Five water conservancy scenic areas in Sichuan was among the latest batch of sixteen national-level water conservancy scenic areas made public by the Ministry of Water Resources on September 9.

The new approval brought the number of such scenic areas in Sichuan to thirty-six, whose planned areas added up to 7100 square kilometers.

Total water area of the five new scenic areas, Honghai in Xichang, Zhangba in Luzhou, Rangtangzequ River in Aba, the Hongyanzi Lake in Nanchong and Tianchi Lake in Guang’an, is 1248.68 square kilometers.

A water conservancy scenic area is a scenic area based on a water body or a water conservancy project where sightseeing, entertainment, leisure, vocational, scientific, cultural and educational activities can be conducted.

According to relevant rules, the five scenic areas will strictly limit the areas open to the public, the opening hours and the number of tourist arrivals so as to protect the headwaters and the water bodies.

In addition to the national-level ones, Sichuan also has 59 provincial-level water conservancy scenic areas, whose planned areas total 1954 square kilometers.