Exploitation of plateau lakes will end, Yunnan vows

Legislators in Yunnan province said "revolutionary" steps will be taken this year, including shutting down tourism-related businesses in sensitive areas around major lakes to preserve the natural environment.

The move will illustrate the province's rejection of the current destructive model under which tourism leads to exploitation, deputies of the Yunnan People's Congress said on Monday.

City governments have enacted stricter regulations to help with the protection efforts. For example, in Lijiang, near Lugu Lake, all ports, hotels and other buildings inside the core protection zone will be ordered to move out, said Cui Maohu, the city's Party chief and a member of the provincial people's congress.