Xi'an City in northwest China's Shaanxi Province issued a new regulation on Tuesday, to protect the ecosystem and the environment of the Qinling Mountains – the ecological divide between northern and southern China.

Qinling is home to a huge variety of plants and rare wild animals such as giant pandas, golden snub-nosed monkeys, and crested ibis.

In the past few years, Chinese President Xi Jinping has made six instructions on tackling illegal construction of villas in the mountains, demanding a thorough investigation. After July 2018, more than 1,100 illegal villas at the northern foot of the mountain have been demolished and a number of officials investigated.

(Cover image via VCG)

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