Tongbiguan Nature Reserve (Tongbiguan Site)

Tongbiguan Nature Reserve (Tongbiguan Site)

Tongbiguan Nature Reserve (Tongbiguan Site) is a provincial-level nature reserve.

Tongbiguan Nature Reserve

Tongbiguan Nature Reserve, primarily covering the Tongbiguan forest area in Yingjiang County, also includes parts of the forested regions in Longchuan County and Ruili City, with a total area of over 400,000 mu.

The reserve lies in a transition zone between the South Asian subtropical and North tropical regions. The northern part is protected by a plateau barrier, while the southern part is affected alternately by the Indian Ocean monsoon and the arid air masses from the Arabian Peninsula and the Indian Peninsula. It enjoys long hours of sunshine, high accumulated temperature, distinct dry and wet seasons, and abundant rainfall (with an average annual precipitation of 1,500 mm), as well as an average annual temperature of 19.5°C. This complex terrain and climate have given rise to a unique forest belt that blends tropical rainforests, South Asian tropical rainforests, and cool temperate broadleaf forests.

This magical land boasts extremely rich plant and animal resources. According to a survey by the Resource Department of the Yunnan Provincial Forestry Department, the area contains 63 families, 103 genera, and 195 species of higher plants. There are dozens of valuable plant species such as Gmelina arborea, Michelia mediocris, Elaeocarpus spp., Paramichelia baillonii, and Michelia macclurei. Among them, Dipterocarpaceae trees (including Parashorea tomentella, Shorea yingjiangensis, and Shorea tonkinensis) form vast continuous forests, a scale rarely seen anywhere else in the world.

Shorea spp. (including Shorea assamica, Shorea robusta, and Shorea leprosula) are also widely distributed. The reserve is home to many precious animals, including 10 species of mammals under first-class national protection (Asian elephant, wild water buffalo, Indochinese tiger, Capped langur, Slow loris, Phayre’s leaf monkey, Black muntjac, Leopard, and Clouded leopard), and 20 species under second-class protection. As for birds, there are 2 species under first-class protection (Green peafowl and Lady Amherst’s pheasant), and 36 species under second-class protection. In Nabang, several new bird species have been discovered, such as the Red-legged falconet, Bamboo woodpecker, Mijiu bird, and Tree sparrow.

Therefore, some experts from China and abroad believe that, so far, no other land on Earth has been found to retain such a diverse range of species.

If today’s visitors include biology experts, they might not want to leave the reserve for two or three months.

Address: Yingjiang County, Dehong Dai and Jingpo Autonomous Prefecture, Yunnan Province