World Natural Heritage site
Fanjingshan lies in Tongren, Guizhou, the main peak of the Wuling range at about 2,572 m. It is one of the earliest places in southern China to rise from the sea to land, and its summit still preserves primeval geological wonders. It is among the most biodiverse areas at its latitude, often called a “gene bank of biological resources.” In 2018 it was inscribed on the World Natural Heritage List.
World Biosphere Reserve
Fanjingshan holds a well-preserved primeval forest ecosystem at its latitude, with one of the world’s notable dove-tree (handkerchief-tree) forests, and is the only habitat of the Guizhou snub-nosed monkey. It shelters thousands of species of wild plants and animals and is a key refuge for rare species.
Flora and fauna
- Plants: rich in species, including many higher plants; nationally protected plants include the dove tree, with large areas of dove-tree forest; the vegetation shows clear vertical zones from evergreen broadleaf forest at the foot to deciduous broadleaf forest higher up.
- Animals: hundreds of vertebrate species, with nationally protected wildlife including the Guizhou snub-nosed monkey (called the “spirit of Fanjingshan,” now rare and found only in the Fanjingshan area of the Wuling range), Assamese macaque, rhesus macaque, clouded leopard, musk deer, tufted deer, serow, pangolin, mandarin duck, Temminck’s tragopan, golden pheasant, Reeves’s pheasant and the giant salamander.
Climate and summer escape
Fanjingshan has an East Asian monsoon climate; temperature falls with altitude, summers are cool and winters not harsh, and the air is humid — a well-known summer mountain retreat. Frequent cloud and plentiful rain also create its cloud-sea and Buddha’s-halo sights.
Ten wonders
Fanjingshan is famed for ten wonders: strange rocks, rare trees, Buddha’s halo, cloud seas, cloud waterfalls, fine springs, rare birds, exotic animals, snow scenes and the “heavenly ladder.” Landmark sights include the Red Cloud Golden Summit, Moon Mirror Mountain, the Myriad-Meter Sleeping Buddha, Mushroom Rock, the Ten Thousand Scrolls, Nine Dragon Pool and Phoenix Mountain.
