6 hikers punished for crossing nature reserve without permission

CHENGDU -- Six of seven hikers have received punishment for crossing a nature reserve without permission in Southwest China, according to local authorities.

The other hiker died accidentally during the trip at the Wolong National Nature Reserve in Sichuan Province.

According to the reserve on Monday, the six survivors were fined 5,000 yuan ($722) each.

In March of this year, one of the hikers posted a thread on the internet about hiking on Daxuetang, the highest mountain in the provincial capital Chengdu. The other six hikers joined the trip earlier this month according to plan.

On their way back, the posse encountered strong winds, rain and snow. One of the hikers fell to death in the process.

The survivors accepted the punishment and said they had learned their lesson.

The Wolong National Nature Reserve is a national-level reserve that covers an area of 2,000 square km. Any activity not related to scientific research is prohibited there.