Baishuihe National Nature Reserve

Baishuihe National Nature Reserve

Sichuan Baishuihe National Nature Reserve is situated in Pengzhou City in the northern part of the Chengdu Plain. It is the nearest nature reserve to Chengdu, the provincial capital of Sichuan, and is mainly focused on the conservation of rare wildlife such as the giant panda and their habitats. The area was approved for establishment by the Pengzhou Municipal People's Government in 1996; designated as a provincial-level nature reserve by the Sichuan Provincial People's Government in 1999; and upgraded to a national-level nature reserve by the State Council in 2002. It covers a total area of 301.5 square kilometers.

The reserve boasts well-preserved forest vegetation and exceptionally rich biodiversity. A total of 1,770 species of vascular plants from 695 genera and 164 families have been recorded in the area, including 1,619 species of seed plants from 638 genera and 139 families. Major plant families such as Asteraceae, Rosaceae, Poaceae, and Liliaceae, which include a high diversity of species and genera, are well-developed here. There are nearly 20 species of nationally protected plants under Class I and II, including Davidia involucrata, Cercidiphyllum japonicum, and Ginkgo biloba. The area is home to 331 species of wildlife from 222 genera, 75 families, and 25 orders, comprising 97 mammal species, 166 bird species, 23 reptile species, 21 amphibian species, and 24 fish species. Among these, seven species are under national Class I protection, including the giant panda, golden snub-nosed monkey, leopard, clouded leopard, takin, golden eagle, and Lady Amherst’s pheasant. Twenty-five species are under national Class II protection, such as the red panda and rhesus macaque, while 11 species are under Sichuan provincial protection, including the red fox, leopard cat, and tufted deer. Additionally, the reserve hosts endemic species such as the Chengdu chub and Pengxian loach.

Sichuan Baishuihe National Nature Reserve boasts abundant eco-tourism resources. The rugged mountains that rise abruptly from the Chengdu Plain, majestic waterfalls, spectacular sea of clouds, brilliant sunrises and sunsets, magical rainbows and Buddha’s halo phenomena, and serene deep blue pools all contribute to the area’s appeal. Especially notable are its rich flora and fauna, well-preserved ecological environment, and long cultural history, which together create an eco-tourism destination that integrates mountain, water, life, atmospheric, cultural, biodiversity, and geological landscapes.

Due to its unique geographical location, mysterious landforms, and rich biodiversity, Sichuan Baishuihe National Nature Reserve has long attracted close attention from scientists both in China and abroad. Since the mid-19th century, experts and scholars from various institutions—including French naturalist P.A. David, Professor Liu Chengzhao, an expert on amphibians and reptiles from the former West China Union University, Academician Zhao Ermi, an amphibian and reptile specialist from the Chengdu Institute of Biology at the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the Sichuan Rare Animal Resources Survey Team, the China-WWF Giant Panda Joint Survey Team, researcher Liu Zhaoguang from the Sichuan Science and Technology Advisory Group, and the Sichuan Orchid Resources Survey Team—have conducted surveys on the region’s fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, mammals, giant pandas, and other rare animals, as well as its orchid resources. In recent years, experts and technicians from the Chengdu Institute of Biology, the Institute of Mountain Hazards and Environment, the Institute of Natural Resources at the Chinese Academy of Sciences, and the Sichuan Wildlife Resources Survey and Conservation Management Station have carried out baseline resource surveys in the area. Units such as the Sichuan Forestry Department and international conservation organizations like WWF have actively explored ways to promote effective protection, management, and sustainable development of the reserve’s resources.

Sichuan Baishuihe National Nature Reserve is one of the sources of the Tuojiang River, a major tributary of the Yangtze River. It plays an extremely important strategic role in water conservation, soil retention, biodiversity protection, ecological balance maintenance, and ensuring favorable weather conditions in the Chengdu Plain and the middle and lower reaches of the river basin. The reserve is committed to biodiversity conservation and will work actively and collaboratively to develop the area into a model site integrating protection, education, fieldwork, visits, scientific research, expeditions, and eco-tourism. This will ensure the full, coordinated, and sustainable development of the reserve’s social, ecological, and economic benefits.

Scenic Spot Location

Baishuihe Nature Reserve, Daba Town, Pengzhou City, Chengdu