Qingshan Ice Mortar Group

　　 The Qingshan Ice Mortar Group Nature Reserve is situated in the eastern part of Hexigten Banner, Chifeng City, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, about 25 kilometers from Jingpeng Town, the seat of the banner government. The reserve is located in Dahulaicun Village, Xinjing Township. It borders Guandongche Village to the east, Shunyilong Village to the west, the north bank of the Xilamulun River to the south, and Mengguyingzi Village to the north. Its geographical coordinates are 117°46′ east longitude and 43°15′ north latitude, covering a total area of 9,200 hectares.

　　　　The Qingshan Nature Reserve is a geological heritage-type nature reserve primarily dedicated to protecting ice mortar groups.

　　　　The Qingshan Nature Reserve is situated on the Qingshan mountain massif at an altitude of 1,574 meters. Various types of ice mortars are distributed across the mountaintop, mostly appearing circular, near-circular, elliptical, or irregular in shape on plan view. Some resemble gourds, some plum blossoms, and others melon seeds. Generally, the rims of the mortars are slightly smaller, while the middle and lower sections are larger, with relatively flat or slightly concave bottoms resembling cooking pots. Their shapes vary greatly — some look like “mortars,” “plates,” “bowls,” or “spoons.” Among them, the deeper mortars typically feature small openings, large bodies, and flat bottoms. The upper rims often have notches (or openings), which vary in size, depth, and width. Typically, the mortars have rims about 0.3–2 meters wide and depths of around 0.1–2 meters. The largest has a diameter of 10.5 meters and is 4.5 meters deep; the smallest are just a few centimeters wide, about the size of ordinary buttons. According to surveys, within an area of less than 2 square kilometers, there are more than 1,000 ice mortars of varying sizes. Some are spotlessly clean, devoid of any residual or fill material, but many are filled with wind-blown yellow soil and have grown over with flowers, grasses, trees, or shrubs, forming various "natural potted landscapes" on the hard, flat granite ridges. These sights are highly spectacular, evoking a great sense of wonder and mystery.

　　　　Local communities have a strong conservation ethic, and the preservation of this large-scale natural relic has exceeded experts’ expectations. Despite its great age, the natural relic from that distant era remains clearly visible to the world, and the mountain vegetation is also very well preserved, with almost no soil erosion. Wild apricot trees, pine trees, ancient cypresses, and poplars thrive vigorously, all of which play a special role in maintaining the full appearance of the natural relic over the long term.

　　　　Surveys have identified 356 species of wild vascular plants belonging to 217 genera and 66 families within the reserve, including one nationally protected plant species: Juglans mandshurica Maxim (Manchurian walnut). There are also seven nationally protected medicinal plant species. (See Table 1 for details.)

　　　　The Qingshan Nature Reserve in Hexigten Banner is a geological heritage-type nature reserve primarily focused on protecting ice mortar groups. Following on-site investigations by multiple experts and scholars from institutions such as the Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences, Geological Research Institute, Peking University, and the China Geological Museum, it has been concluded that the ice mortars found in this region are extremely rare both domestically and internationally, qualifying as a “world wonder.” It is currently the largest known group of ice mortars. On the northern side of Qingshan, there are cirques and glacial potholes, while U-shaped valleys are distributed on the eastern and western sides of the mountain. This indicates that the Greater Khingan Mountains region indeed developed extensive glaciation across multiple periods, making it of high scientific research value. It serves as rare evidence and an important historical testament to global paleoclimate, paleoenvironment, and paleogeological changes.

　　　　The reserve attracts numerous domestic and international experts, scholars, and nature-loving tourists with its unique natural landscape for research, visits, and tourism. The scenery here leaves a profound impression on every visitor. The reserve serves not only as an important base for scientific research but also as an ideal site for developing ecotourism. Here, beautiful scenery abounds, and visitors can feel the boundless charm of nature.

　　　　The area features uniquely shaped peaks and rocks, picturesque scenery, and a breathtaking blend of form and spirit, evoking awe. It presents a scene as poetic as a painting. On the northern side of the reserve, lush trees and oddly shaped rocks stand tall. From the mountaintop, you can overlook the entire reserve, while the winding Xilamulun River meanders gracefully from west to east at the foot of the mountain, adding further beauty to Qingshan.

　　　　The mountaintop meadows, the Mountain God Temple, perilous rocks, hanging rocks, eagle-beak rocks, and the densely distributed ice mortar group make this an even better destination for tourism. It is believed that in the near future, this place will become a high-grade nature reserve integrating ecotourism, education, and promotion.

　　　　The Qingshan Nature Reserve is part of the foothills of the Greater Khingan Mountains, located in the southwestern part of the Neo-Cathaysian structural belt and the northern edge of the Yinshan Complex Structural Belt. The geological structure is complex, and the exposed strata in the area are mainly composed of Jurassic volcanic rocks from the Mesozoic era and Tertiary volcanic rock formations from the Cenozoic era, followed by Permian, Silurian, and other Paleozoic strata. The rock layers run in an east-west direction with an inclination of 60°–80°. The upper section of the rock consists of biotite quartz schist and muscovite quartz schist interbedded with thin slate layers, while the lower section comprises amphibolite plagioclase gneiss mixed with marble, with a total thickness of about one thousand meters. The mountain is relatively high, with an average elevation of over 1,000 meters and a highest peak at 1,574 meters. The shady slopes are mainly covered with patchy distributions of birch forests, poplar forests, Mongolian oak forests, or mixed forests, while the lower areas are dominated by mountain apple forests along with riverside wetlands. The sunny slopes are widely covered with sparse forest vegetation, such as hazelnuts, large-fruited elm, and Mongolian oak. Rocky slopes are primarily covered with Siberian apricot, wormwood, and ironweed.

　　　　The area experiences a mid-temperate continental monsoon climate. Due to its vast territory, undulating mountains, and significant elevation differences, climate variations are complex, with local sayings like “no rain over the mountain, no hail down the road.” Overall, the winters are long and cold, the summers short and cool, and there are significant daily temperature fluctuations and notable differences in frost-free periods. Due to the high elevation, limited water sources, and strong atmospheric transparency, the area enjoys abundant solar energy resources. The annual sunshine duration ranges from 2,700 to 2,950 hours, with a sunshine percentage of 62–65%.

　　　　The reserve falls within a temperate-cool semi-arid agricultural climate zone. The annual average temperature ranges between 2–5°C, with the coldest January averaging between -14 and -18°C.