National park system

The Government Work Report delivered by Premier Li Keqiang on Sunday advances overall planning for the national park system in order to provide strong support to the construction of an ecological civilization.

The national park system is an internationally recognized protected area model, which allows the government to carry out protective development and some tourist projects for the purpose of education and entertainment under the premise of preservation. The system not only protects the natural environment but also enables the public to enjoy a better tourism experience.

As a top-level design of environmental protection and tourism development, the conception of national park system was first advanced during the third plenary session of the 18th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China in 2013.

In December 2016, the Central Leading Group for Comprehensively Deepening Reform approved several pilot programs for reform of the national park system. As of now, the central government has launched nine pilot national park programs including Sanjiangyuan, Shennongjia and Wuyishan in 12 provinces and regions including Qinghai, Hubei and Fujian provinces.

Sanjiangyuan National Natural Reserve in Qinghai province, established in 2005, is China’s first pilot reform program of national park system.