Two Chinese attractions make Hurun ecotourism list

File photo of Tianchi Lake on Changbai Mountain.

Changbai Mountain, Jilin?- Tengchong in Yunnan province and Changbai Mountain in Jilin were named by the Hurun Report as the world's best ecotourism destinations in February and September respectively, China News Service stated.

The Hurun Report, part of a Shanghai-based media group that documents every aspect of the rising Chinese rich, said on Wednesday it had selected "World's 12 Best Ecotourism Destinations," ranking the best attractions on a monthly basis from over 100 famous tourist sites.

The 12 best ecotourism destinations from January to December include the Antarctic, Tengchong in China's Yunnan province, Bavaria in Germany, Iguazu Falls on the border of Argentina and Brazil, the Great Barrier Reef in Australia, Yellowstone National Park in the US, the Amazon rainforest in South America, Lysefjord in Norway, Changbai Mountain in China's Jilin province, Kamchatka Peninsula in Russia, Costa Rica and Palau.

Diversity of species, ecosystem, climate, beauty of environment, quality of air, as well as factors that represent the scarcity of destination features are all taken into consideration, according to 15 researchers that include ecological protection experts and reporters.

Hurun Report Chairman and Chief Researcher Rupert Hoogewerf said, "For the ecotourist, the 12 best ecotourism destinations in the world is a bucket list."

"These spots offer primitive natural environments that are good for people's health," he added, expressing his hopes that tourist operators do not commercialize these sites.