Garbage removal by helicopter at scenic spots in online celebrity, Xinjiang： transported by the way when returning, not specially enabled.

Source: Beijing News

　　Recently, the topic of "online celebrity, Xinjiang uses helicopters to clear garbage" rushed to Weibo for hot search. It is reported that this scenic spot is the only place on the hiking route of Wusun Ancient Road, and it is also a highlight along the route. It is called Paradise Lake and is located in Baicheng County, Aksu, Xinjiang. Due to the recent popularity of tourism in Xinjiang, the number of tourists on Wusu Ancient Road has also increased.

　　Known as "the best hiking route in Xinjiang", Wusun Ancient Road has basically no human settlements along the way, so it needs to be reloaded with self-sufficient supplies and camping equipment. During the tourism boom, the natural scenery of the route is absolutely beautiful, and there are some rubbish left by tourists after camping, including abandoned inflatable rowing boats and gas tanks.

　　On the evening of July 27th, the Beijing News reporter connected Zhang Tao, director of the Information Office of Baicheng County People’s Government, and Li Qingping, secretary of the Party Group of Baicheng County Cultural Tourism Bureau. According to the two people, since July, Baicheng County has received 240,000 tourists, an increase of 15% over the same period of last year. At the same time, the garbage in its famous scenic spot Wusun Ancient Road has increased. Due to the steep road, the local area relies on the convenience of returning by tourist helicopters to remove the garbage for harmless treatment.

　　Zhang Tao and Li Qingping both said that they hope that tourists will leave footprints and good memories, but please be sure to take away the garbage. In the future, on the basis of maintaining the classic hiking route of Wusun Ancient Road, the local area will also consider setting up tent camps and supply points as appropriate to reduce the burden on tourists and finally realize "decompression for the environment".

　　When the helicopter returns, it takes away garbage by the way, which is labor-saving and efficient.

　　Beijing News: Recently, there have been frequent reports on the Internet that "Paradise Lake, the punching place in online celebrity, Xinjiang, is full of garbage". How much garbage is picked up and removed every day in this scenic spot?

　　Li Qingping:Due to the recent increase in the number of tourists, the garbage near Paradise Lake has indeed increased. Paradise Lake is a highlight in the hiking route of Wusun Ancient Road, and many tourists will choose to camp here to rest, so there is more garbage at this point than other sections along the route.

　　Zhang Tao:Objectively speaking, Wusu Ancient Road is a niche tourist route, and most of the players are professional hikers, photographers or scientific research teams, and their overall quality is high. Although littering also happens, it is rare.

　　Recently, the average number of tourists entering the ancient road every day is only about 100. On the ancient road with a total length of nearly 130 kilometers, the garbage picked up every day is filled with up to three 80-liter snakeskin bags, and only one and a half bags at a time.

　　Beijing News: Some netizens questioned why the scenic spot chose to transport garbage by helicopter. Will it waste public resources? Is there any other way besides helicopter transportation?

　　Li Qingping:Helicopters are the means of transportation for the "low-altitude flying tour" project. It takes about 7 days for tourists to go to Paradise Lake from Tekes, the starting point of the route, but it takes only about 30 minutes by helicopter.

　　After the tourists get off the plane, volunteers and others put the picked-up garbage into the helicopter material warehouse, which can be taken away by the way when the helicopter returns. This method is labor-saving and efficient. Companies that operate helicopters are also completely voluntary and do not charge any fees.

　　In the case of less garbage, it is transported by horses. It takes 2-3 days to put the packed garbage bag on the horse and transport it away.

　　Garbage affects water sources and harms livestock, and it is planned to introduce regulatory measures.

　　Beijing News: Who is generally responsible for centralized garbage collection? Is there any garbage that is harmful to the environment of the scenic spot?

　　Li Qingping:It was mainly picked up by local cooperative personnel, volunteers and others, with a total of more than 20 people. Many tourists will also offer their help.

　　Zhang Tao:That’s right. Because the ancient road is steep and the public health infrastructure is relatively small, the garbage is mainly collected by local cooperative personnel and volunteers.

　　Many tourists will come forward to help and take away the garbage as long as there is capacity in their backpacks and garbage bags. I met a Beijing tourist who saw herders picking up garbage and immediately joined the team, saying, "This is really a blasphemy against nature."

　　The harmful garbage is mainly food packaging and metal gas tanks with exhausted fuel. Tourists going to the toilet in the wild have little impact on the environment.

　　Beijing News: What does the natural resources in the scenic spot mean to the local people? What impact will garbage have on the lives of local residents?

　　Zhang Tao:Melting water from iceberg snow along Wusun Ancient Road is the basic water source for local residents to survive.

　　There are two main kinds of impacts caused by garbage. First, it pollutes domestic water. Herdsmen don’t bring water into the mountains specially, but drink the water from the mountains directly. If there is garbage in the upper reaches of the river for a long time, the water quality will change; Second, it will harm livestock, white garbage is difficult to degrade in the wild, and horses, cattle and sheep may die from eating plastic bags by mistake.

　　Beijing News: Will there be penalties for littering?

　　Zhang Tao:Thinking about it. The comprehensive law enforcement teams in local towns and villages may be delegated certain authority, so that herders can supervise tourists, or tourists can supervise each other, and report telephone signs may be placed at important sections such as the entrance to the mountain pass.

　　In the future, security points may be set to reduce the burden on tourists and the environment.

　　Beijing News: Does the transformation of the ancient road into a "punching place" in online celebrity pose a problem for management?

　　Zhang Tao:Ancient road management is different from general scenic spots. Although the scenery is amazing, the road is long and the road conditions are steep, so tourists should play with caution.

　　Along the way, you must pass through Daban, Akburak, which is nearly 4000 meters above sea level, and climb the peak with a slope of 75 degrees. The narrowest part of the horse path on the mountain is only 30 cm. In addition, Paradise Lake is located in the hinterland of Tianshan Mountain, with steep Daban on both sides, making it difficult for conventional transportation to enter. As tourists often say, "feet are in hell, hearts and eyes are in heaven."

　　For us, the main problem is how to ensure the safety of tourists. To this end, Baicheng County has set up an emergency rescue station 8 kilometers away from Paradise Lake, which is still under construction. If tourists are trapped in the ancient road, they can send helicopters from Tex to rescue them. In addition, there are cavalry teams at both ends of the ancient road, which are mainly responsible for emergency rescue in case of sudden flash floods or mudslides.

　　Beijing News: After this tourism peak, what plans does Baicheng Tourism Bureau have for the future scenic spot construction, and how to deal with the next wave of tourism peak?

　　Zhang Tao:First of all, to ensure the safety of tourists, when the weather conditions are very bad, we will restrict the flow of the ancient road or temporarily close the entrance; Secondly, we advocate "joint protection and no development", and carry out certain development under the premise of good protection, so that the Wusun Ancient Road can maintain the classic hiking route.

　　In addition, we will provide more services to tourists in terms of food, clothing, housing and transportation. Tent camps may be set up in Paradise Lake to replenish food for tourists along the way, so as to reduce the "white garbage" that tourists may carry. We provide security, they reduce the burden, and finally decompress the environment.

　　Beijing News reporter Xiong Lixin Intern Cong Zhixiang