Larch Forest Scenic Area

　　The Xing'an larch forest in the northern part of China's Greater Khingan Mountains is part of the boreal coniferous forests of Eurasia, belonging to the southern extension of the deciduous coniferous forests of southeastern Siberia along the mountain range to the south. The Greater Khingan Mountains have an average elevation of about 600–1,000 meters, with some peaks nearing 1,400 meters. The annual average temperature ranges from -1.2°C to below -5°C, the July average temperature is between 16–20°C, the total accumulated temperature (sum of days with a daily average above 10°C) is 1,100–1,700°C, the frost-free period is 70–100 days, and the annual precipitation is 400–600 millimeters.

　　Due to the low growth temperatures, the air has relatively high humidity. The vegetation here shows distinct vertical zonation. Valleys below 600 meters are covered with Xing'an larch forests mixed with Mongolian oak. Other tree species include black birch, mountain poplar, Korean linden, Manchurian ash, and amur corktree. Understory shrubs include Lespedeza bicolor, hazel, and dwarf hazel. From 600–1,000 meters, there are rhododendron–Xing'an larch forests, with some areas featuring Scots pine forests. The understory includes rhododendron dauricum, ledum palustre, and blueberries such as Vaccinium uliginosum. Between 1,100–1,350 meters are moss–Xing'an larch forests, with small numbers of trees like red pine and stone birch. The forest floor has well-developed moss cover, mainly consisting of Hylocomium splendens, Rhytidiadelphus triquetrus, and Hylocomium spp., with black tree moss on tree trunks but no usnea. Above 1,350 meters, the mountaintop is dominated by creeping dwarf krummholz forests of Siberian dwarf pine, along with birch species and blueberries, all of which have adapted into alpine forms.

　　The Xing'an larch possesses the character of withstanding cold and snow. Just like the people living deep within the dense forests of the Greater Khingan Mountains, they endure the bitter cold of winter, fierce storms, and heavy snowfall, yet continue to live and work here, silently contributing to the prosperity of this land. This is the quality of the Xing'an larch, this is the character of the Xing'an larch.

　　Transportation Guide

　　Scenic Area Address: Northern Greater Khingan Mountains, Heilongjiang Province