese Dishes
Exchange Rates
Hotel Service
China Calendar


Hot Links
China Development Gateway
Chinese Embassies
Info
FedEx
China Post
China Air Express
Hospitals in China
Chinese Embassies
Foreign Embassies
Golfing China
China
Construction Bank
People's
Bank of China
Industrial and Commercial Bank of China
Travel Agencies
China Travel Service
China International Travel Service
Beijing Youth Travel Service
Links
China Tours
China National Tourism Administration

Sustainable Tourism in Lushan Mountain

People wanting to get away from it all often return to nature, to relax in seclusion. Tourism authorities want to bring in the visitors as many as they can. How can this seeming contradiction be resolved? CCTV reporter Yang Lin takes you to Lushan Mountain to see how they're making the two ends meet.

 

Lushan Mountain in east China is very beautiful, covered with green trees and perpetually shrouded with mist.

 

Lushan Mountain is famous for its scenery and pleasantly cool summer temperatures. Throughout history, many famous poets and statesmen chose Lushan as a meeting place or built summer villas there.

 

But just a few months ago, a 24-meter high observation tower was at the top of the mountain, which spoilt the former natural beauty instead.

 

"We got rid of the observation tower to maintain the natural beauty of the mountain," said Ouyang Quanhua, director of Lushan Administrative Committee.

 

With tourism booming, local authorities had to develop facilities to make it more accessible and convenient. Investment was poured into construction projects, including a new lotus flower lake and cable cars and observation tower.

 

But not all the developments contributed to a more beautiful Lushan. Some natural scenic spots were obscured and former attractions which drew tourists were lost.

 

This led to a re-thinking of policy.

 

Ouyang said, "Environmental protection always has high priority over construction."

 

Local authorities have done a lot to maintain Lushan's natural charm. At great expense, a distillery was closed, unauthorized buildings were demolished and some sewage treatment facilities were built to help in protecting the environment and prevent pollution.

 

The authorities are also waking up to the fact that when people go traveling, they don't want to find themselves in crowded, unpleasant surroundings. Only an eco-friendly venue will keep visitors coming.

 

A Chinese tourist said, "Lushan is beautiful. It's a popular destination for tourists."

 

"So far, it looks good and the natural beauty is protected well," an American tourist said.

 

To make Lushan both well-protected and enticing, experts and professionals are being consulted for thorough, scientific planning.

 

A more beautiful Lushan is expected in the near future.

 

Tourism development and environmental protection are sometimes at odds with each other, but they don't need to be that way. Sustainable development in tourism and environmental protection can go hand in hand as is being demonstrated here.

 

(CCTV.com October 14, 2003)

 

The Temple of Heaven
Dazu Rock Carvings
Imperial Tombs of the Ming and Qing Dynasties
Longmen Grottoes
Three Parallel Rivers of Yunnan
Yungang Grottoes in Datong, Shanxi Province
Xidi and Hongcun Villages, Museums of Ming-Qing Architecture in Southern Anhui
Mount Qingcheng and the Dujiangyan Irrigation System
Mount Wuyi
The Summer Palace
The Ancient Town of Lijiang
Classic Gardens in Suzhou
Mount Emei and the Leshan Giant Buddha
World Heritages Preservation in China
Print This Page
|
Email This Page
About Us SiteMap Feedback
Copyright © China Internet Information Center. All Rights Reserved
E-mail: webmaster@china.org.cn Tel: 86-10-68326688