Approved by the State Council, China decides to set up 22 national nature reserves in 17 provinces and autonomous regions including Shanxi and Inner Mongolia, said an official with the State Environmental Protection Administration on Thursday. Up to now, the number of national nature reserves in the country has reached 265 with a total area of 91.851 million square hectares, accounting for 9.6 per cent of China's land area.

The newly established nature reserves are classified into five types, including forestry, wetland, desert ecosystem, wildlife animals and ancient life ruins.

The newly added reserves are as follows:

Wulushan National Nature Reserve in Shanxi

Eerguna National Nature Reserve in Inner Mongolia

Nulu'erhu Mountain National Nature Reserve in Liaoning

Fenghuang Mountain National Nature Reserve in Heilongjiang

Hongze Lake Wetland National Nature Reserve in Sihong, Jiangsu

Tongling Freshwater Dolphin national nature reserve in Anhui

Minjiangyuan National Nature Reserve in Fijian

Binzhou Beikerti (Shellfish) Island and Wetland National Nature Reserve in Shandong

XiaoQinling National Nature Reserve in Henan

Wuyunjie National Nature Reserve in Hunan

Yingzuijie National Nature Reserve in Hunan

Qianjiadong National Nature Reserve in Guangxi

Micang Mountain National Nature Reserve in Sichuan

Xuebaoding National Nature Reserve in Sichuan

Huize Black-necked Crane National Nature Reserve in Yunnan

Yongde Daxueshan National Nature Reserve in Yunnan

Ziwuling National Nature Reserve in Shaanxi

Xiaolong Mountain National Nature Reserve in Gansu

Yanchiwan National Nature Reserve in Gansu

Annanba Wild Camel National Nature Reserve in Gansu

Haba Lake National Nature Reserve in Ningxia

Tarim Poplar National Nature Reserve in Xinjiang

By People's Daily Online