Danxia a world heritage, but how to protect it?

After world heritage

Many worry that tickets to the six Danxia sites will become more expensive to match the change in status.

Most world heritage sites raise their admission fees. Huangshan Mountain, in Anhui Province, Zhangjiajie in Hunan Province and Jiuzhaigou in Sichuan Province all raised their admission tickets to more than 200 yuan after becoming heritage sites.

Peng said the price hike was influenced by China’s tourism management, which relies on tourism income to support heritage protection.

“China has a large population base, and these scene sites are trampled by millions after they are recognized. By raising the prices they can limit the number of people coming in,” Ma Xiaolong said.

“In the long run, it may be better for related departments to hold public hearings to collect opinions on prices rather than allowing the developers and contractors run the show,” Ma said.

Another problem is over- development. The management of Zhangjiajie was issued a stern warning by UNESCO when it began erecting so many hotels that it brought damage to the scenic area.

Many local governments have no clue how to go about protecting their heritage. They turn instead to tourism and profits, not thinking about the potential for long-term damage.

Peng said the Danxia sites would adopt a “peripheral development.” A special organization will be established to manage all six sites, preserving the “non-development” areas for permanent protection and research. Tourism will be limited to a small area around the scenic spots, Peng said.