According to China National Radio’s “CNR News,” recently there have been frequent reports of tourists getting trapped after entering undeveloped areas. While their own safety remains at risk, such incidents also pose management challenges. Huangshan in Anhui will introduce measures, and tourists who venture into unrestricted areas without authorization may face severe penalties.
On the 25th of this month, three tourists from Weihai, Shandong, were trapped at the summit of Darushan Mountain and became highly agitated; firefighters swiftly carried out a rescue. A few days earlier, a hiker from Jiangsu went missing in the deep mountains of Laoshan Scenic Area in Qingdao, Shandong, and today marks the seventh day of the search, with volunteers fanning out across multiple routes to comb the mountain. We also haven’t forgotten the incident in August 2010, when 18 Fudan University students were trapped in Huangshan Scenic Area. Police from Shanghai and Anhui jointly carried out a rescue operation, and the students were eventually saved, but a young police officer unfortunately fell off a cliff during the search. These incidents serve as reminders to adventurers to prioritize the safety of themselves and others while exploring.
Moving forward, Huangshan Scenic Area will regulate tourist numbers, and penalties will be imposed for unauthorized forest fires and exploration activities. Yesterday, the “Huangshan Scenic Area Management Regulations (Revised Draft Amendment)” was once again submitted for deliberation at the meeting of the Standing Committee of the Anhui Provincial People’s Congress. The regulations stipulate that the management committee shall determine the environmental capacity and designated travel routes of the scenic area, formulate and implement visitor flow control plans, and make them publicly available, organizing tourism activities in a planned manner.
Additionally, the amended draft of the regulations includes legislation on unauthorized outdoor fires and exploration activities. The regulations state that those who fail to comply with the scenic area’s visiting order and safety protocols, or who enter undeveloped and unrestricted areas for activities such as sightseeing, exploration, or rock climbing—actions that jeopardize both scenic resources and personal safety—will receive a warning or a fine ranging from 1,000 to 3,000 yuan if they refuse to correct their behavior.