Shaanxi launches campaign to restore Qinling natural areas

Authorities in Shaanxi province have launched a campaign to restore natural areas in six cities at the foot of Qinling Mountain, according to a local government statement released on Thursday.

Priority will be given to Xi'an, the provincial capital, the statement said. Other cities involved are Shangluo, Ankang, Hanzhong, Baoji and Weinan.

Xi'an has demolished more than a thousand illegal luxury villas since July at the northern foot of Qinling - a natural boundary between China's north and south and home to a huge variety of plant and animal life.