Shaanxi accelerates national park project

Shaanxi Province is speeding up the construction of Qinling National Park to protect the natural environment and will release a detailed plan this month, a senior forestry official in the provincial capital said on December 1st.

Dang Shuangren, director of the Shaanxi Forestry Bureau, said at a news conference in Xi'an that the National Forestry and Grassland Administration had set up a special institution in August to promote the construction of the park.

"This month, a detailed plan for the park is expected to be released," said Dang, adding that the park will connect multiple nature reserves along the Qinling Mountains, a major landmark dividing northern and southern China, and provide more unified environmental protection.

The Qinling Moutains are home to various species of plants and rare animals, including wild giant pandas, crested ibises, takins and golden snub-nosed monkeys.