China is famous for beautiful nature scenary. A nature reserve is an area approved by the government, in which biological varieties and natural remains are specially managed and protected. With the rapid population growth and worsening of the global environments, the establishment and development of nature reserves will play an increasing important role in protecting natural environments, natural resources and rare animals and plants, and conserving the ecosystem. Moreover, the typical ecological environments, rare animals and plants, the unique natural landscapes in nature reserves can offer ideal prerequisites for developing special tourist industry, the following are some famous nature reserves in China.
1. Jigong Mountain Nature Reserve
Jigong Mountain Nature Reserve is established in 1982, it is a sanctuary for transitional types of subtropical forest vegetation and rare wild animals and plants. the nature reserve has 1,000 species of higher plants, 300 species of medicinal plants, 210 different birds and more than 100 different mammals. Jigong Mountain is the watershed between Yangtze River and Huaihe River, in a transitional belt among northern subtropical zone and southern temperate zone.
2. Dalai Hu National Nature Reserve
Hulun Lake is a lake in Inner Mongolia, China. It is one of the five largest freshwater lakes in all of China, covering approximately 2,339 km². As in 1995 annual fish production was about 7,000 tons, 100 tons of shrimp, 4 kilograms of pearls, 1.5 million crayfish. The lake is also one of the key reed production areas in China. It is a tourist destination during the summer, but during off times, the lake’s visitors are few. The lake isn’t far from Manzhouli, which is on a major rail-lin.
3. Potatso National Park
Potatso is the first national park in mainland China. In Tibetan language, Patatso means reaching the opposite side of the lake by boat under the help of deity. Bitahai Lake and Shuduhu Lake are two major parts of the park. Besides these two lakes, forest, marsh, valley, alpine meadow and so on can be seen in the park.
4. Xishuangbanna Nature Reserve
Xishuangbanna Nature Reserve features a rainforest with various plants, colorful flowers and unique animals, it has a total area of 241,000 hectares, The flora comprises more than 5,000 species of higher and seed plants, which accounts for 12 percent of the total in China. Among them are 58 species of rare and endangered plants under state protection, accounting for 15 percent of the total. The reserve also boasts 539 species of terrestrial vertebrates, 25 percent of the total in China, as well as 429 species of birds, 47 species of amphibians, 68 species of reptiles and 100 species of fish.
5. Yiwulüshan National Nature Reserve
Yiwulü Mountainis located in the western part of Beizhen City, in Jinzhou City, Liaoning Province. It is one of the Three Greatest Mountains of Northeast China. Yiwulü Mountain or simply called Lü Mountain is one of the Three Greatest Mountains of Northeast China. Its highest peak is 867 meters above sea level. It is located about 5 kilometers west of the center of Beizhen City, in Jinzhou City, Liaoning Province. “Yiwulü” comes from a Manchu language word, meaning “full of green”.
6. Hegang National Forest Park
Hegang National Forest Park is a national 3A level tourist zone, located in the churchyard of Hegang City, covers an area of 80,000 hectares. It consists of Xilinhe National Flavor Garden, Shilihe Forest Tourist Zone and Tongzigou Original Forest Scenic Spot. The park, blending the ecological scenery, folk custom culture, exotic flavor, green food into a unit, is an ideal tourist resort.
7. Yancheng Rare Birds Nature Reserve
It is mainly dedicated to the protection of the tidal wetland ecosystem and rare birds, especially the red-crowned crane. This nature reserve is close to the Yellow Sea and covers 453,000 hectares, with 444 kilometers of long tidal-flat area along the sea. Thanks to a mild climate, abundant rainfall and smooth terrain, the nature reserve is a home to 450 plant species, 377 bird species, 45 amphibian and reptile species, 281 fish species and 47 mammal species.
8. Baishanzu National Nature Reserve
Baishanzu National Nature Reserve is a nature reserve in southwest Zhejiang province of eastern China. The reserve lies within Longquan and Qingyuan counties. The highest peak of Zhejiang, Huangmaojian Peak, is located within the reserve. The present reserve was formed in 1992 by merging two provincial-level nature reserves, Fengyang Shan Nature Reserve and the Baishanzu Nature Reserve. The reserve consists of two parts. The northern one is named after Mt. Fengyangshan; Huangmaojian Peak is the highest point of the mountain.
9. Peony Peak Natural Reserve
Peony Peak Natural Reserve is located in the northwest end of Laoyeling Mountains, connecting Taiping Mountain in the east and abutting Zhangguangcai Mountain in the west. It is a natural sight of primitive zoology and also a national nature reserve with a total area of 400 square kilometers. Peony Peak was once a lake with clean poppling waves in the history.
10. Dinghu Mountain Nature Reserve
Dinghu Mountain Nature Reserve is the fist nature reserve in China. It is located in Zhaoqing, Guangdong Province, and considered the “green pearl” around the Tropic of Cancer. With an area of 1,133 hectares, the reserve has abundant plant and animal resources. More than 2,400 species of plants are distributed there. Among them, 1,700 are higher plants, 900 are medicine plants, 110 are fibrous plants and 70 are oil plants. There are 900 species of insects and 200 kinds of animals, some of which are under special protection.
11. Hengdaohezi Siberian Tiger Park
Hengdaohezi Siberian Tiger Park is the first cradle for Siberian Tiger (the Northeast China tiger) to be cultivated and raised, the largest breeding center for Siberian tigers in China, established in 1986. These rare animals are most active during the cold season, playing all day long in the snow. Siberian tigers, the largest of all tigers, live mainly in Siberia and northeastern China. It is believed there are only 300 Siberian tigers left in the wild, less than 20 in China.
12. Wuyanling National Nature Reserve
Wuyanling National Nature Reserveis a nature reserve in Taishun County, in the southern part of Zhejiang Province. The reserve occupies a mountainous, forested area. The highest peak is Baiyunjian, which is 1,611 metres high. BirdLife International considers Wuyanling Reserve as an Important Bird Area. Birds of particular conservation value in the reserve include Cabot’s Tragopan, much studied in the reserve, and Elliot’s Pheasant.
13. Wolong Nature Reserve
Wolong Nature Reserve is a protected area in Wenchuan County, Sichuan Province. The reserve covers an area of about 200,000 hectares in the Qionglai Mountains. Now, Wolong Nature Reserve has become China’s largest and most important sanctuary for giant pandas and other rare and precious animals and plants during the climatic fluctuations of the ice age. In this nature reserve, there are more than 4,000 species and more than 150 giant pandas. There are also many other endangered species, including red pandas, golden monkeys, white-lipped deer and many precious plants.
