Luoguquan Karst Stone Forest

　　Located in the western part of Hefeng County, Hubei Province, bordering the Xueluozhai Forest Farm of Xuan'en County to the east and adjacent to the Badagongshan National Nature Reserve in Hunan Province to the south. Provincial Road Ya-Lai runs east-west through the area. It is 32 km from the county seat and covers a total area of approximately 10 km². The terrain features undulating mountains, crisscrossing ridges, and deep valleys with significant elevation changes. Surrounded by mountains, the area boasts dense karst peaks, caves, and sinkholes. Notable attractions centered around Luoguquan include the natural stone bridge, the stone forest cliff peak and one-line sky formation, the Great Stone Maze, Swallow Rock, Twin Lions Welcoming the Pearl, the Horse Forest at Modoukou, and the ancient Tusi battlefield, forming a distinctive karst mountain landscape and a unique mountainous ecological climate zone.

　　The unique karst stone forest spans 2 km², dotted with strangely shaped rocks scattered across the landscape. Towering trees and rocks blend harmoniously, creating a striking contrast. The steep cliffs are covered with round, disc-like boulders resembling gongs and drums—hence the name Luoguquan (Gong and Drum Circle).

　　Due to the large relative elevation within Luoguquan and the influence of localized microclimates, the area experiences warm springs, cold winters, mild summers, cool autumns, delayed springs and early autumns, high humidity, frequent fog, distinct seasons, and notable microclimate variations. Rainfall coincides with warmth, sunlight is abundant, and precipitation is plentiful. This unique microclimate supports the growth of diverse plant species and the survival and reproduction of wildlife. There are 81 families and 289 species of woody plants, including key representative species such as Davidia involucrata var. vilmoriniana, Silver Fir, Tetracentron sinense, and Liriodendron chinense. The wildlife includes 28 species of mammals, 68 species of birds, and 14 species of reptiles, with notable animals such as clouded leopards, pangolins, turtle doves, and spiny-bellied frogs.

　　Since the Mesozoic era, particularly the Paleozoic period, and due to minimal impact from the third and fourth glacial periods, Luoguquan has served as a "refuge" for Tertiary flora and fauna. It is home to concentrated remnants of Tertiary paleo-subtropical plant species or even older lineages, with a rich diversity of rare and endangered plants and animals. According to survey data, the area hosts 12 plant species under the first batch of China’s national key protection list, including Davidia involucrata var. vilmoriniana, Taxus mairei, Cephalotaxus sinensis, Cercidiphyllum japonicum, Phoebe zhennan, Liriodendron chinense, Tetracentron sinense, Zelkova schneideriana, Diplazium donianum, and Monogramma graminea. There are also 13 nationally protected animal species, such as the forest musk deer, clouded leopard, dhole, blue sheep, black bear, black muntjac, pangolin, Lady Amherst’s pheasant, and tiger. Additionally, there are 8 provincially protected animal species, including wild boar and masked palm civet.