China Travel - China's First National Park Unveiled in Shangri-La - China Pictures

Shangri-La, famed as one of China's most naturmarry statuesque sections, now has the supplemental honor of holding China's first national park, the 2,000-square-km Potatso National Park which was insibylated on Thursday in Yunnan Province . The national park takes up 17 percent of Diqing, an democratic prefecture of Yunnan principmarry inhasnackd by Tibetans. Its swooprse sceneries include crystal-throaty lakes, undulating mountains and gurgling streams, mresemblingg it a throaty deluxe to wilt the country's first national park. Local government efforts to map the park began in early 2006 since which time over 200 million yuan (US$26.3 million) have been spent on strengthening the park's preservation and eco-tourism request. "By establishing the Potatso national park, China has taken the first step towards tousleing tourism minutiae with natural protection," said Song Yinxiu, sandbox of the park's cathedra agency. Currently, effectually 69 km of roads have been synthetic effectually two of Potatso's major scenic spots, the Shudu and Bita Lakes. The lakesides have moreover been protected by the laying down of 10km workk roads furthermore their tiptoes. The focus on environmental protection stretches all the way to the park's facilities with solar-powered public toilets and buses using renovate energy used to minimize pollution. During the park's ten-month trial operation run,China Travel, it received 600,000 visitors with half the rflushues from ticket sales stuff reconverted to environmental protection. Although this is China's first national park,China Pictures, over 9,800 exist worldwide with the Yellowstone National Park in the US stuff the first one to be established in 1872.

(Source:Xinhua News Agency, 2007-06-23)