Songshan National Nature Reserve

Songshan National Nature Reserve

The Songshan National Nature Reserve is a national-level nature reserve.

Area Overview:

The Beijing Songshan Nature Reserve was established in 1985 and upgraded to a national-level forest and wildlife nature reserve in 1986, making it the first national-level nature reserve in Beijing. Located at the southern foot of Haituo Mountain in Yanqing County in the northwest of Beijing, the reserve lies within the Jundu Mountains of the Yanshan Mountain Range, covering a total area of 4,671 hectares. It is just 90 kilometers from downtown Beijing, with geographic coordinates between 115°43′44″–115°50′22″ east longitude and 40°29′9″–40°33′35″ north latitude. As the most well-preserved ecosystem in the northwest direction of Beijing, its unique geographical location not only makes the Songshan Nature Reserve vital for water conservation, sandstorm prevention, and air purification, but also establishes it as a natural sanctuary where residents of Beijing and many visitors can connect with nature. The reserve features overlapping green mountains, ancient pine trees in diverse shapes, murmuring mountain streams, rugged valley rocks, and rich biodiversity. It preserves the only large tract of precious natural Pinus tabuliformis forest in North China, as well as well-conserved typical natural secondary broadleaf forests composed of species such as Juglans mandshurica, Tilia, Fraxinus, Ulmus, and Betula. Due to its high forest coverage, the area is also home to a remarkably diverse range of wildlife. According to records, Songshan hosts 713 species of wild vascular plants and 216 species of wild vertebrates. The establishment of the Songshan Reserve provides an ideal site for studying the patterns of biological succession in North China. As a window into the capital’s nature conservation efforts, it plays an active role in scientific research, field visits, natural science education, and promoting international academic exchanges—especially in the protection of species in rocky mountain areas, the improvement of existing vegetation, and vegetation restructuring.

Geographic Location: The Beijing Songshan National Nature Reserve is situated within Yanqing County in the northwest of Beijing, 90 kilometers from the city center and 25 kilometers from Yanqing County town. Its geographic coordinates are 115°43′44″–115°50′22″ east longitude and 40°29′9″–40°33′35″ north latitude. It borders Huailai County and Chicheng County of Hebei Province to the west and north, respectively, and neighbors the villages of Foyukou and Shuiyu in Zhangshanying Town, Yanqing County, to the east and south. Within the heart of the reserve lies one administrative village: Dazhuangke Village in Zhangshanying Town, Yanqing County.

Functional Zoning: Functional zoning is an effective and essential tool for the protection and management of nature reserves. It separates areas with different levels of protection and usage, allowing certain zones to be fully protected while others are appropriately opened to the public to facilitate contact with and understanding of nature. The Songshan Nature Reserve is divided into five zones across three types: two core protection zones, two buffer strips, and one experimental zone. Core Zone: The key conservation targets of the Songshan Reserve are the natural Pinus tabuliformis forests, deciduous broadleaf secondary forests, and their associated wildlife resources, which are mainly distributed in the northern and southwestern parts. Therefore, the core zone is divided into two parts: the northern core zone covers 1,365.1 hectares, and the southwestern core zone spans 453.9 hectares, totaling 1,819 hectares, or 39.4% of the reserve’s total area. The core zone is where rare wildlife species are densely distributed and where the intact natural forest ecosystem is preserved. No individuals or organizations are permitted to enter this area. In cases where entry is required strictly for scientific research, prior application and activity plans must be submitted to the Reserve Management Office. Buffer Zone: The buffer zone is divided into two parts: the buffer for the northern core zone and the buffer for the southwestern core zone. The northern buffer zone covers 786.5 hectares, and the southwestern buffer zone spans 476.58 hectares, totaling 1,263 hectares, or 27.1% of the reserve’s total area. The buffer zone serves as a transitional area between the core and experimental zones. As a buffer for the core zone, it allows for various scientific observation and survey activities, but any form of logging is strictly prohibited, and general forest tourism is not allowed. Experimental Zone: Considering the needs of ecotourism and local residents, the Songshan Reserve also includes an experimental zone. This zone encompasses all areas outside the core and buffer zones, including Tangzigou in the east (currently the main tourist scenic area), as well as the area along the route from the reserve entrance to Dazhuangke Village. These areas have long been subject to relatively frequent human activity, with relatively poor existing vegetation, and include farmhouses and cultivated land, so they contain virtually no major conservation targets. This zone covers 1,578 hectares, or 33.68% of the reserve’s total area. The experimental zone is where human activity is relatively more frequent within the reserve. Within this area, activities such as scientific experiments, teaching internships, field visits, tourism, wildlife domestication and breeding, and the rational use of other resources may be carried out in accordance with national laws and regulations.

Yanqing Yanqing