A nameplate unveiling ceremony for Chilechuan National Grassland Nature Park is held in Hohhot, capital city of North China’s Inner Mongolia autonomous region on Aug 29. [Photo/people.cn]

Inner Mongolia's Chilechuan grassland was selected to participate in a pilot project focused on constructing a national grassland nature park, according to information released at a project launch ceremony held on Aug 29.

The pilot project aims to improve grasslands' economic benefits while protecting the environment.

Chilechuan grassland is located in Hohhot, the capital city of North China's Inner Mongolia autonomous region. According to officials, it is one of 39 grasslands included in the national grassland nature park project.

Li Shuming, deputy director of the National Forestry and Grassland Administration, delivers a speech at the launch ceremony for national grassland nature park pilot project in Hohhot on Aug 29. [Photo/people.cn]

The identified 39 national grassland natural parks cover a total area of 147,000 hectares, involving 11 provinces and autonomous regions in China.

These grasslands include temperate grasslands, meadow grasslands and alpine grasslands, among others, and are important both ecologically and to ethnic folk cultures.

Li Shuming, deputy director of the National Forestry and Grassland Administration, delivered a speech at the launch ceremony.

Li said that development of the national grassland nature parks should follow the basic principles of “ecological prioritization, green development, scientific utilization and efficient management,” and fully respect indigenous farmers and herdsmen's legitimate rights and interests.

At the Chilechuan grassland, activities such as appropriate grazing, eco-tourism, science education, scientific research and cultural experience and service facility construction can be carried out.

Breathtaking scenery pictured in Chilechuan grassland [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]