Two of the perpetrators, 20-year-old Li and 17-year-old Xu, turned themselves into the local police. The identities of the other two are being investigated according to a report on South China Morning Post. One of the teenagers can be heard bragging about destroying the ancient landform in a video. In another, a tourist can be seen digging the sand with a bare foot. The caption, originally written in Chinese, reads, “Good things must be shared twice: we went through the back door and didn’t have to pay for a ticket. This area looks even better.”
Zhangye in the Gansu province of China is home to an ancient land formation that dates back 200,000 years — and that’s just the surface. Dig a little deeper and you will find rocks that date back to 40 million to 100 million years, a time when dinosaurs roamed the region. Unfortunately, the landmark in the geopark was recently destroyed by four Chinese tourists who were seeking internet fame.
Two of the perpetrators, 20-year-old Li and 17-year-old Xu, turned themselves into the local police. The identities of the other two are being investigated according to a report on South China Morning Post. One of the teenagers can be heard bragging about destroying the ancient landform in a video. In another, a tourist can be seen digging the sand with a bare foot. The caption, originally written in Chinese, reads, “Good things must be shared twice: we went through the back door and didn’t have to pay for a ticket. This area looks even better.”
In order to prevent similar incidents from happening, local authorities have decided to step up security measures. Railings that surround the geopark are now being inspected and repaired. Security staff will also patrol the outskirts of the area. Messages calling on tourists to obey the rules and protect the landform are also being played on electronic boards and through loudspeakers.