Gansu scenic area suspends camel-riding services

Due to a large flow of tourists, camel-riding services have been temporarily suspended at the Mingsha Mountain Crescent Spring Scenic Area in Dunhuang, Gansu province, according a Wednesday report from Jimu News, a news portal based in Hubei province.

Known for its picturesque scenery and its crescent-shaped spring in the middle of the desert, the area gained even more attention for its camel-riding services in recent years. A traffic light with camel patterns was even erected specifically to deal with traffic jam, which made the spot a even hotter destination.

The camel-riding program at the site was temporarily halted on Tuesday due to concerns over the well-being of the camels and environmental factors, a worker with the scenic area said, adding the area is currently working on implementing necessary maintenance.

"The number of visitors per day has reached up to 20,000 to 30,000. The majority of tourists who come here would like to ride camels, but with only around 1,000 camels available, it has become physically demanding for the camels to continuously cater to their needs. Additionally, the heat and the large number of camels have led to dust and a stronger odor due to camel excrement, resulting in environmental pollution," the worker told the reporter.

The management office further assured visitors other modes of transport within the scenic area, such as sightseeing vehicles, are operating as usual.

The reopening date for the camel-riding program is currently unknown.

Tourists planning to visit the area are advised to contact the management office for updates.