Bancang Tourist Area

Bancang Tourist Area

Bancang Tourist Area is a national AAA-level tourist attraction.

The Bancang Nature Reserve is situated in the southeastern part of the Dabie Mountains, at the convergence of Qianshan, Shucheng, and Yuexi counties. It is centered on Bancang Village in Qianshan County and spans an area of 1,523.2 hectares. The region boasts rolling mountains, secluded valleys, a distinctive climate, and rich biodiversity. Its dense forests and limited human activity attract numerous birds and animals. In addition to its elegant natural landscapes, the area also features many cultural and historical sites, such as Ban Zhu Tan Waterfall, Yi Xian Gang, San Jing Dong, Long Jing Tan, Feng Guan Shi, Qiang Dao Ping, Ling Pai Shi, Leng Fan Dian, and Lao Hu Dong. The reserve offers clean air, a serene environment, and a pleasant climate. It not only holds significant value for sightseeing but also serves as an ideal destination for summer retreats and vacations.

The reserve "combines secluded valleys, peculiar pines, steep peaks, and beautiful waters." Attractions include Xiao Zi Dong (Filial Son Cave), Qian Ceng Yan (Thousand-Layer Rock), Xian Ren Ti (Immortal’s Stairway), Hong He Gu (Red River Valley), Zhan Dao (Plank Walkways), San Die Quan (Three-Tiered Spring), Xiang Guo Shu Waterfall, Yun Hai Qi Song (Sea of Clouds and Peculiar Pines), and Meng Bi Sheng Hui (Dream Wall Glowing with Light). The reserve is home to over 20 types of rare and endangered plants. With birds singing and flowers blooming, shaded by lush greenery, the forest air is fresh and rich in negative ions. The mild climate and distance from urban noise make it a perfect place for natural wellness. Enjoy pollution-free mountain vegetables, wild stone bass soup caught from the reservoir, and savor self-picked homemade green tea or wild kuding tea while taking in the breathtaking natural scenery. You’ll fully experience nature’s bounty—many say the “wild” and “magical” essence of Bancang are practically synonymous.

The reserve has four main characteristics: First, it boasts a rich diversity of flora and fauna. The Bancang Nature Reserve is home to a wide variety of wildlife, including tigers, leopards, jackals, giant salamanders, and pangolins. Crossing the over 800-meter-high mountain ridge in front of the reserve leads you into vast areas of natural secondary broadleaf forests adjacent to Yuexi and Shucheng counties—the only well-preserved virgin forests remaining in Anhui Province. Within these forests, there are over 20 species of wildlife under national and provincial key protection. The reserve hosts 1,328 species of vascular plants across 658 genera and 147 families, accounting for 65.3%, 53.4%, and 36.4% of the province’s total families, genera, and species respectively, making it ecologically significant. Among them, nationally protected plants include Ginkgo biloba and Parrotia subaequalis (Class I), and nine Class II protected species such as Cercidiphyllum japonicum, Davidia involucrata, Liriodendron chinense, Magnolia officinalis, Zelkova schneideriana, Pseudolarix amabilis, and others. At the provincial level, 14 species are protected, including Cephalotaxus fortunei, Euptelea pleiosperma, Litsea auriculata, Magnolia cylindrica, Bauhinia gigantea, Pteroceltis tatarinowii, Torreya grandis, Tapiscia sinensis, Cyclocarya paliurus, Rhododendron anhweiense, and Ternstroemia gymnanthera. Among the seed plants in Mount Wanfo, there are 12 major families comprising over 11 genera each, with 295 genera and 579 species, making up 9.8% of the total families. These include Poaceae, Asteraceae, Fabaceae, Lamiaceae, Rosaceae, Liliaceae, Orchidaceae, and Apiaceae. There are also 47 medium-sized families with 3–10 genera each (221 genera, 460 species, 38.2% of the total), 39 small families with 1–2 genera (59 genera, 173 species, 31.7%), and 25 single-species families (20.3%). Dominant woody plant families include Rosaceae, Fabaceae, Lauraceae, Rhamnaceae, Hamamelidaceae, Caprifoliaceae, Fagaceae, Saxifragaceae, Magnoliaceae, and Ulmaceae. The area is home to nearly 200 species of wild vertebrates, including 47 mammal species, over 100 bird species, 32 reptile species, and over 10 amphibian species. Nationally protected animals include the leopard, black muntjac, and Reeves’s muntjac (Class I), the small Indian civet and Lady Amherst’s pheasant (Class II), and provincially protected species such as leopard cats, yellow weasels, raccoon dogs, hog badgers, house martins, hwamei, lesser cuckoos, and red-winged crested cuckoos.

Second, the flora and fauna exhibit complex compositions, with distinct transitional characteristics from the Central subtropical zone to the Northern subtropical zone.

Third, the forest ecosystem is relatively intact, with well-preserved vegetation. Natural secondary forests remain in their primitive state, and ecological processes such as growth, development, energy exchange, and regeneration have reached a state of climax balance.

Fourth, the area is rich in forest tourism resources, featuring waterfalls and streams, exotic flowers and plants, peculiar peaks and rocks, sea of clouds and pine waves, rare birds and animals, and seasonal variations. It is also close to the Wanfo Mountain Scenic Area, Jinzi Mountain Forest Park, and Kujingyuan Nature Reserve.

The Bancang Nature Reserve features undulating mountains, deep valleys, abundant biological resources, dense forests, and minimal human presence, attracting a wealth of birds and animals. This creates a tranquil, beautiful, and rugged natural forest landscape, making it a great destination for leisure and tourism.