Mountain Rainforest

Mountain Rainforest

Mountain Rainforest

Mountain rainforest is a representative vegetation type of the vertical natural zones in mountainous tropical regions. It is the dominant vegetation in Bawangling Forest Park, distributed across various terrains at elevations from 600 to 1,000 meters. The composition is mainly from families such as Lauraceae, Fagaceae, Symplocaceae, Rubiaceae, and Podocarpaceae, especially notable for the presence of distinctly dominant families — a phenomenon that is markedly different from the “absence of dominant species” typically found in classic tropical rainforest communities. The canopy height is around 25 meters, with a canopy closure exceeding 0.8. The forest maintains evergreen foliage year-round, and the tree crowns present undulating wave-like patterns. The community structure is complex, with indistinct stratification. The upper canopy trees exceed 20 meters in height and include species such as Dacrydium pierrei, lychee, Castanopsis hystrix, Castanopsis tonkinensis, C. fissa, Alseodaphne hainanensis, Keteleeria evelyniana, Pentaphylax euryoides, and Lauraceae species. This layer has the highest timber volume and concentrates the main species used for commercial timber. Due to the wide distribution range of this type and significant topographical variation, species distribution also varies to some extent. The middle canopy trees are about 10–15 meters tall, primarily composed of species such as Cryptocarya chinensis, Syzygium championii, and Ilex spp., often with straight trunks, smooth bark, and moderately branched crowns. The lower canopy trees are mostly around 5–8 meters tall, consisting not only of saplings of upper canopy species but also plants like Memecylon ligustrifolium and Tricalysia dubia. In this layer, the tall mountain fan palm (Licuala spinosa), reaching up to 8 meters, can occasionally be seen. The shrub layer mainly consists of young trees of the upper canopy, with relatively few true shrub species. Common ones include Tabernaemontana divaricata, Lasianthus chinensis, and Psychotria rubra, along with palm species like Calamus spp. and Licuala spp. Herbaceous plants are scarce, both in variety and quantity, and mostly consist of seedlings of upper canopy trees and shrubs. Common herbs include Alpinia japonica, Cyperus spp., and Lophatherum gracile. The interlayer vegetation is well-developed, with common woody lianas and epiphytes. Among the most frequently observed large woody lianas are Entada phaseoloides, Calamus spp., and Eucommia ulmoides vines. Epiphytes are primarily ferns and orchids. Unlike those in valley rainforests, their attachment points are noticeably higher, reaching up to over 20 meters in the treetops. Sprouting is common within the forest, and features such as buttress roots and strangler phenomena can also be observed.

Bawangling

Valley Rainforest

Yajia Grand Canyon

Yajia Waterfall

Wild Orchid Community

Hopea hainanensis

Tree-Embracing Rock

Wild Lychee Forest

Spindle Tree Shadows

Low Mountain Rainforest

Torreya grandis Elegance

Antiaris toxicaria

Ancient Banyan Embracing Rock

Hainan Gibbon

Bawangling Cliff Face

Yajia Pine Primeval Community

Immortal’s Elixir Refining

Bawangling Sword-Washing Pool