According to a guideline published by the Ministry of Natural Resources on September 10, all travel agencies on the Chinese mainland have to submit applications before organizing tours to China's Changcheng research station in the South Pole. It is a measure to control the flow of tourists to the ecologically fragile region and also prevent disruptions in research activities. At present, a trip to the South Pole costs over 700,000 yuan ($99,000).

There are worries about the impact of human tourism on the environment of Antarctica. A lesson should be learned from Mount Qomolangma (also known as Mount Everest). For many people, it became a means to flaunt their wealth by hiring porters and guides to take them to the top of the highest peak in the world. Many climbers didn't reach the summit on their own, but were piggybacked by locals.

With the advancement of science and technology, a lot of areas that used to be off-limits have now become accessible. Tourism on Mount Qomolangma and in the north and south poles is no longer impossible. Space tourism is also on the horizon.

However, the lucky few who plan trips to these rarely visited places should be reminded that they need to exercise self-discipline and not contribute to pollution, including sound pollution. Those who behave badly during the trips should be blacklisted and not allowed to travel there again.

(This is an edited excerpt of an article originally published in Qianjiang Evening News on September 16)