Qingliang Peak Nature Reserve

Qingliang Peak Nature Reserve

Qingliang Peak is situated in the southeastern part of Jixi County and is known for its four scenic attractions: Stone Gate, Cliffs, Sea of Clouds, and Twisted Pines. The main peak, Qingliang Peak, has an elevation of 1,787 meters, making it the second highest peak in East China. The area from the main peak to the Stone Pillar Peak in the north features overlapping mountain ridges and competing peaks, with more than 30 peaks over 1,000 meters above sea level. The area from Wild Boar Earth Party to Huangkou Cliff is covered with expanses of Huangshan Pine trees, which come in various shapes and forms. On Qigong Ridge, the ancient pines display even more elegant postures, including Golden Umbrella Pine, Rock-Guarding Pine, Reclining Dragon Pine, Compassionate Dragon Pine, Sister Pines, and Dancer Pine. Approved by the state, it was designated as a nature reserve in 1979 and is one of the six major nature reserves in Anhui Province.

Within Qingliang Peak Nature Reserve, not only are the Huangshan Pines graceful and the crabapple blossoms vibrant, but the peculiar rocks also have their own unique charm. Unlike the abrupt, cliffside rock formations of Huangshan, these rocks rise directly from the deep, lush earth, with lifelike and amusing shapes. Examples include “Immortal Sawing Stone,” “Ape Man Climbing Mountain,” “Young Maiden Carrying Her Lover,” “White Cloud Rock,” “Immortal Cave,” “Turtle and Snake Guarding the Pass,” “Lion and Elephant Entering the Gate,” and “Emperor’s Pool,” among nearly forty to fifty similar sites. The towering stone peaks vary endlessly—some resembling birds, some beasts, some human figures, and others objects, with many still awaiting names. In addition, flowing springs and waterfalls abound here, while the cloud rivers and seas of clouds are ever-changing, creating a wondrous spectacle that leaves visitors in awe.

The terrain within Qingliang Peak Nature Reserve features significant elevation differences, with intense geological cutting and erosion, giving rise to a typical northern subtropical mixed evergreen and deciduous broadleaf forest. The vegetation exhibits distinct vertical zonation, and the biological resources are characterized by their antiquity and diversity, making it a rare and well-preserved biodiversity gene bank in China’s economically developed Yangtze River Delta region. The area is rich in wildlife and plant resources, with 286 known species of terrestrial vertebrates, including nationally protected species such as Sika Deer, Black Muntjac, Lady Amherst’s Pheasant, and Leopard. There are 150 families and 1,819 species of seed plants, including nationally protected rare and endangered species such as Dove Tree, Summer Sweet, and Southern Hemlock. It also serves as the type locality for 27 plant species and is one of the few primary distribution areas in East China for Southern Hemlock communities, Summer Sweet communities, Bashan Tanoak communities, and the southern subspecies of wild Sika Deer. The establishment of Zhejiang Qingliang Peak Nature Reserve is of great significance for the protection of biodiversity along China’s eastern coastal regions.

The Qianqing Pond area within Qingliang Peak Nature Reserve is a habitat and activity zone for wild Sika Deer, representing the most eastern and southern distribution of this wild population on land in China, and is an extremely precious repository of genetic diversity. The reserve is currently home to over 280 species of terrestrial vertebrates, including more than 20 species under national key protection, such as Black Panthers, Clouded Leopards, Serows, and Rhesus Monkeys. There are approximately 2,000 species of higher plants, including 33 species under national key protection, and 77 species belonging to monotypic or oligotypic genera worldwide. This fully demonstrates that the reserve is a hotspot for biodiversity.

The Wild Boar Earth Party on the northern slope of the main peak is a mid-mountain plain with a three-pronged tail, situated at an elevation of 1,450 meters, with a horizontal elevation difference of 2.5 meters between its northern and southern ends. Covering an area of 20,000 square meters, it features a small mountain stream about 1 kilometer long and approximately 2.5 meters wide running through it. The stream water is crystal clear and reflective. The pools in the stream are emerald green like jade and remain unfrozen year-round.

This area is part of the famous ancient Jiangnan landmass, characterized by distinct vertical zonal climatic features, and harbors a wealth of precious biological resources. Among the provincially protected plants are 25 species such as Magnolia sieboldii, Buxus harlandii, Tsuga chinensis, and Viburnum serrulatum. There are also over 20 species of precious animals, including Rhesus Monkeys, Stump-tailed Macaques, Tufted Deer, Serows, Mountain Cattle, and Wild Boars. Qingliang Peak has been hailed by ecologists as a “natural museum.”