Garbage and items to be washed have to be bodily carried down the mountain.

Development and Protection

The well-designed, scientific system of travel resource management and protection of Huangshan's natural and cultural heritage have made it a star attraction both in China and internationally. In 1999, China became the first Asian country to be awarded the UNESCO Melina Mercouri International Prize for the management and protection of Huangshan.

Huangshan's stunning geographical features and natural environment led to the UNWTO (UN World Tourism Organization) and UNESCO's setting up in March 2008 of the one and only sustainable Tourism Observatory in the Huangshan scenic zone. UN staff use the observatory's world standard equipment to gather, analyze and monitor environmental protection data and samples for global purposes.

At the end of 2011, the Huangshan scenic zone, Asia's sole representative, was among the first designated batch of pilot world sustainable travel destinations. The zone's management concepts appeared in the Global Sustainable Tourism Criteria for Destinations. In June 2012, assessment expert on the Global Sustainable Tourism Committee Brian Mullis carried out a 10-day observation of Huangshan. He remarked in his findings that, after 22 years of observing sustainable tourism in 45 countries, he is confident that Huangshan could serve as a template for similar destinations. Mullis was impressed with Huangshan's prospect planning and lawmaking as well as its well-rounded monitoring, volunteer service, eco protection, low-carbon travel mode and international cooperation.

Huangshan is a treasure that the Chinese share with people the world over. Building harmonious relations between man and nature has been and remains the focus of protecting and inheriting this precious tract.

(chinatoday.com.cn)