A precious resource that needs continued protection

[Photo provided to China Daily]

That's the principle currently advocated by those in charge of management of Hanzhong sinkholes. Currently the plan of how best to exploit the Hanzhong sinkholes is still being discussed and only researchers have access at present.

Lei Mingxiong, deputy director of Shaanxi Provincial Department of Land and Resources, said Hanzhong sinkholes are just part of the natural attractions as there are also karst formations, caves, gorges, waterfalls, and wetlands. They provide rich, precious tourism resources and can all be utilized to promote tourism throughout the whole Shaanxi province.

Yuan Daoxian, an academician of Chinese Academy of Sciences as well as a leading figure in domestic geological research, visited the Hanzhong sinkholes in December. "The natural conditions surrounding Hanzhong sinkholes are preserved quite well," he was quoted by Shaanxi Daily, "much better than some previously discovered ones."

But Yuan also noticed that some land near the Hanzhong sinkholes is being used for agriculture. He emphasized that much will need to be done to protect the integrity of Hanzhong sinkholes.