Mount Huangshan Scenic Site, China

Finalist, Destination Stewardship Award 2010

Situated in the eastern Chinese Anhui Province, Mt Huangshan Scenic Site is internationally acclaimed as one of the top ten scenic spots in China. This UNESCO World Heritage Site comprises an area of magical, natural landscape, rich oriental culture and an intact and vibrant eco-system.

The Huangshan Scenic Area Administrative Committee was set up by the Huangshan Municipal Government to handle the overall management of Huangshan Scenic Site. Its responsibilities are to formulate and implement strategic development planning for sustainable development; to protect scenic resources and the eco-environment; to improve tourism infrastructure and guide the development of the tourism industry; to protect the tourism market and co-ordinate with stakeholders within and outside the scenic area; and to enhance the attractiveness of the destination as well as its competitiveness as a tourism business.

Judges' Verdict
Mount Huangshan Scenic Site is a complicated tourism destination comprising an area of 1,200 km2 in total and 160 km2 in its central zone. It attracts 2.3 million visitors a year and has an established tourism infrastructure accounting for 4,500 jobs, 900 of which in nature conservation. This tourism site has received the highest affirmation from UNESCO, which named it one of the best-managed sites in Asia. It has been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1990.

Key to the success of Mt Huangshan Scenic Site are the comprehensive and tireless efforts of the Mt Huangshan Scenic Area Administrative Committee. This governmental body has promulgated and implemented a great number of planning strategies with the aim of protecting the cultural and natural habitat of Mt Huangshan Scenic Site. Moreover, the Committee has created strong linkages to other international sites of similar nature, such as Yosemite National Park in the USA or the Jungfraujoch Gipfel in Switzerland to share best practice and lessons learnt. The establishment of three visitor centres, a Huangshan Geological Museum and the Huangshan Calligraphy and Paintings Institute, has contributed significantly to cultural heritage preservation and guest education. Last but nor least, the committee has created a profitable branch in the Huangshan Tourism Group Co Ltd, which now manages and develops the surrounding tourism industry based on Mt Huangshan Scenic Area Committee's sustainability principles.

"Being shortlisted for the Destination Stewardship Award is an important step in the recognition of Huangshan's excellence in tourism planning, best practice in natural and cultural resource protection, and provision of tourism development benefits - not only for local people, but for communities and multiple stakeholders. The award will also stimulate the continuous improvement of Huangshan's sustainable tourism development."
Jiwei Xu, Secretary of the Party Committee and Deputy Director of the Administrative Committee of Mount Huangshan Scenic Site