Mount Fanjing(Fanjingshan) represents the summit of the Wuling Mountain Range of south-central China proper (if one abstracts from the autonomous regions for a moment), in the area where Guizhou and Henan Provinces converge with the border of Chongqing Municipality, one of China's three special - and very large - independent municipalities (these special administrative entities are not subordinate to any province - the other two independent municipalities being Beijing and Shanghai). Wuling Mountain Range lies on the Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau. With an altitude of 2572 meters, Mount Fanjing has since ancient times been known as the 'first mountain of Guizhou Province'.
Fanjing Mountain is also one of China's five holy places of Buddhism. In 1986, Fanjing Moutain was listed as a National Nature Reserve. In the same year, it was elected to the International Network of Biosphere Reserves, and is known as"the treasure of earth and humanity".
Fanjingshan National Nature Reserve is a treasure-house of plants and wildlife. The reserve is rich in plant resources and 80% of the conservation area is covered with virgin forest and other plants. There are about 795 families of plants and 1,955 species, including 14 families and 19 species of gymnosperms, 460 families and 1,155 species of spermatophytes and 123 families of fungi. Some plants are rare, such as the dove flowers which grow only in this region. Due to the influence of the sub-tropical alpine monsoon climate, the distribution of vegetation is vertically zonal. The plants vary from the evergreen broadleaf forest to deciduous trees.
Fanjing Mountain has many rock outcroppings, most of which have been greatly eroded over time, resulting in odd-shaped rocks, sheer cliffs, and narrow precipices. There are also stone pillars here and there, remnants of aeons of erosion. In the caves are stalactites and stalagmites. The mountain has eight major streams etched into its slopes, some of which streams produce raging rapids, and countless small brooks.
The favorable climate and lush vegetation make the reserve an ideal habitat for wild fauna. The number of wild animal species identified and documented has reached over 800. The diversified fauna include 68 species of mammals, 191 species of birds, 41 species of reptiles and 34 species of amphibians, respectively accounting for 13.6%, 6.2%, 10.9% and 12.2% of the national total animal population. Among these species, some are rare and endangered. The Guizhou golden monkeys can be seen only in this region and are on the edge of extinction, hence a national treasure and protected species. Other species like clouded leopard, South China Tiger, pangolin and antelope are also important national protected animals.
Due to its pristine state, the area around Fanjing Mountain is a prime habitat for a number of plant and animal species. Fanjing Mountain Nature Reserve is believed to contain the best preserved virgin forest of any area at this latitude on earth. It contains many flower types, and is otherwise extremely rich in plant resources, many of which are unique and grow only in this part of the world. There are altogether more than 800 plant species in the Reserve, among them 413 species of higher plants. Of the lower order plants, there are 151 species of tremellas alone (the tremella is a "jelly fungus", a type of fungus that grows on trees and is not generally regarded as edible or perhaps the appropriate word is "palatable"). There are 15 species of plants in the Reserve under direct state protection, including the dove tree (its flowers are in the shape of a dove, hence the name) and the Chinese tulip tree.
Fanjingshan has three main peaks, the 'Old Golden Summit', 'Fenghuang (means phoenix) Summit', and 'New Golden Summit'. There are over 8,000 stone steps from the foot to the summit. Climbing along the winding mountainous road to the summit is a rewarding pleasure. The 'Hongyun Golden Summit' is fabulous for the sea of cloud and mist. The colorful halo emerging in the sky around the summit is a most appealing wonder. The halo is like a rainbow and viewed as a sign of auspiciousness.
Tips:
1. Bring raincoats and umbrellas: the weather is unpredictable, and the scenic area is rainy.
2. Whatever seasons when traveling there and climbing the mountain, bring enough clothes to keep warm.
Admission Fee:
CNY 30 (Nov. 1 to Apr. 30)
CNY 50 (May. 1 to Oct. 31)