Shaanxi accelerates national park project

Shaanxi province is speeding up the construction of Qinling National Park to protect the natural environment of the mountain range and will release a detailed plan this month, a senior forestry official in the provincial capital said on Tuesday.

Dang Shuangren, director of the Shaanxi Forestry Bureau, said at a news conference in Xi'an that the National Forestry and Grassland Administration had set up a special institution in August to promote the construction of the park.

"This month, a detailed plan for the park is expected to be released," said Dang, adding that the park will connect multiple nature reserves along the Qinling Mountains, a major landmark dividing northern and southern regions of the country, and provide more unified environmental protection.

The Qinling Moutains are home to various kinds of plants and rare animals, including wild pandas, the crested ibis, takins and golden monkeys.