Huangshi'ao Nature Reserve

Huangshi'ao Nature Reserve

The Guangdong Heping Huangshi'ao Provincial Nature Reserve is located in the southwestern part of Heping County, Heyuan City, Guangdong Province, at the eastern foot of the Jiulian Mountains. It covers a total area of 9,333.3 hectares. In early 2007, it was upgraded to a provincial-level nature reserve. Its primary conservation targets are rare animal and plant resources and their habitats, classifying it as a forest ecological type.

Geomorphology

The reserve is located in the mid-subtropical monsoon climate zone and features a mid-to-low mountainous and hilly geomorphology.

The zonal vegetation within the reserve consists of typical mid-subtropical evergreen broad-leaved forests, which can be divided into eight types: evergreen broad-leaved forest, mixed evergreen and deciduous broad-leaved forest, mixed coniferous and broad-leaved forest, warm coniferous forest, tropical coniferous forest, shrub-grassland, bamboo forest, and artificial vegetation. Broad-leaved forests occupy the largest area, accounting for 46.3%, followed by mixed coniferous and broad-leaved forests, which make up 31.5%.

Soil

The soils are mainly mountainous red soil, mountainous yellow soil, and mountainous shrub-meadow soil, all rich in humus, providing favorable conditions for the abundant plant resources in the area.

Climate

The reserve is located in a subtropical region.

Hydrology

The surface water in the reserve belongs to the Beijiang River basin and is distributed in the form of rivers, streams, and reservoirs. The water volume fluctuates with the seasonal rainfall. The reserve is rich in water resources, with the Lijiang River, a first-level tributary of the Dongjiang River, running from northwest to southeast through the area. The river stretches 20.5 kilometers within the reserve, with an average width of about 30 meters. It includes three reservoirs and power stations: Huangshi'ao, Huilong Town, and Liangpai. The area features tree-lined riverbanks, harmonious landscapes of water and mountains, and picturesque scenery.

Guangdong Heping Huangshi'ao Provincial Nature Reserve. Other nearby attractions include the Yangming Museum, which houses cultural relics from the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods; the Linzhai Ancient Village with its iconic Four-Corner Tower ancient architectural complex, originally built during the Qin Dynasty; the Nantian and Jiahegang Weilong Houses constructed in the Qing Dynasty; as well as Yangming Town in the county seat, Cao Wu Village in Heshui Town, the Cuishan Bamboo Sea on Shangling, Immortal Stone, Huangshi'ao Provincial Nature Reserve, the pastoral scenery of Yangming Building, and Pengzhai.

The Linzhai Four-Corner Tower ancient architectural complex is the largest of its kind in China. Linzhai, established in the Qin Dynasty, has a history of over two thousand years. Its rare ancient architectural complex and profound cultural heritage are truly breathtaking. The area is known for nurturing exceptional individuals, including Chen Jichang, the top scholar in the 1820 Imperial Examination, Chen Qiongrun, the Governor of Liangguang during the Qing Dynasty’s Guangxu reign, and six Court Councilors. The local area is rich in Cantonese opera performances, dragon boat races, lion and dragon dances, and unique birthday customs such as “birthday on a bed of mats.” It is a quintessential Hakka cultural region.

Reshui Town: Located in the heart of the Jiulian Mountains on the border between Guangdong and Jiangxi, Reshui Town lies in the western part of Heping County, along the middle and upper reaches of the Lijiang River. Surrounded by mountains and lush greenery, the town enjoys a beautiful environment and pleasant climate. It covers a total area of 185.34 square kilometers, with mountainous land spanning 196,000 mu and arable land around 5,800 mu. The town administers seven administrative villages and one neighborhood committee, with a total population of over 16,000. It is one of the 59 revolutionary old base towns in the province dating back to the Anti-Japanese War and also the birthplace of the first Party branch in Heping County. Reshui Town boasts abundant forest and ecological resources, with a forest coverage rate of 84%. The area is home to... (Detailed information on Reshui Town++)