Fengyangshan National Nature Reserve

Fengyangshan National Nature Reserve

Fengyangshan National Nature Reserve is a national-level nature reserve and a patriotic education base.

Fengyangshan National Nature Reserve is located in the southern part of Longquan City, Zhejiang Province, bordering 27 administrative villages across three townships—Pinnan, Longnan, and Lanju—covering a total area of 230,000 mu. It primarily protects the typical mid-subtropical forest ecosystem and rare wildlife, and is one of China’s twelve internationally significant biodiversity distribution centers, often hailed as the “Cradle of Ancient Plants in East China.”

[Overview] Established as a provincial-level nature reserve with approval from the Zhejiang Provincial Government in 1975; in October 1992, it was elevated to the status of Zhejiang Fengyangshan-Baishanzu National Nature Reserve along with Baishanzu Provincial Nature Reserve in Qingyuan County, following approval by the State Council. The management system consists of four levels: administration bureau, management office, protection station, and protection point. The Reserve Administration Bureau is located within the Lishui Forestry Bureau and is a county-level (or higher) public institution. Management offices have been set up separately in Longquan and Qingyuan as county-level (or higher) non-profit public welfare institutions.

[Natural Conditions] Fengyangshan Nature Reserve is situated in the Southeast Coastal Min-Zhe Hills region of China, belonging to the Donggong Mountain Range, which extends eastward from the Wuyi Mountain Range. The terrain within the reserve is complex, featuring rugged peaks, steep valleys, and crisscrossing ravines. There are eight peaks over 1,800 meters above sea level, with Huangmaojian, standing at 1,929 meters in the core area of the reserve, being the highest peak in the Yangtze River Delta. The main ridge serves as the watershed between the Dayi and Xiaoxi streams, the major tributaries of the Longquan Stream, an upper tributary of the Ou River.

The reserve has a subtropical humid monsoon climate. Due to its relatively high altitude, dense forests, unique terrain, and hydrogeographical environment, it exhibits distinct microclimatic features. The main characteristics include warm and moist climate, abundant rainfall, low temperatures, frequent fog, and high relative humidity. Annual sunshine duration is 1,515.5 hours, average annual temperature is 12.3°C, with a maximum temperature of 30.2°C and a minimum of -12.5°C. Annual precipitation is 2,438.2 mm, and annual evaporation is 1,171.0 mm. The concentration of negative air ions in the area can reach up to 120,000 per cubic centimeter.

[Biological Resources] The forest vegetation belongs to the southern part of the mid-subtropical zone in the national vegetation classification, with the zonal vegetation being mid-subtropical evergreen broad-leaved forest. Forest coverage reaches 95.0%, with a total living timber volume of 1.459 million cubic meters. The reserve boasts abundant species resources. According to surveys, there are 1,464 species of seed plants, 196 species of ferns, 368 species of mosses, and 242 species of fungi. Fengyangshan is home to 81 species of rare and endangered plants, among which three—Chinese yew, southern yew, and Bretschneidera sinensis—are listed as Class I key protected plants in the First National Key Protected Wild Plants List, while 18 species including Pseudotaxus chienii, Cathaya argyrophylla var. gaussenii, and Emmenopterys henryi—are Class II protected plants.

The reserve hosts a diverse range of wildlife, including 62 species of mammals, 121 species of birds, 32 species of amphibians, 49 species of reptiles, 45 species of fish, and 1,690 species of insects. Among these, 36 species are under national key protection, with five—Yellow-bellied Tragopan, Clouded Leopard, and Black Muntjac—being Class I protected animals, and 31—such as Rhesus Macaque, Asiatic Black Bear, and Serow—being Class II protected animals.

[Construction Achievements] In recent years, the reserve has earnestly implemented the working principles of “comprehensive planning, active protection, scientific management, and sustainable utilization,” and has vigorously carried out initiatives such as “strict protection for ecological excellence, emphasis on science and education to expand influence, collaborative development for public benefit, project competition to strengthen infrastructure, development promotion for enhanced sustainability, and party building to improve conduct.” Continuous efforts have been made to advance the “three-prevention” systems of personnel, physical, and technical defenses to ensure effective protection of reserve resources; the scientific research and monitoring system has been well-established with extensive cooperation between the reserve and universities; infrastructure has been strengthened; community relations remain stable and harmonious; and tourism continues to develop.

The reserve has been awarded titles such as “Top Ten National Nature Reserves for Best Ecological Environment Protection,” “Top Ten National Units for Ecological Environment Protection Contribution,” “Top Ten Most Influential Eco-Tourism Destinations in China,” “National Photography Creation Base,” “Zhejiang Provincial Ecological Ethics Education Base,” and “Zhejiang University Teaching Internship Base.” The Longquan Mountain Scenic Area within the reserve is a national AAAA-level scenic spot and a provincial eco-tourism demonstration area, and is listed among the “Fifty Most Worth-Visiting Scenic Spots in Zhejiang Province.”

Fengyangshan Nature Reserve serves both as a research base for mid-subtropical forest ecosystem positioning and as a uniquely charming leisure and wellness destination, as well as an ideal tourist attraction. Following the overall guideline of “green rise and scientific leapfrogging,” the reserve will actively promote the process of standardized construction.