Mount Huangshan in east China's Anhui Province and Yosemite National Park, in California, on Saturday forged a cooperative alliance.

The alliance is the first of its kind between the United States and China, said Li Dongxu, head of the urban construction department of China's Ministry of Construction, at a ceremony in Beijing's Great Hall of the People.

Michael J. Toufson, leader of the American park, said Mount Huangshan and Yosemite National Park both had a reputation for granite spires, sharp cliffs and oddly-shaped pine trees, in addition to rich plant resources, which formed the foundation of cooperation.

An official from Anhui provincial government hoped park managers could exchange views on administrative techniques and technical information, and cooperate on environmental protection, administration and the planning of eco-tours.

Mount Huangshan, with an area of 154 sq km, comprises 72 distinct peaks, including Lotus Flower (Lianhua) Peak, Bright (Guangming) Summit and Heavenly Capital (Tiandu) Peak.

Shrouded in cloud about 200 days a year, Mount Huangshan is popular with traditional Chinese landscape painters. It is included on the World Heritage Lists for cultural and natural values, as well as the Global Network of Geoparks.

(Xinhua News Agency May 15, 2006)