Two women banned from scenic area in Sichuan for violating regulations

Two women have been permanently banned from entering a scenic area in Sichuan province after they violated regulations and got lost while hiking in the mountains.

The two women, surnamed Wang and Cai, aged 31 and 41, entered the Siguniang Mountain scenic area in Sichuan province on Sunday despite warnings from staff about the dangers of hiking in the area. Later that evening, when snowfall occurred in the mountains, Wang and Cai found themselves in a dangerous situation and called for help. The authorities promptly organized a rescue operation and helped the two visitors descend the mountain.

The scenic area's administration issued a notice last month prohibiting unauthorized outdoor activities. Any individual or organization found to engage in such activities will be blacklisted and banned for life from entering the area.

In recent years, several accidents have occurred to outdoor enthusiasts in the scenic area. In 2015, a hiker from Hunan province slipped and got injured while descending in a valley; in 2017, a hiker from Tianjin got injured after slipping while descending from a summit.

Sichuan provincial authorities of tourism, water resources, and forestry recently released a joint notice to enhance the management of tourism activities in undeveloped and restricted areas. Such areas include nature reserves, water sources, flood channels, and State-owned forest areas. Any unauthorized entry that causes damage, disputes, or casualties will be held accountable.

The notice also required authorities to promptly announce and update the restricted areas, publish the management entities, conduct regular inspections, install warning signs at the entry points, and issue public notices to remind visitors of the potential safety risks and legal responsibilities associated with unauthorized entry.