Mount Cenwanglaoshan

Cenwanglaoshan

The Cenwanglaoshan National Nature Forest Reserve in Baise City is one of Guangxi’s top ten forest water conservation reserves. Located in the northern part of the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, it spans Tianlin County and Lingyun County, at 106° east longitude and 24° north latitude. It stretches 25 kilometers from east to west and 19.5 kilometers from north to south, covering a total area of 298.44 square kilometers. The area within Tianlin County accounts for 197.89 square kilometers, or 63.3% of the reserve’s total area. The reserve is about 45 kilometers from the county seat. The primeval forest is well-preserved, with 1,333.33 hectares maintaining the appearance of subtropical primary broadleaf forest.

The Cenwanglaoshan Nature Reserve is situated at the junction of the Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau and the Guangxi Basin, featuring mid-mountain terrain. Most peaks are over 1,000 meters above sea level, with the main peak, Cenwanglaoshan, reaching 2,062.5 meters, making it the highest peak in western Guangxi and the fourth highest in Guangxi, often referred to as the “Roof of Western Guangxi.” The reserve is densely forested with ancient trees. The distribution is as follows: below 700 meters altitude is monsoon evergreen broadleaf forest, with species such as Bischofia javanica, Mallotus philippensis, Celtis sinensis, Castanopsis fabri, Machilus chunii, Beilschmiedia glauca, Litsea cubeba, Schima wallichii, Ziziphus jujuba, Dalbergia latifolia, Dysoxylum binectariferum, and Pinus yunnanensis; between 700–1,600 meters is evergreen broadleaf forest, with species including Castanopsis cartilaginea, Castanopsis fissa, Castanopsis concinna, Quercus griffithii, Lithocarpus handelianus, Machilus leptophylla, Neocinnamomum caudatum, Sassafras tzumu, Adinandra millettii, Ardisia gigantifolia, Actinidia callosa, and Actinidia hemsleyana; between 1,600–2,000 meters is mixed evergreen and deciduous broadleaf forest, mainly consisting of Lithocarpus cleistocarpus, Quercus senescens, Rhododendron simsii, Machilus cavaleriei, Picrasma quassioides, Camellia polyodonta, Chaenomeles cathayensis, Liquidambar formosana, Emmenopterys henryi, Cyclobalanopsis glauca, Manglietia fordiana, Chimonobambusa quadrangularis, and Fokienia hodginsii; above 2,000 meters is evergreen broadleaf mossy dwarf forest, with species such as Styrax tonkinensis, Camellia polyodonta, Eurya glandulosa, Camellia caudata, Ilex dasyphylla, Arundinaria spp., Rhododendron spp., and Enkianthus chinensis.

The magical Cenwanglaoshan primeval forest boasts unique scenery and a pleasant climate, with an average annual temperature of 13.7°C, a maximum of 29.7°C, and a minimum of -7.5°C. It is home to up to 817 species of medicinal plants, making it a rare “treasure trove of Chinese herbal medicine.” The area also hosts various national first, second, and third-class protected animals and plants.

Cenwanglaoshan is renowned for its distinct seasonal beauty: the spring mist, summer waterfalls, autumn clouds, and winter snow. In spring, the mountains are lush and covered with blooming wildflowers, with green waves rolling along the ridges. From April to May, azaleas of purple, white, and red vie for attention. In summer, the babbling streams and spectacular waterfalls are a highlight. Autumn offers panoramic views of endless sea-like clouds and mountain ranges, resembling dragons dancing on a calm ocean. In winter, peaks above 1,500 meters are often capped with snow, and when snowflakes flurry, visitors can experience a taste of northern China’s winter wonderland. A local folk rhyme goes: “Celestial ladders ascend as the moon guides, mountain paths weave through clouds.” Being there feels like stepping into a fairyland.

The primeval forest nature reserve is home to ethnic groups such as the Zhuang, Han, and Yao. The locals are known for their simple, hardworking, kind, and hospitable nature. Each ethnic group has its own unique traditional culture, creating a rich and vibrant ethnic atmosphere with great potential for folklore tourism development.

Preliminary work on the development of Cenwanglaoshan forest tourism is underway.

Source: Tianlin County Tourism Bureau