Tongbiguan Nature Reserve

　　Tongbiguan Nature Reserve, primarily covering the Tongbiguan forest area in Yingjiang County, also includes parts of the forests in Longchuan County and Ruili City, with a total area of over 400,000 mu.

　　The reserve is located in the transitional zone from the South subtropical to the North tropical region. The northern part is shielded by a plateau, while the southern part is influenced alternately by the Indian Ocean monsoon and the arid air masses from the Arabian Peninsula and the Indian Peninsula. It enjoys long sunshine hours, high accumulated temperature, distinct dry and wet seasons, and abundant rainfall (with an average annual precipitation of 1,500 mm) and an average annual temperature of 19.5°C. This complex terrain and climate have given rise to a unique mix of tropical rainforest, South subtropical rainforest, and cool-temperate broadleaf forest belts.

　　This magical land boasts extremely rich flora and fauna resources. According to a survey by the Resources Division of the Yunnan Provincial Forestry Department, the reserve is home to 195 species of higher plants from 103 genera and 63 families. There are dozens of precious plant species such as Gmelina arborea, Michelia mediocris, Parashorea chinensis var. kwangsiensis, Paramichelia baillonii, and Michelia macclurei. Among them, Dipterocarpaceae species (including Parashorea tomentella, Parashorea yingjiangensis, and Shorea tonkinensis) form contiguous forests, covering an area so vast that it is rare in the world.

　　Dipterocarpus species (including Shorea assamica, Shorea robusta, and Shorea obtusa) are also widely distributed. The reserve hosts many precious animal species. There are 10 species of Class I nationally protected mammals (Asian elephant, gaur, Indochinese tiger, white-browed gibbon, slow loris, bear macaque, black muntjac, leopard, and clouded leopard), and 20 species of Class II protected mammals. There are 2 species of Class I protected birds (green peafowl and Lady Amherst’s pheasant), and as many as 36 species of Class II protected birds. In Nabang, several new bird species have been discovered, including the red-legged falconet, woodpecker, Mikado pheasant, and tree sparrow.

　　Therefore, some domestic and international experts believe that, to date, no other land on Earth has been found that can preserve such a diverse array of species.

　　If today’s visitors include biology experts, they may not want to leave the reserve for two or three months.

　　Address: Nabang Town, Yingjiang County