Beijing park launches caterpillar hunt during Golden Week holiday

Beijing's popular nature reserve has transformed its autumn holiday activities into an unconventional pest management initiative, inviting families to participate in caterpillar hunts during China's week-long Golden Week holiday period. The campaign targets what park officials describe as a destructive forest pest, with visitors encouraged to collect the insects as part of the park's conservation efforts.

The activity capitalizes on the Golden Week break, when millions of Chinese families venture out for leisure activities and sightseeing. Rather than traditional tourist attractions, the Beijing park has positioned the caterpillar hunt as an educational and environmentally beneficial experience that combines recreation with ecological management.

Park administrators say the initiative serves a dual purpose: removing harmful insects that damage forest vegetation while engaging the public in hands-on nature conservation. The programme reflects growing efforts across China to involve local communities in environmental protection activities.

The caterpillar species targeted in the campaign is known to cause significant damage to forest ecosystems when populations become uncontrolled. By framing the removal effort as a family-friendly activity, park officials aim to address the pest problem while raising awareness about forest health among visitors of all ages.