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Lu Zhi and the Giant Panda:
A story of hope for China's wildlife...
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An Olympic Highlight: China's Unique Wildlife-learn the real story behind the 2008 Olympic mascots
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Stories from Cuochi Village
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What is Eco-tourism?
Eco-tourism is responsible travel that respects natural areas, conserves natural resources and biodiversity, and improves the well-being of local people.
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| White Horse Snow-Mountain Nature Reserve |
In 1983, the White Horse Snow-Mountain Nature Reserve was established to protect the stunning mountainous landscape of Henduan Mountain Valley. The reserve covers an area of 190 thousand hectares, which includes the Renzhi Snow Mountain and incredible scenery along the Jinsha River, which runs through part of the reserve. This area is also home to the famous Baima (White Horse) Snow Mountain, called thus because the top of the mountain looks like a running horse.
The climate changes as the altitude rises. It is hot and dry in the valley but extremely cold and much wetter on the mountains. These vertical extremes are amazing to experience, and one can observe corresponding vegetation and wildlife changes during a single days hike. In the Jinsha Valley, under 2300m, trees are scattered and bush and grass are dominant. It is drier and vegetation is sparser. On the other hand, up in the mountains, between 3000 and 3200 meters, mist and clouds pervade, providing a wetter home for conifers and broadleaves. This altitude is rich in different plant species. As you reach between 3200 and 4000 meters, the climate gets much colder. The trees are mostly conifers, making the scenery look more uniform. This is the home of the Yunnan snub-nosed monkey, making it the most important part of the reserve to protect. When the elevation reaches 4000m, rocky slopes become dominant, and, as the elevation reaches 5000 meters, snow covers the ground. Every vertical zone has its own distinctive characteristics.
The higher elevations are completely unspoiled, as few travelers ever make it this far. Forty-seven different kinds of mammals and 45 unique kinds of birds can be spotted. This is the perfect habitat for China’s distinctive snub-nosed monkey and some other species that only exist in the Henduan Mountains. Other endangered animals, like the cloud leopard, live here in even higher elevations. |
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