Yangmingshan

Yangmingshan

Yangmingshan is a national AAAA-level tourist attraction, a national forest park, a national water conservancy scenic area, a national nature reserve, and a patriotic education base.

Yangmingshan National Nature Reserve is situated in the northeastern part of Shuangpai County, covering an area of 114.5 square kilometers. It was approved as a provincial nature reserve in 1982, a national forest park in 1992, and was upgraded to a national nature reserve in September 2009 (State Council Document No. [2009] 54). The reserve boasts abundant rare wildlife and plant resources, with a forest coverage rate of 97.8%. Tens of thousands of acres of pristine secondary forests are distributed here, including the largest groupings of China fir and yew in southern China. It is home to 101 species of national first- and second-class protected animals and plants, such as clouded leopards, silver pheasants, and Lady Amherst's pheasants.

Geographic Environment

Yangmingshan lies at the junction of Shuangpai, Ningyuan, and Qiyang counties. It is an independent mountain range in the northern part of the Nanling Mountains, with its main peak reaching an elevation of 1,625 meters. The terrain features deep valleys and steep, rugged slopes. Above 1,000 meters in elevation, the landscape abruptly changes, forming several narrow basins with a relative height difference of only 100–150 meters, resembling a “plateau-like landform.” Rainfall is evenly distributed throughout the year, with no pronounced summer or autumn droughts. Annual precipitation reaches 2,000 mm, the average annual temperature is around 12°C, and the frost-free period is only about 150 days. The parent rock is mostly sandstone, with occasional granite outcrops. The soil layer on the slopes is shallow, and gravel covers much of the surface. The slope gradient generally exceeds 35 degrees.

Yangmingshan enjoys a pleasant climate, with an average annual temperature of 14.2°C, a maximum temperature of 28°C, and a minimum temperature no lower than -5°C. Annual rainfall is 1,700 mm, and the frost-free period lasts 240 days. Summers are not scorching, and winters are not extremely cold, earning it the reputation of a “fairyland” where “you don’t need air conditioning or fans, and you can sleep under a quilt at noon even in dog days.” The air is rich in negative ions, with concentrations reaching up to 61,018 per cubic centimeter, which helps to reduce dust, sterilize, promote metabolism, treat diseases, and enhance health. Visitors often feel refreshed, comfortable, and uplifted.

Plant Resources

The most prominent feature of the area is the extensive clusters of China fir forests, primarily distributed from Laowu to Beijiangchong in Dongchangyuan Village, stretching 7 km in length and 4 km in width, covering approximately 42,000 acres. There are 50,562 mature trees in total, with the core area of China fir mother tree stands clustered together in patches covering 2,140 acres, intermingled with broad-leaved or other coniferous trees. The composition mainly includes 8 China firs + 2 mixed species; 9 China firs + 1 mixed species; 7 China firs + 2 Masson pines + 1 mixed species. The density of the clustered distributions is generally high, with 8–16 trees per 100 square meters. Individual tree ages vary greatly, making them all uneven-aged forests. The average tree height is 16–22 meters, and the average diameter is 30–40 cm, ranging from as small as 20 cm to over 1 meter in diameter and more than 30 meters in height. A 1970-planted China fir has a diameter of 30 cm at breast height and a height of over 20 meters. Companion species include beech and bush chinquapin, while understory vegetation is sparse. Regeneration under the China fir canopy is good, with 18 saplings found in a 16-square-meter sample plot. Ground cover is dominated by mosses and horsetails, and mosses also grow on tree trunks. China firs here only bear fruit after 40 years, and sometimes even large trees with diameters over 30 cm have no cones. Typically, large trees produce only a dozen or so cones, and occasionally just over a hundred. According to local residents, China firs have distinct abundant and lean years, with each cone containing only a few dozen seeds. Additionally, the empty shell rate is high, making China fir seeds scarce and the species particularly precious.

Animal Resources

The area is home to many rare animals, including five species under national second-class protection: pangolins, musk deer, golden pheasants, silver pheasants, and Chinese giant salamanders.

Scenic Wonders

Yangmingshan features wonders such as flowing springs, cascading waterfalls, peculiar peaks, oddly shaped rocks, sea of clouds, and pristine secondary forests. The highlight is the spectacular sea of alpine azaleas, hailed by poets and scholars as the “most red azaleas under heaven,” and recognized by the Guinness World Records as the largest wild azalea base. The mountain also boasts intriguing sights like Lovers’ Rock, Piggy Gazing at the Moon Rock, and Yu the Great’s Sword-Testing Rock. There are amusing natural formations such as Lovers’ Bamboo, Couple Trees, Yin-Yang Trees, and Tree-in-Rock. The water here is crystal clear and sweet, with the ancient well at Wanshou Temple never drying up in summer or overflowing in heavy rain—its taste leaves a lasting impression, earning it the title “Sacred Spring of Yangmingshan.” The mountain has 32 streams, 84 pools, and 18 waterfalls. Longtan Pool is deep and mysterious, with rising mist, commonly known as the “Seaport.” At Da Huangjiangyuan, ancient trees tower overhead, and a mountain stream plunges down in five tiers of waterfalls, connecting to five large round pools. Travel experts have praised it as “Hunan’s Jiuzhaigou.”

The beautiful natural environment, rich cultural heritage, convenient transportation, and well-developed tourism facilities make it an ideal destination for sightseeing and leisure during the National Day holiday.

Suggested Duration

Half a day

Ticket Price

Free

Opening Hours

08:00~22:00

Location

Yangmingshan National Forest Park, Shuangpai County, Yongzhou, Hunan Province