Chinese tourists caught on video trampling over delicate rock formations of the world famous Five-color Pond in Sichuan have draw condemnation from citizens across the nation and the park’s management, saying that their uncivilized and inconsiderate behavior could destroy unique scenery that formed over tens of thousands of years.

A video showing a number of tourists dressed in down jackets jumping over the fences and stepping onto the preservation area of the pond to take photos went viral over the weekend.

Huanglong National Park management confirmed the incident on Sunday, saying that it took place on Wednesday. Park employees tried to stop the tourists from entering the preservation area but they were ignored.

The Five-color Pool in Huanglong National Park is a UNESCO World Natural Heritage Site, renowned for its colorful terraced travertine ponds and limestone formations. The site’s management urged visitors not to cross into the preservation areas as the site is a wonder of nature that has taken more than 30,000 years to form, and still continues to evolve today.

Visitors should respect the site for its high scientific and aesthetic values and restrain their behavior, the site’s management said. The travertine formation – made from delicate layers of mineral deposits – is very fragile and cannot sustain the weight of an adult, and any damage to the site could be irreversible, it said, urging visitors to behave in a civilized manner when they visit the site.

It is not uncommon for Chinese tourists to have defied warnings and entered preservation areas. In July, a travel influencer brought a foreigner to enter the protected zone of Longzhou Danxia Landform Scenic Spot in Shaanxi. The incident was severely criticized by netizens and the influencer had to make a public apology.

Click here for Chinese version

---------------------------------

Apple Daily’s all-new English Edition is now available on the mobile app: bit.ly/2yMMfQE

To download the latest version,

iOS: bit.ly/AD_iOS

Android: bit.ly/AD_android

Or search Appledaily in App Store or Google Play