Wudang promotes ecological construction
By Le Qin ( chinadaily.com.cn )
Updated: 2013-08-12
The Wudang Mountain Tourism and Economy Special Region has been focusing in recent years on its ecological construction, and has greatly increased its green cover.
The forest coverage rate of Wudang Mountains is 84.4 percent, and 3,200 mu (213.33 hectares) of commercial forests have been transformed into ecological forests, including hundreds of well-preserved ancient trees.
In addition, there are nearly 30,000 mu (2,000 hectares) of soil and water conservation forest around Wudang Mountains, and wild animals such as hedgehogs and muntjacs as well as white egrets are quite common.
Wudang Mountains, a world cultural heritage, national 5A scenic area and the core water source district of the South-to-North Water Diversion Project, boasts a botanical garden with many sweet-scented Osmanthus trees, covering an area of 100,000 square meters.
The authorities have also established green belts of 55 kilometers on both sides of the roads around some scenic spots, and villagers living in Wudang Mountains grow different kinds of tea, oranges and other fruits.
With an investment of 20 billion yuan ($ 3.27 billion),the Ecological and Cultural Tourism Zone of Taichi Lake includes six wharfs, Laozi park, a mountain sports park and a musical fountain.
Edited by Niva Whyman
