Liancheng Plum Blossom Mountain

　　Liancheng Plum Blossom Mountain Nature Reserve spans 20 kilometers from east to west, 19 kilometers from north to south, covering a total area of 225.7 square kilometers with a forest coverage rate of 89%. It is a world-class A nature reserve and is categorized as a national forest and wildlife protection zone.

　　Plum Blossom Mountain enjoys a pleasant climate with evergreen surroundings year-round. Due to its unique geological, topographical, vegetative, and climatic features, it boasts multi-layered and diverse natural tourism resources.

　　The mountain features undulating peaks with an average elevation of 900 meters in the area and over 300 peaks exceeding 1,000 meters. It is the source of the Min River, Jiulong River, and Ting River, earning the title “Mother Mountain of Eight Fujian Provinces.” Surveys indicate there are 172 families, 676 genera, and 1,490 species (including 30 subspecies) of vascular plants here. Among them, more than 40 are rare, precious, or endangered tree species, such as Cunninghamia lanceolata, Tsoongiodendron odorum, Eurycorymbus cavaleriei, Amentotaxus argotaenia, Nothotsuga longibracteata, Morinda officinalis, and Cinnamomum micranthum. Preliminary surveys also found 62 mammal species, 166 bird species, 69 reptile species, and 29 amphibian species. Of these, 42 are classified as key protected wildlife species in China, including the South China tiger, clouded leopard, leopard, and black bear. The rich flora and fauna of Plum Blossom Mountain form a “natural gene bank,” making it an ideal base for research on taxonomy, forest ecology, and plant communities. It attracts many biologists, geographers, and overseas explorers. The pristine forests here are dense and lush, and the air is rich in negative ions, making it an excellent spot for “forest bathing.” Forest bathing is a growing global travel trend. This magical and pristine forest landscape allows visitors to immerse themselves in nature’s green embrace, breathe fresh air rich in negative ions, boost metabolism, enhance mood, and achieve physical exercise and therapeutic benefits.

　　The area features striking natural landscapes, including the several-kilometer-long Huanglianyu Cliff, Meihou Pond Waterfall, Carp Fort Waterfall, Plum Blossom Lake, as well as naturally sculpted rock formations like Eagle Rock, Grain Storage Rock, and Turtle Laying Eggs. There are also cultural sites such as Ma’anshan Temple, Tomb of the Southern Barbarian King, and Pear Ridge Buyun Academy.

　　A local western Fujian folk song goes: “Plum Blossom has eighteen caves, each cave with eighteen valleys, each valley stretching eighteen li, each li with eighteen hollows, each hollow holding eighteen golden chairs.” The “golden chairs” refer to underground mineral resources. Currently, discovered and mined minerals include iron, manganese, lead, zinc, tungsten, coal, magnetite, and quartz.

　　Plum Blossom Mountain Tiger Park

　　China Tiger Park is located at the junction of Shanghang, Liancheng, and Longyan counties (cities) in Fujian Province, within the 220-square-kilometer area of Plum Blossom Mountain. Most of the area consists of pristine forest, with over 30 vegetation formations. Among them, 19 rare plant species are listed in the first edition of China’s Red Data Book. As for forest animals, 26 rare species—including the South China tiger and leopard—are under national first- or second-class protection. In 1985, it was designated as a national Class A nature reserve. Compared to the dry and hot “tropical desert belts” found elsewhere on Earth, it is a rare “gene bank of flora and fauna” and has been praised by experts worldwide as the “Green Jade in the Tropical Desert Belt.”

　　To save the critically endangered South China tiger, in September 1998, Longyan City in Fujian Province introduced three tigers—two males and one female—from Suzhou Zoo to begin a wild-training program, launching the nation’s first “Plum Blossom Mountain South China Tiger Conservation Project.” At the start of this year, the city invested heavily to establish the 7,000-mu (approximately 466 hectares) China Longyan Plum Blossom Mountain South China Tiger Park in the heart of Plum Blossom Mountain at Chapan Cave. Three more tigers—two females and one male—were introduced from Guilin Bear and Tiger Mountain Villa in Guangxi to increase the genetic diversity and prevent inbreeding. Now, in the densely forested and rugged terrain of Plum Blossom Mountain Tiger Park, the long-absent roars of South China tigers along with the cheerful calls of macaques, sika deer, and other nationally protected wildlife have thrilled conservation experts and visitors alike.

　　The Plum Blossom Mountain South China Tiger Rescue Project is carried out in three phases, with a total investment of approximately 120 million yuan. By 2010, the number of artificially bred, semi-wild, and wild-trained South China tigers in Plum Blossom Mountain Tiger Park is expected to reach 100. By then, Plum Blossom Mountain is expected to become a South China tiger nature reserve with internationally advanced standards.

