Dunhua Huangnihe

Dunhua Huangnihe

This reserve is located in the northern part of Dunhua City, Yanbian Korean Autonomous Prefecture, Jilin Province. It borders the Sanhetun Forestry Bureau of Heilongjiang Province to the north and Jiaohe City to the west. There are four forest farms within the area. The natural resources in the region are mainly state-owned forests, and transportation conditions are relatively poor, with only two forest railways—Tuanbei and Xiaobai—connecting it to the outside world, and no roads.

The reserve is situated in the quasi-fold belt of Jilin Province and features mid-mountain topography formed by crustal uplift. It lies within the cool zone of the mid-temperate humid climate region, where vertical climate distribution leads to distinct differences. Soil and forest vegetation distributions are interdependent. At elevations of 500–800 meters, there are plateau podzolic soils and podzolized dark brown forest soils, with a climate and soil suitable for mixed coniferous and broadleaf forests. Elevations above 1,300 meters consist of alpine tundra soils and brown coniferous soils. With strong winds, heavy fog, and abundant rainfall, the unique geology and topography allow Arctic and Siberian plant species to thrive, such as Pinus pumila, Rhododendron aureum, Vaccinium uliginosum, Salix glauca, Rhodiola rosea, Betula ermanii, and Juniperus sibirica. The total area of the reserve is 23,476 hectares, of which 22,631 hectares are forested, resulting in a forest coverage rate of 96.4%. The area has vast forest coverage with well-preserved, pristine forest stands, rich biological resources, and 1,590 species of flora and fauna, making it a habitat for many rare and endangered species. Since the highest elevation in the area is below 1,700 meters, the vertical zonation of plants is narrower compared to Changbai Mountain, with significant intermingling of species across zones. The Betula ermanii forest is sparse, with no shrub layer beneath but abundant herbaceous plants.

With its unique natural landscapes and significant tourism and scientific research value, the area has solid potential for establishing a forest and wildlife nature reserve.