TO protect the plants and scenery of the Huangshan Mountain, a UNESCO World Heritage site, tourists are advised not to eat instant noodles at the site.

The administration of Huangshan Scenic Area in Anhui Province made the announcement Tuesday on Sina Weibo to address questions from netizens asking why Huangshan doesn’t provide hot water for instant noodles.

Before implementing the measure, leftovers and packaging materials from instant noodles were often found littered inside the scenic area.

This led to soil salinization and significant damage to the vegetation. The consumption of leftovers by animals such as squirrels and birds also posed a threat to their health.

Eating instant noodles is not prohibited on the mountains but it is not encouraged, an official with the scenic area told local media.

The ban on sales of instant noodles was put in place in 2006, and punishments for the violators were also specified.

(China Daily)