Resplendent in the natural beauty of its breathtaking landscapes and geo parks, Huangshan (literally Yellow Mountain) in southern Anhui province, eastern China, truly merits its status as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Low-carbon travel and environmental protection have been the focus of Huangshan’s tourism bureau throughout exploitation of local travel resources – efforts that have earned it UNESCO commendation for exemplary world heritage conservation.

A worker on Yellow Mountain lowers himself down to a valley to collect litter. CFP

Cleaners in Paradise

Although the mountain path is generally packed with visitors, you would be lucky to spot so much as a tissue along this well-trodden track. The uniformed cable workers, carriers and cleaners that make up the local environmental protection team, however, do come into view from time to time.

Certain cleaners are distinguishable by the long tongs and broom they carry in one hand and reusable bag in the other as they patrol their assigned stretch, picking up litter. Others are equipped with telescopic cant hooks, climbing cams and ropes to remove any garbage out of arm’s reach. At peak travel season these cleaners are at work from 7 am till sunset.

Carriers are a common sight on Huangshan. All daily necessities, including cleaned vegetables – even building materials – have to be bodily carried to the summit, and garbage and items to be washed carried down. This daily transportation of goods controls the volume of water supply and discharge and minimizes garbage on the mountain. We frequently heard the request, 'please let me pass' from carriers along the path laden with 50 or more kg of goods. As those at the front are often the first of a team, they need to maintain a constant pace. When in need of a rest they simply lean on their sticks and catch their breath before carrying on. As the Huangshan management committee confirmed, these carriers have borne on their shoulders every tile and brick used to build hotels on the mountain, as well as the stones to construct the bridges there.

Care and Conservation

Huangshan is famous for its pines, 54 of which appear on the UNESCO Heritage list, and three to five workers are responsible for each one. A team of 19 is assigned to protect Huangshan's most famous, 1,300-year-old Guest-Welcoming Pine from insect pests and effects of sudden changes in the weather, and record the state of its trunk, bark and needles. Local and international experts carry out yearly checks on these pine trees to ensure their healthy growth. To avoid afferent insect pests there is a ban on bringing any wood to the Huangshan scenic site. Fifty checkpoints are in operation for this purpose. To guard against forest fires, fire fighters are posted every 200 to 300 meters in the area, and a total 200 are on hand in the event fire should break out.

One of the oldest of the nine well-known pine tree species in the Beihai zone began to wither in 1972 and eventually died in 1982. Well-known for the resemblance it bore to a dragon standing on the mountain peak, a plastic replica was made of it, and in 2004 a similar pine tree was planted on a 40-meter-tall stone pillar.

Staggered breaks from visitors are an innovative measure specifically aimed at protecting Huangshan's natural and cultural heritage. As the mountain's broad scope of scenic delights draw huge numbers of visitors, since 1987 accessibility to certain peaks in the Huangshan scenic area has been rotated every three to six years.

Some Huangshan locales are now amid their third break, during which natural recovery combined with human assistance renews damaged woods and vegetation and improves the eco system.

In the 20 years since introduction of the break system Huangshan's scenic spots have retained their best possible state, as naturally luxuriant as ever, despite soaring numbers of visitors.