Mengda Nature Reserve

Mengda Nature Reserve

Mengda Nature Reserve is a national-level nature reserve.

Mengda Nature Reserve is a national-level nature reserve approved by the State Council. It is located in the Mengda Mountain area of Xunhua County, at the eastern end of the Xiqing Mountains within the autonomous county and on the southern bank of the Jishi Gorge of the Yellow River. This mountainous region belongs to the Dangrui–Wutai Mountain area and lies precisely at the transitional zone between the northeastern edge of the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau and the Loess Plateau of Longnan. The mountains generally run from north to south. Covering a total area of 17,290 hectares, with elevations ranging from 1,780 to 3,356 meters, it is a pristine natural forested area characterized by high mountains, deep valleys, towering trees, dense forests, and abundant plant life. At the midsection of Muchang Valley at an altitude of 2,504 meters lies a uniquely enchanting and long-renowned alpine pearl—the Mengda Tianchi (Heavenly Lake). The reserve is also known as the “Xishuangbanna of the Plateau.”

Due to its unique natural geographic conditions, relatively mild and moist climate, and suitable soil, the reserve boasts a rich and diverse variety of plant species. According to a preliminary survey in 1982, the reserve is home to 90 families of higher plants, accounting for 80% of the province’s total; 296 genera, making up 65% of the province’s total; and 517 species, representing 20% of the province’s total. The reserve also serves as a natural botanical garden, with 77 families and 326 species of medicinal plants (including 44 families and 81 species listed in the National Pharmacopoeia). The complex terrain, dense forests, rich plant diversity, favorable climate, along with its remote location, limited transportation, and sparse population provide optimal conditions for wildlife reproduction and survival. Currently, the reserve hosts 7 species of mammals from 5 families under 3 orders, and 68 species of birds from 19 families under 8 orders.