CCTV Exposes Inner Mongolia Milk Lake Within Ecological Red Zone, Park Closes
SingTao · 2 SOURCESabout 3 hours ago2 MIN
Summary
Inner Mongolia's White Lake, famed for its milky-white appearance caused by calcium carbonate suspended in water, has been closed indefinitely after state broadcaster CCTV revealed serious violations of ecological protection regulations. The scenic area in Taipusi Banner, Xilin Gol League, charged vehicles 100 yuan to enter despite being located within a nationally designated ecological protection red line where development is strictly prohibited .
Key Points
- CCTV investigation on October 6 exposed that the White Lake sits inside an ecological protection red line, where road signs explicitly state "windbreak and sand fixation" as the primary function, prohibiting human activities in core protection zones and any development in other areas
- The local government signed a cooperation agreement with Shandong Cultural Tourism Scenic Spot Investment Group on May 8, 2026, and completed commercial upgrades in just 37 days
- Daily visitors exceeded 10,000 since summer 2026, with approximately 2 million tourists visiting between June and October last year
- Unauthorized facilities built included a cement gate, parking lot, tent campsites, grassland train, rainbow slide, horse riding operations, and a row of barbecue restaurants along the lakeside
- Taipusi Banner officials publicly acknowledged mistakes, ordering cessation of all commercial operations and committing to ecological restoration while seeking to complete necessary approval procedures
Why It Matters
The incident highlights the tension between rapid local economic development driven by social media fame and strict national ecological conservation mandates. The case sets a precedent that even trending online destinations cannot bypass China's stringent environmental protection framework, sending a clear signal to local governments nationwide that ecological red lines are non-negotiable .
The incident highlights the tension between rapid local economic development driven by social media fame and strict national ecological conservation mandates. The case sets a precedent that even trending online destinations cannot bypass China's stringent environmental protection framework, sending a clear signal to local governments nationwide that ecological red lines are non-negotiable .