Wulingyuan fast becoming premier tourist destination in China

Hunan province isn’t exactly reputed as a tourist destination, yet the area contains one of the most stunning landscapes in a country of stunning landscapes. The huge sandstone towers from the Cretaceous period have remained isolated in the northwest region of the province for centuries, were settled relatively recently, but just last year a tunnel was bored through a rock face to gain entrance to the spired city of Wulingyuan National Park.

Unesco has declared the ancient sandstone towers protected through their heritage program, but the double-edged sword is beginning to glint in the sunglasses of the thousands of tourists that the designation has forced through this fragile landscape.

It is not yet common for foreigners to make pilgrimage to this amazing place, but the newly prosperous and car-hungry Chinese are coming in droves, putting at risk the rare flora that is found there.

China has a chance to learn from other countries’ mistakes regarding preservation of natural wonders, and it must act now if it is to keep from happening here what has happened in equally unique places lie Pammmukale in Turkey, where the free reign of opportunism has all but killed the fragile system.

Despite plans to open a new airport 20 miles away in Zhangjiajie and to construct a new highway to connect the park with Chongqing, the Chinese seem to be stepping carefully to assure their amazing treasure won’t turn into a mismanaged mess like Mt. Fuji.