Saihanwula Nature Reserve

Saihanwula Nature Reserve

Saihanwula Nature Reserve is a national-level nature reserve.

Saihanwula Nature Reserve is situated in the northern part of Bairin Right Banner, Chifeng City, Inner Mongolia. It is a comprehensive nature reserve mainly focused on the protection of rare and endangered wildlife and the diverse ecosystems that support them, such as forests, grasslands, sandy areas, and wetlands, covering a total area of 100,400 hectares. In 2000, it was designated as a national nature reserve, and in 2001, it joined the World Network of Biosphere Reserves.

The reserve is located in the southern part of China’s Greater Khingan Mountains, serving as a transitional zone where grasslands meet forests and where the East Asian broadleaf forest belt intersects with the cold temperate coniferous forest of the Greater Khingan range. It is also an ecological crossroads for the fauna of the Northeast China, North China, and Inner Mongolia-Xinjiang regions. As such, it provides significant opportunities for studying the interactions among various flora and fauna groups, biodiversity conservation, and the impacts of global climate change as reflected through changes in biodiversity.

Scientific surveys have confirmed that the reserve contains 6 vegetation types, 10 subtypes, and 39 formations, showcasing extremely rich biodiversity, with a total of 2,516 species of plants and animals. These include: 38 species of wild mammals, among which 4 are Class II nationally protected species—blue sheep, Northeastern sika deer, lynx, and Pallas's cat. The reserve hosts China’s largest wild population of blue sheep and a significant population of Northeastern sika deer. There are 241 bird species, including 39 that are Class II or higher nationally protected (with Class I protected species such as great bustard, golden eagle, and black stork). There are also 3 globally threatened bird species: great bustard, greater spotted eagle, and swan goose. For this reason, the reserve has been listed as an Important Bird Area (IBA) of global significance. Additionally, there are 3 amphibian species, 8 reptile species (3 of which are listed in China’s Red Data Book of Endangered Animals), 7 fish species, 591 insect species, and 21 plankton species. The reserve is home to 792 species of wild vascular plants, including 1 Class II nationally protected plant—wild soybean; 221 species of mosses, among which 19 are rare or endangered; 251 species of wild higher fungi, 25 species of powdery mildew, 19 species of smut fungus, and 65 species of lichens; and 234 species of algae. Among the identified flora and fauna, there is 1 new species, 7 species new to China, 236 species new to Inner Mongolia, 6 endemic species to China, and 2 new genera to Inner Mongolia (Schizachyrium and Monandra).

The reserve is rich in water-conserving vegetation. Countless small streams converge to form ten rivers, including the Wulanba River, Haiqing River, and Huitong River, with an annual runoff of nearly 100 million cubic meters, making it a crucial water conservation area for the upper reaches of the West Liaohe River.

To enhance protection and management, the reserve has established three core zones: Zhenggou, Qingyun Mountain, and Wulanba, covering a total area of 16,340.3 hectares, or 16.27% of the entire reserve. To support scientific research and monitoring, the “Saihanwula Forest Ecosystem Monitoring and Research Station” has been jointly established with Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, serving as a base for scientific research and teaching practice for major institutions such as Beijing Forestry University, Inner Mongolia University, and Inner Mongolia Agricultural University.

To better protect biodiversity while allowing more people to appreciate and experience the area’s stunning natural scenery, the reserve has set up three ecotourism zones and built the Saihanwula Nature Museum, which houses over 10,000 specimens across 2,400 square meters.

The ancient Saihanwula region is the homeland and birthplace of the Khitan people and is also known as Hanshan. During the Liao Dynasty, it was called Heishan (Black Mountain), regarded as a sacred mountain of the Liao and historically likened to China’s Mount Tai. The reserve still preserves cultural relics from the Liao and Jin periods, such as the Liao Dynasty Shakyamuni Buddha Relic Pagoda, Liao Dynasty Qinding Tombs, Liao Dynasty Huai Tombs, and Jin Dynasty border fortresses. Among these, the Shakyamuni Buddha Relic Pagoda, Qinding Tombs along with the Qindu City, and Huai Tombs along with the Huai State City are national-level cultural heritage protection units. The Jin Dynasty border fortresses have also been inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Saihanwula Nature Reserve, this shining jewel, is drawing increasing attention. With accelerated development, it is poised to become a multifunctional, multidisciplinary, and comprehensive nature reserve integrating natural conservation, scientific research, ecotourism, and sustainable utilization.