Exploration on path of ecological protection and economic development in Qilian Mountain National Park region

National parks are a kind of special protected areas established under the leadership of the government with the core objective of protecting the integrity of natural ecosystems and biodiversity, which emphasizes the balance between human activities and nature protection in order to achieve sustainable coexistence of human being and nature. The construction of a system of nature reserves with national parks as the core is a major breakthrough progress in the institutional framework of China’s ecological civilization, and a key area for promoting the construction of Beautiful China and realizing the modernization of harmonious coexistence of human being and nature. The CPC Central Committee and the State Council attach great importance to the construction of ecological civilization and the protection and management of the Qilian Mountain’s ecological environment, and continue to promote regional economic and social development and enhance the well-being of the people. It is important to promote sustainable economic development in national park areas while maintaining ecological protection. At present, the contradictions and problems of protecting the ecology and developing the economy in the Qilian Mountain National Park region are more prominent. It is necessary to explore in depth effective paths to realize the unity of regional ecological protection and green development and improvement of people’s livelihood, and to find a balance between natural ecology and human activities for protection and development. Taking the Qilian Mountain National Park region as an example, through the comprehensive application of various research methods such as literature checking, institutional analysis, policy assessment, and inductive summarization, this study proposes the concept of adhering to ecological priority and green development, protecting in development, and developing in protection, and puts forward six paths to realize the coupling of ecological protection and economic development. This study provides theoretical support for realizing the balance and coordination between protection and development, and then puts forward innovative research ideas and policy suggestions for the construction and development of national parks in China.