Chinese region bans glacier tourism

Beijing, Feb 11: Tourists have been forbidden from entering glaciers in northwest Chi’s Xinjiang region, authorities said on Thursday.

“Glacier tourism brought in ($152 million) over the past dozen years but the loss from shrinking glaciers is incalculable,” said Li Jidong from the regiol tourism administration. According to the new regulation, tourists would only be allowed to enjoy the sight of glaciers from a distance instead of walking on them, Xinhua news agency reported.

Statistics showed the temperature of the region has risen 0.33 degrees Celsius to 0.39 degrees Celsius per decade over the past 50 years, almost three times the global average.

Chi has 46,377 glaciers, with 18,311, or 46.8 percent of the tiol ice reserves located in Xinjiang. (IANS)