　　Basic Introduction to Plum Blossom Mountain

　　The Plum Blossom Mountain Nature Reserve was established in April 1985 with the approval of the Fujian Provincial People’s Government and was designated as a national forest and wildlife type nature reserve in May 1988 by the State Council. Located at the junction of Xinluo, Shanghang, and Liancheng counties (districts) in Longyan City, Fujian Province, the reserve covers a total area of 22,168.5 hectares. It is a famous natural forest area in Fujian, situated in the main body of the Daihai Mountain range between the southern section of the Wuyi Mountains and the Boping Ridge, commonly known as the “Plum Blossom Mountain Eighteen Caves.”

　　A Pristine Land for Future Generations

　　The Plum Blossom Mountain Nature Reserve lies at the southern edge of the mid-subtropical zone, featuring a climate that transitions from mid- to south subtropical. It is the source of Fujian’s three major river systems—the Min River, Ting River, and Jiulong River—and is called the “Mother Mountain of Eight Fujian Provinces.” Its unique geographical location and climatic environment not only create the mild winters and cool summers of the Longyan urban center, earning it the nickname “natural air conditioner” of western Fujian, but it is also the most biologically diverse region in western Fujian, harboring abundant wildlife resources and many rare species and new species. It is hailed by domestic and international ecologists as the “Green Jade in the Tropical Desert Belt,” a “wildlife sanctuary,” and a “gene bank of biological species.” In particular, the South China tiger—unique to China and ranked first among the world’s ten most endangered species by the International Union for Conservation of Nature—still survives and breeds here. Experts have confirmed it is the “region with the highest population and most active presence of South China tigers,” calling it the “hometown of the South China tiger” and its “most ideal habitat.”

　　Due to its relatively isolated location, Plum Blossom Mountain has seen minimal human interference historically. As a result, much of its forest remains in a pristine state, making it one of the few ecologically intact areas in Fujian and the most concentrated region of natural forests in western Fujian. It enjoys high reputation both nationally and internationally. In 1992, during the “China Nature Reserve Priority Areas Symposium” jointly held in Beijing by the World Wide Fund for Nature and China’s Ministry of Forestry, Plum Blossom Mountain was listed as one of the internationally significant Class A nature reserves due to its intact ecological preservation and rich biodiversity. In September 1994, the Chinese government published the “China Biodiversity Conservation Action Plan,” in which Plum Blossom Mountain Nature Reserve was included in the “List of China’s Priority Protected Ecosystems” and the “Priority Protected Forest Ecosystems.” Since its establishment, the reserve has hosted over ten batches of foreign expert delegations. After visiting, they highly praised its ecological environment, calling Plum Blossom Mountain an “outstanding model of conservation” and a “pristine land for future generations.”

　　Green Jade in the Tropical Desert Belt

　　The Plum Blossom Mountain Nature Reserve is located between 116°45′25″–116°57′33″ east longitude and 25°15′14″–25°35′44″ north latitude. Most other regions at similar latitudes on Earth are deserts, but Plum Blossom Mountain is covered in endless green forests. It lies in the core of an independent and complete large fault block in southwestern Fujian, like a green jewel embedded in the Tropic of Cancer. Experts and scholars have praised it as the “Green Jade in the Tropical Desert Belt.”

　　The reserve forms the main part of the Daihai Mountain range in western Fujian. Its topography is mainly mid-level mountains, with higher elevations in the center surrounded by lower areas, higher in the west and lower in the east. The average elevation is 900 meters, with over 70 peaks exceeding 1,000 meters. The highest peak, Shimen Mountain, stands at 1,811 meters, with a relative height difference of 1,436 meters. Geologically, it is part of the Yongmei Depression Zone and has undergone multiple tectonic movements. The Yanshan Movement caused large-scale granite intrusions, and the development of fault structures fragmented the terrain. The area is crisscrossed with ravines, has significant elevation changes, deeply incised valleys, and many steep cliffs. Most of the soil is sandy, highly weathered, and if vegetation is destroyed, it is very difficult to recover.

　　In addition, the forest landscape in the Plum Blossom Mountain Nature Reserve is extremely rich. Plant species are ancient in origin, with many endemic to China. It hosts the province’s largest area of large-diameter fir forests, as well as Plum Blossom Mountain evergreen oak forests, yew forests, and cryptomeria forests. Ancient trees and rare plants are widespread. The natural landscape is also unique, featuring numerous geomorphological and hydrological wonders, making it an ideal destination for eco-tourism. The total standing timber volume in the reserve is about 1.8 million cubic meters, with a forest coverage rate of 93.5% and greening level of 97.6%.

