Last September, after two years of construction, a 55-kilometer, first-grade highway was completed. Just as it was ready to go into operation, the government of Zhaoyang District suspended tourism in the nature reserve.

If tourism is not stopped, the car ride from downtown Zhaotong to Dashanbao will be shortened from three hours to less than an hour. Along this highway, which has a speed limit of 60 kilometres per hour, more traffic and passengers will flow into the nature reserve.

People must retreat to make room for the cranes. This represents an adjustment to the relationship between protection and development. Starting last September, besides suspending tourism at Dashanbao, the local government systematically planned new ecologically protective measures for the nature reserve designed to optimize its scope and function.