XINING, May 27 (Xinhua) -- Tourism has been banned in a protected area at the source of the Yellow River, China's second-longest river, the area's management committee said Sunday.

No organizations or individuals are allowed to carry out tourism or adventure activities in the 19,100-square-kilometer nature reserve surrounding the source of the Yellow River in northwest China's Qinghai Province.

An increasing number of tourists visited the river's source in Madoi county in Golog Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture as transportation improved in recent years, said Gan Xuebin, deputy director of the reserve's management committee.

Human activities have damaged the fragile plateau environment, disturbed rare wildlife, and posed risks to other tourists, Gan said.

However, the management committee is mulling plans for tourists to apply online for small-scale ecological experience activities in the future, when necessary infrastructure is built.