Chishui Alsophila National Nature Reserve

Chishui Alsophila National Nature Reserve

Chishui Alsophila National Nature Reserve is a national-level nature reserve.

Chishui Alsophila National Nature Reserve

The Alsophila National Nature Reserve, acclaimed by scientists as an "Alsophila sanctuary," is China's first national-level nature reserve for Alsophila. Located in Jinshagou, Hushi Town, Chishui City, it boasts high mountains, deep valleys, and layered mountain ranges, preserving a well-maintained primitive ecological environment. The reserve is home to over 40,000 Alsophila plants, which exhibit typical structures, diverse types, and beautiful tree forms.

The Alsophila Reserve also hosts many rare plant species, such as the small yellow-flowered tea unique to Chishui, as well as Fujian cypress, eucommia, red Michelia, nanmu, dysosma, coptis, and gastrodia.

Established in 1984 by the State Environmental Protection Administration under China’s Sixth Five-Year Plan for Environmental Protection, the Chishui Alsophila National Nature Reserve is a comprehensive, model reserve in Guizhou Province focused primarily on species conservation. The reserve aims to protect the nationally first-class, rare, and endangered Alsophila plant and its habitat. Covering a protected area of 13,300 hectares—comprising a core zone of 5,500 hectares, a buffer zone of 4,000 hectares, and an experimental zone (including tourism and living-cultural areas) of 3,800 hectares—the site was designated a national nature reserve by the State Council in 1992 due to its typicality, representative significance, and high scientific research value. It was subsequently included in the UNESCO Man and the Biosphere Programme the following year, earning the title "Kingdom of Alsophila by the Chishui River." Rare animals such as clouded leopards, Tibetan macaques, rhesus monkeys, serows, and tufted deer are often spotted in the forested valleys. Geologically, the reserve lies within the Sichuan Platform Depression of the Yangtze Paraplatform, with exposed strata from the Jurassic and Cretaceous systems featuring red bed structures. During the Mesozoic Jurassic period, the ancient geographical environment formed part of an inland lake basin in Sichuan. Situated in the mid-subtropical humid monsoon climate zone, the area enjoys an average annual temperature of 12.7°C–17.7°C, annual precipitation of 1,200–1,300 mm, and relative humidity of 86%–90%. As part of the mid-subtropical evergreen broad-leaved forest belt, the dominant flora includes species from the Fagaceae, Theaceae, Lauraceae, and Magnoliaceae families, with forest coverage reaching 91%—most of it primary forest. Below 700 meters in elevation, optimal hydrothermal conditions and a subtropical climate foster large areas of subtropical rainforest layers represented by Alsophila, alocasia, wild bananas, and Angiopteris fokiensis, beneath the lush subtropical evergreen broad-leaved forests. Numerous tropical and subtropical plants thrive here, creating a rare subtropical rainforest landscape for the latitude.

Address: Jinshagou, Jinshazhen, Chishui City, Zunyi, Guizhou Province

Opening Hours:

Low season (December–March): 8:00–16:30; Peak season (March–November): 8:00–17:00

Suggested Visit Duration

2–3 hours

Transportation

Scenic Area Shuttle Bus:

(1) Take the Chishui–Zhuhai bus line from Chishui Bus Station and get off at Zhuhai.

(2) Take the Chishui–Tucheng bus line from Chishui Bus Station, get off at Jinsha, then transfer to a bus to Zhuhai.

Private Car: It is recommended to hire a car from Jinshazhen, which allows you to visit both Zhuhai and the Alsophila Reserve. The price is around 100–150 RMB.

Admission Fee

50 RMB

Hushi Town: Hushi Town is a township under the jurisdiction of Chishui City, Zunyi, Guizhou Province. It is located in the central part of Chishui City, 38 km from the urban area, with convenient communication and accessible water and land transportation. It borders Yuanhou Town to the south, Bing’an Township to the west, Guandu Town to the east, and Wanglong Town to the north.

Basic Information

Hushi Town is situated in the central part of Chishui City, 38 km from the city center, with convenient communication and accessible water and land transportation. It borders Yuanhou Town to the south, Bing’an Township to the west, Guandu Town to the east, and Wanglong Town to the north. The town covers a total area of 203 square kilometers and administers 7 administrative villages and 56... More detailed information about Hushi Town++