　　Gene Bank of Biological Resources

　　The location, forest ecology, and natural environment of Plum Blossom Mountain are relatively independent. Its vast forest resources serve as an umbrella and refuge for various organisms. The reserve boasts abundant and unique biological resources, with a rich diversity of rare animal and plant species, forming a natural gene bank and an ideal base for biological research. In terms of plants: the flora of the Plum Blossom Mountain Reserve is complex, with vegetation transitioning from the southern edge of the mid-subtropical zone to the south subtropical zone, forming typical subtropical forest vegetation. There are 11 vegetation types and 63 plant formations, including subtropical evergreen broad-leaved forests, coniferous forests, mixed coniferous-broadleaf-bamboo forests, bamboo forests, subtropical mountain shrubs, and grasslands. The reserve has 1,628 species of vascular plants across 734 genera and 184 families, including 23 species under national key protection such as Tsoongiodendron odorum, Cunninghamia lanceolata, Bretschneidera sinensis, and Eurycorymbus cavaleriei, and over 60 rare plant species. In terms of animals: the reserve is part of the East Asian realm, Central Indian sub-realm, leaning toward the central-northern region, with transitional characteristics toward the Palearctic realm’s mid-Asian region. It is home to a rich variety of wildlife. There are 362 species of terrestrial wild animals, including 66 mammal species from 20 families in 6 orders, 198 bird species from 40 families in 17 orders, 69 reptile species from 40 genera in 10 families across 3 orders, 29 amphibian species from 28 genera in 8 families across 2 orders, 65 fish species from 51 genera in 14 families across 5 orders, 27 mollusk species from 15 families in 4 orders, and 170 plankton species from 32 families in 9 orders. There are also over 2,000 insect species from more than 150 families in 200 orders, and 116 species of macrofungi. Among them, 42 rare animal species—including the South China tiger, leopard, clouded leopard, golden cat, sambar deer, and sika deer—and rare insects such as Teinopalpus aureus and Cheirotonus jansoni are under national key protection.

　　Hometown of the South China Tiger

　　In 1990, China and the World Wildlife Fund conducted a resource survey of the South China tiger across four provinces—Fujian, Guangdong, Hunan, and Jiangxi. A major breakthrough was made in Plum Blossom Mountain, with conclusive evidence confirming the continued survival and breeding of the South China tiger. This finding gained recognition and attention from experts worldwide. World Wildlife Fund experts called Plum Blossom Mountain the “region with the highest population and most active presence of South China tigers.” It is also considered the most ideal habitat for the species.

　　The South China tiger is a unique tiger species of China and a symbol of nobility, bravery, and strength for the Chinese nation. However, due to historical reasons, its habitat has been destroyed, living space has shrunk, and it is now on the brink of extinction. Statistics show that the total number of South China tigers in China (both wild and in zoos) does not exceed 100, making it even rarer and more precious than the giant panda. The South China tiger rescue project is one of China’s three major wildlife rescue projects (alongside the giant panda and crested ibis). Currently, the project is a priority on China’s agenda. The revolutionary-rooted and wildlife-conscious western Fujian revolutionary base took the lead in initiating the project, establishing a South China Tiger Breeding Research Center in 1998. Now, the China Longyan Plum Blossom Mountain South China Tiger Park is under construction to protect the region’s typical ecological environment and the world’s most endangered species.

　　Western Fujian’s Natural “Air Conditioner”

　　Plum Blossom Mountain is an important ecological source in western Fujian. With its dense forests and good ground cover, it serves as a crucial water conservation area for the region. It is estimated to store 209.333 million cubic meters of precipitation annually, release 43,000 tons of oxygen, trap over 500,000 tons of dust, and reduce surface erosion by over 5 million cubic meters. Therefore, it is reasonable to consider Plum Blossom Mountain a massive air purifier and fresh air factory for western Fujian.

　　Due to its high elevation and unique geographical location, Plum Blossom Mountain has formed a typical subtropical humid mountain climate. Being close to the ocean, it is often influenced by warm, moist southeast winds. Additionally, the Wuyi Mountains and Boping Ridge to the northwest and southeast act as natural barriers, blocking cold air and moist oceanic airflows. This results in the Longyan urban center enjoying warm winters and cool summers with stable temperatures and humidity. The presence of Plum Blossom Mountain not only plays an irreplaceable role in regulating the climate of the Longyan urban center but also significantly impacts the climate of surrounding areas. The mountain blocks cold air, making valleys such as the Yanshi Valley to the southeast, Yongding River Valley, Huangtan River Valley, and Ting River Valley on the south side the warmest areas in all of western Fujian.

　　The intact mountain ecosystem, complex and diverse habitats, distinct vertical landscapes, and rich, complex flora and fauna of the Plum Blossom Mountain Reserve offer great ecological, social, and economic benefits. It is an ideal base for scientific research and teaching, a classroom for popularizing natural science knowledge and environmental education among the public, and a safeguard for promoting the dual development of civilization in the western Fujian revolutionary base. Therefore, we must strive harder to protect it, cherish it immensely, and bring benefits to humanity and future generations.