A TOPIC about Huangshan Mountain refusing to provide hot water for tourists to cook instant noodles has recently gone viral on social media. Many internet users had thought these regulations were unreasonable. However, their attitude took a U-turn after its management committee provided a detailed explanation — instant noodles are not recommended along the routes on the mountain, as the discarded food and soup could result in soil salinization, environmental pollution and vegetation damage. It is just one of the numerous ecological measures rolled out at this UNESCO World Heritage Site over the past decades. The Guest-Greeting Pine, a must-visit landmark, has been considered a significant cultural symbol of Chinese hospitality. In the 1980s, a post to oversee the pine was created. Hu Xiaochun has already written down about 1.4 million characters recording the pine over the past decade. As the 19th guardian of the pine, Hu has accompanied the pine for 13 years. His routine involves patrolling around the pine and recording its condition and surroundings. Apart from Hu, the scenic spot has a group of “Spidermen” cleaning garbage from the steep cliffs by hanging themselves by a rope. Li Peisheng is one of the members. After professional training, he has been doing this job for over two decades. The two workers said that they found positive changes on the mountain. “Over 20 years ago, the scenic area received an annual number of tourists of approximately 800,000, and we had to descend cliffs to collect garbage seven or eight times per day. Nowadays, the tourist influx is over 3 million. However, littering has significantly decreased since the tourists’ environmental protection awareness has constantly improved,” Li said. Advanced technologies now apply, and protection rules have been tailored to protect ancient trees and wildlife and monitor the climate on the mountain in recent years. Thanks to these efforts, more new wildlife species have been spotted there in recent years. Ge Xufang with the site’s management committee said Huangshan is committed to reducing the environmental burden due to tourism activities. Measures include relocating offices and living facilities, building eco-friendly accommodations, and reducing domestic sewage and garbage. (Xinhua) | 