China has 46,377 glaciers, 46.8 percent or 18,311 of which are located in Xinjiang's national ice reserves. (Photo : Getty Images)
Local authorities have forbidden tourists from entering glaciers in Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, according to an article by China Daily.
"Glacier tourism brought in revenue of less than 1 billion yuan ($152 million) over the past dozen years, but the loss from shrinking glaciers is incalculable," said Li Jidong, an official from the regional tourism administration, in an interview with China Daily.
In place of the old policy, tourists are now only allowed to enjoy the glaciers from a safe distance, the new regulation stipulated.
China has 46,377 glaciers, 46.8 percent or 18,311 of which are located in Xinjiang's national ice reserves. All of these glaciers are facing threats from global warming, mining, tourism and grazing. Small glaciers at low altitudes in particular face more threat from climate change.
According to statistics, temperature in the region rose from 0.33 degrees Celsius to 0.39 degrees Celsius in the span of 50 years. These rates are almost three times the global average.
Water melted from the glaciers make up 25 to 30 percent of Xinjiang's surface run-off, which in turn has a disastrous effect on the local area, said the Tianshan Mountains Glacier Observation, which is ran by the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS).
The destruction of the glaciers has also led to water shortages in some areas.
"Glaciers in the Tianshan Mountains have receded by 15 to 30 percent in the last three decades," said Chen Xi, a representative from CAS. "And they will continue to retreat by 60 percent in the next 20 years, and by 80 to 90 percent half a century from today."
Tianshan Mountains' Glacier No. 1, which is located 120 kilometers from the regional capital of Urumqi, is the closest glacier to any city in the world.
Tourists were banned from the glacier in 2006, but unruly visitors have found a way to get into the area. Tourists also bring plastic waste, which was found in abundance during a visit by Xinhua reporters.
The region has encouraged other countries along the Tianshan Mountains to ban tourists from glaciers as well.
