Beihai Mangrove Forest

Beihai Mangrove Forest

The Mangrove Ecological Nature Reserve is situated on both the eastern and western sides of the Shatian Peninsula in the southeastern part of Hepu County, Guangxi, about 115 kilometers from downtown Beihai. It is one of the first five national-level marine nature reserves established with the approval of the State Council in September 1990. The reserve boasts a total coastline of 50 kilometers and spans an area of 80 square kilometers, including 40 square kilometers of land and 40 square kilometers of sea. It is dedicated to protecting the marine ecosystem and rare and endangered species. The reserve focuses on conserving 13 species of rare mangrove plants, 96 species of marine phytoplankton, 259 species of marine animals such as fish, shrimp, crabs, and shellfish, 106 species of birds, and 258 species of insects. In 1993, the reserve joined the China Population Research Reserve Network, and in January 2001, it became part of the UNESCO Man and the Biosphere Programme. Its biodiversity plays a vital role in teaching, research, and ecological conservation both nationally and internationally.

Most plants in the world reproduce through seeds, but mangroves are “viviparous.” The “forest on the sea,” known as the Red Forest, is located within the Mangrove Nature Reserve at Yingluo Bay, Shankou Town, Hepu County, Beihai, covering an area of 260 hectares. It represents one of the best-developed and most well-preserved natural mangrove distributions along the mainland coast of China, holding significant scientific research and aesthetic value. It has recently been officially approved as a member of the UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve Network. The mangrove forest features dense canopies, ancient and gnarled trunks, and a well-developed root system with intertwined roots that twist and turn like dragons.

The Shankou Mangrove Reserve enjoys abundant sunlight and heat. The bay extends deep inland, is relatively enclosed, and experiences low levels of seawater pollution with stable physicochemical properties. The mangrove forest within the reserve covers an area of 7.2 square kilometers and includes 12 species of mangrove plants such as Rhizophora stylosa, Ceriops tagal, Bruguiera gymnorrhiza, and Aegiceras corniculatum. The mangroves here, especially the contiguous pure stands of Rhizophora stylosa, are extremely rare and highly precious in China. The tall and straight stands of Bruguiera gymnorrhiza are the only surviving examples in Guangxi’s coastal areas. The reserve is home to various marine animals, including cerithioid snails, fiddler crabs, sesarmid crabs, and snapping shrimp. The mangrove waters provide an ideal habitat for the dugong (sea cow), a national first-class protected animal, as well as manatees, and serve as nesting grounds for many seabirds, such as egrets. Within the mangrove protection area, visitors can witness spectacular sights such as mudskippers leaping onto tree trunks and sea snakes dancing through the red forest.

Shankou Town: Located in the eastern part of Hepu County, Shankou Town sits at the junction of Guangdong, Guangxi, and Hainan provinces. National Highway 325 and the newly built western China transportation artery, the Chongqing-Zhanjiang Expressway, run through the town. At a distance of 14 kilometers, two ports—Yingluo Port and Shankou Port—are situated on the eastern and western flanks respectively. The town benefits from superior regional conditions and highly convenient sea and land transportation, serving as a key transport hub connecting “Lianguang” (Guangdong and Guangxi) and even the broader southwestern region. The town administers 15 village committees, one neighborhood committee, has a total population of 73,000, and covers an area of 123.6 square kilometers.

Environmental Resources: Shankou Town is rich in resources, with high-quality kaolin exceeding 20 million tons... More detailed information about Shankou Town++