Zhangjiangyuan Nature Reserve

Zhangjiangyuan Nature Reserve

Zhangjiangyuan Nature Reserve is located in the southern part of the Luoxiao Mountain Range, an extension of the Nanling Mountains stretching northward along the border between Hunan and Jiangxi provinces. It lies within Niedu Township, Chongyi County, Jiangxi Province. Facing Fujian and Guangdong to the east, guarding the Meiguan Pass to the south, and bordering Hunan and Guangxi to the west, it has historically been known as the “throat of four provinces.” The reserve is the source of the Zhang River, a tributary of the Gan River. Established in January 2004, it was officially approved by the Jiangxi Provincial People’s Government in November 2010 as a provincial-level nature reserve. Its geographical coordinates are 114°0′44″ to 114°12′0″ east longitude and 25°25′40″ to 25°32′0″ north latitude. It is classified as a forest ecosystem-type nature reserve.

The total area of the reserve is 10,452 hectares, including a core zone of 3,418 hectares, a buffer zone of 4,291 hectares, and an experimental zone of 2,743 hectares. The highest elevation within the reserve is 1,346.3 meters, and the lowest is 270.0 meters. There are 2,368 species of vascular plants belonging to 854 genera and 211 families, including two national first-class protected wild plants: the southern yew and the Bretschneidera sinensis. There are also 18 species of national second-class protected wild plants, such as Fujian cypress, wild soybean, and Phoebe bournei. The reserve is home to 298 species of wild terrestrial vertebrates from 31 orders and 81 families, including five national first-class protected wild animals: the leopard, clouded leopard, yellow-bellied tragopan, white-necked long-tailed pheasant, and python. There are also 42 species of national second-class protected wild animals, such as sambar deer, river deer, silver pheasant, pangolin, and Chinese giant salamander.