The granite peaks and spindly pine trees gamely clinging to sheer cliffs that make up the Huangshan landscape are famous to every China citizen; it is one of the country’s most popular tourist destinations—seeing two-and-a-half million visitors every year—and has long been a famous source of inspiration for artists and writers (indeed, it was the muse for several scenes in the blockbuster film, “Avatar”). The area also contains a number of rare and endemic plant species. Naturally, Huangshan’s biggest concern in developing sustainably is limiting the impact of so many travelers. The region, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, has already capped daily visitor numbers, added alternative trails to alleviate overuse of the most popular ones, promoted winter visits, and closed certain “hot spots” on a rotating basis.
The leadership at the Huangshan Scenic Area hopes that participation in the GSTC’s Criteria for Destinations Early Adopter program will help them head further down the path toward sustainability: controlling noise and sight pollution in certain areas, learning best practices in water and energy use, and, perhaps most important for a site in China, conveying the message of sustainability to the visiting public. This gorgeous landscape is the perfect backdrop for a lesson in the value of preservation, as well as its economic benefits.
