Authorities in Taibai County have issued administrative penalties for an illegal group crossing of the Qinling Aotai route that occurred between May 30 and June 2. This marks the first penalty case in Shaanxi involving illegal entry into a nature reserve's core zone since the newly revised Regulations of the People's Republic of China on Nature Reserves took effect on March 15. The group of five individuals was fined for their actions, with the maximum penalty reaching 25,000 yuan.
An investigation by the Taibai County Natural Resources and Forestry Bureau revealed that the organizer, Tang, was inspired to undertake the illegal crossing after watching videos about the Aotai route on his phone in mid-May. He then contacted two other individuals, Wang and Lu, through a video comment section, and together they planned the group expedition. On May 30 at 4 a.m., the five arrived at a trailhead without a checkpoint, carrying outdoor equipment, gas canisters, and food, and began their trek
They deliberately bypassed the Mataigou control point and crawled through gaps in the wire fence to illegally enter the core protection zone. Over the following days, they traversed several landmarks, camping at various points and using gas canisters to cook meals. To avoid leaving evidence, the group members actively deleted photos and videos from their phones, with some also erasing their online chat records and disbanding communication groups to destroy incriminating evidence.
On June 2 at around 3 a.m., the group circumvented a duty checkpoint on Lupinggou Village Road by descending along a river channel and ravine to reach National Highway 342, where they took a ride-hailing car back to Xi'an and went their separate ways. The investigation confirmed that the area they entered, known as the Aotai route, is part of the legally designated core zone of the nature reserve, where unauthorized entry is strictly prohibited.
The five individuals were found to have violated Article 26 of the Regulations on Nature Reserves. Pursuant to Article 40 of the same regulations, they were ordered to immediately cease their illegal activities and were warned not to enter the core zone or other restricted areas again. Fines were imposed based on each person's role: Tang was fined 25,000 yuan, Wang and Lu were each fined 20,000 yuan, and Tan and Liu were each fined 10,000 yuan.
Under the previous version of the regulations, the maximum fine for such an offense was only 5,000 yuan. The newly revised regulations increased the ceiling for individual fines to 100,000 yuan, reflecting changes in economic conditions. The administrative penalty process followed the Administrative Penalty Law, which requires that when imposing a substantial fine, the authorities must inform the parties of their right to request a hearing.
Initially, the bureau proposed fines of 50,000 yuan, 30,000 yuan, and 20,000 yuan for the five individuals based on their respective roles in the illegal crossing. All five requested hearings, which were held on July 29 and August 10. This was also the first time the county-level bureau handled such a case, as previous enforcement authority rested with the reserve management bureau under the old regulations.
Experts note that administrative penalties should be determined by comprehensively considering the nature, circumstances, consequences, and social impact of the violation, as well as the offender's subjective fault. Following the hearings and consultations with relevant agencies, the bureau adjusted the fines: Liu, who is under 18, had his fine reduced from 20,000 to 10,000 yuan; Tan's fine was also reduced from 20,000 to 10,000 yuan; Lu and Wang each saw their fines reduced from 30,000 to 20,000 yuan; and Tang's fine was reduced from 50,000 to 25,000 yuan. As of now, one individual has paid the fine, while the other four have applied to pay in installments.