Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, inspects ecological preservation of the Qinling Mountains in Niubeiliang National Nature Reserve in Zhashui County, Shangluo City, northwest China's Shannxi Province, April 20, 2020. (Xinhua/Xie Huanchi)

Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, on Monday urged local officials to be guardians of the ecological environment of the Qinling Mountains during his inspection tour in northwest China's Shaanxi Province.

Xi made the remarks while visiting Niubeiliang National Nature Reserve to learn about ecological conservation in the Qinling Mountains.

"The illegal construction in the Qinling Mountains is a big lesson," he said. "From now on, any official working in Shaanxi should above all learn this lesson, avoid repeating the same mistake and work as a guardian of the ecological environment of the Qinling Mountains."

A crested ibis rests at an ecological park in Yangxian County, northwest China's Shaanxi Province, March 20, 2019. The Qinling Mountains, a natural boundary between the country's north and south, are home to a huge variety of plants and wild animals such as giant pandas, golden monkeys, crested ibis and takins. (Xinhua/Liu Xiao)

As a natural boundary between the country's north and south, the Qinling Mountains are home to a huge variety of plants and rare wildlife such as giant pandas, golden monkeys and crested ibis.

Attaching great importance to the environmental protection of the Qinling Mountains, Xi had made six instructions on tackling the illegal construction of villas in the Qinling Mountains, demanding a thorough investigation into the persistent problem of illegal construction and the failure of officials concerned to comply with orders from the central authorities.

After July 2018, more than 1,100 illegal villas at the northern foot of Qinling range were demolished according to law and a number of officials concerned were investigated for disciplinary and law violations, among China's efforts to preserve both the natural beauty of mountains and waters and the political integrity of officials, which are championed by Xi.