Anyone caught illegally felling or damaging ancient or rare trees on Mount Huangshan, a Chinese world heritage site, will face harsher penalty, or prosecution, under new regulations that come into effect on Sep 1.

Those involved in the sale of ancient or rare trees will be fined up to five times their illegal earnings, according to the regulations.

Mount Huangshan, listed as both a natural and cultural world heritage site, is a world-famous tourist attraction for its fairyland scenery, centuries-old, precious trees and fascinating, strange-shaped boulders. Some ancient trees are marked as symbols of the culture of the eastern province of Anhui, where the enchanting mountain resort is located.

The regulations, instituted by the Huangshan City government, also require forestry authorities to record and number ancient and rare trees and document trees on the mountain.

(People's Daily September 1, 2003)