Reducing littering at tourist spots
關注旅游景點亂扔垃圾問題

Cleaners in tourist spots across the country have their work cut out due to the increase in tourist numbers. But some of these tourist spots have now come up with unique ways to reduce the workload for these cleaners.

For tourists, travel is about enjoying their visit and having a good time.

But for cleaners, it is something else entirely.

The National Day Holiday travel peak means a lot more work.

Take for instance Gulangyu island in Xiamen, east China. Authorities estimate during this holiday period, around 60 thousand tourists will travel there everyday.

That number can fill a garbage bin every 20 minutes, doubling the workload for cleaners on the island.

"The bin weighs around 15 kilograms. It gets full every 20 minutes," Yang Shunyu, a cleaner said.

Though the increased workload is tiring for him, Yang tells us there are a number of tourists who are helpful and make the job easier for him. Tourist like this family.

"Throwing garbage in the bin is an easy thing to do for us, but it saves a lot of energy for cleaners. It’s for our own good," a tourist said.

But not all tourists are this considerate.

Which is why, Xi’an city in northwest China has come up with a novel plan to reduce the workload for its cleaners. Here, tourists can exchange an empty plastic bottle or any garbage, for a free bottle of water.

Naturally, tourists are a happy bunch.

"I think this reminds people not to litter and reminds us to protect the environment," a tourist said.

Last year, around a million tourists visited Lintong district in Xi’an during the National Day holiday. They left behind a huge mess at scenic spots to clean up.

So, the local authority came up with the idea of exchange garbage for water.

"Garbage thrown on the ground can be cleaned....but when people leave garbage on the mountain in the forest park, it is problematic. Cleaning up the mountain puts us under tremendous pressure," Han Zhao, Director of Civilization Office of Lintong, Xi'an said.

Hubei Province in central China has gone even further.

Tourists in Shi’en canyon can now exchange half a kilo of garbage, for a free ticket of the Dragon-boat melody show.

"I saw a poster on the ticket box that Shi’en canyon now offers a free show ticket in exchange for half a kilogram garbage. So I brought my child to help. I want her to learn about protecting the environment," a tourist said.

Local authorities say that for environment protection to succeed, society needs to get involved as a whole. They also say that they want to promote the idea of civilized travel for all people in the country.