Shaanxi Giant Panda

Foping National Nature Reserve (FNNR) is located on the southern slope of the middle range of the Qinling Mountains (33º33´–33º46´N, 107º41´–107º55´E), Shaanxi Province, China. It was established in 1978 authorised by State Council for protecting Gaint Panda and its eco-system, the Nature Reserve covers 35000 hectare and is under leadship of the State Forest Bureau.

The main function of the FNNR is to protect the giant panda population and its habitat. The reserve covers an area of approximately 292.4 sq.km, and the elevation ranges from about 980 m to 2900 m. Vegetation types in the reserve include conifer forests, mixed conifer and broadleaf forests, deciduous broadleaf forests, shrub and meadow. There are two dominant bamboo species, which comprise the pandas’ staple food, namely Bashania fargesii and Fargesia qinlingensis. They are mostly understorey species, and only Fargesia qinlingensis appears as pure bamboo groves at the top of the mountain. The distribution of the two species varies with elevation. Bashania fargesii occurs mostly below 1900 m, while Fargesia qinlingensis is located at higher altitudes of more than 1900m. More than 330 vertebrates and plants were found in the reserve. FNNR is the core zone of the giant panda’s distribution area in the Qinling Mountains, where about 80 giant pandas occur. The reserve is a member of the UNESCO's World Network of Biosphere Reserves. FNNR is recognized as ‘Homeland of the Qinling Giant Panda’ and ‘Original place of Chinese Cornus’. This place is also labelled as ‘Wildlife and Gene Resources Bank’ as well as ‘Ecotourism Resort’.

FPNR lies in the transitive area from subtropic to temperate zone, the climate is warm and moist under influence of monsoon, the average temperature of a year is about 13? and with range of -2? to 27?, annual precipitation is in a range of 950~1200mm, the lack-frost duration is lasted 180~220 days in a year, but in recent year, flood disaster occurred frequently, most rainfall are appeared during July, August and September.

The special location results in luxuriant vegetation resource in FPNR, flora of FPNR is made of species occured in regions of centre china, north china, southwest china, and Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau, species happened in the region of centre China make major part of the flora which contain 103 genera with single species in the world view, 18 endemic genus to China and species remained from Tertiary period have been found in FPNR, there are 1583 species plants which belong to 655 genera, 235 families among them, there are 84 species of epiphyte, 21 of lichen, 103 species of moss, 94 of fern, 13 of gymnosperm and 1258 of angiosperm.

Fargesii cane (Bashania fargesii) and umbrella bomboo (Fargesia spathacea) consist of major food item for Giant panda, the forest ecology in FPNR is kept in perfect condition, the coverage of trees is over 90% and the major part of forest consist of nature secondary plants. vegetation layout in a characteristic of verticle zonation, deciduous broad-leafed forest, subalpine coniferous forest, alpine meadow and thicket are counted from lower to summit of the mountain.

Many rare and endangered species of plants are living in FPNR, 10 species of plants have been listed as national endangered species, tow of them, Kingdonia uniflora, Taxus chinensis are listed in first rank

Category, Larix chinensis, Abies chinensis, Van tieghem, Cercidiphyllum japonicum, etc.8 species belong to second rank.

The location of FPNR is in the overlap range between Palaearctic Realm and Oriental Realm, such speciel location and various forest resource provide suitable habitat for wildlife, there are 68 species of mammals that be identified belong to 7 orders and 26 families and 55 genera, 246 species of bird that belong to 15 orders and 39 families and 133 genera, 26 species of reptile belong to 3 orders and 7 families and 21 genera, and 12 species of amphibian belong to 2 order 6 families 6 genera, 15 species fish belong to 2 order 4 families .among of them, 38 species are in list of endangered category, Ailuropoda melanoleuca David (Gaint panda), Moschus berezovskii Flarov (Mask deer), Budorcas taxicolor bedfordi Tomas (Takin), Rhinopithecicus roxellana (Golden monkey), etc.7 species was listed in first rank endangered category, and 38 species belong to second rank. (please look at the list of endangered wildlife of FPNR) .

Giant panda is the most important species to be protected in Foping Nature Reserve. Its population is stable during several field surveys. The density is as high as 0.4sq.km in the areas of Sanguanmiao and Xihe which are the core regions of the Nature Reserve. The density of panda in the Nature Reserve is the first over China. The fur colour of giant panda in the Reserve is very special, except the black-white one, brown-white and white ones have been seen several times in the fields. One giant panda coloured with brown-white was saved from starvation in 1985 and named Dandan. This is the time for people to see the marvelous panda. Takin is also an important species, about 200 individuals are found in the Nature Reserve. The typical colour of takin is yellowish white. A few individuals with grey and blackish brown are found too.

Traces of ancient people have been located in the Reserve. The Tangluo Trail was very famous in the history of China, which passed the area of Huangtongliang in the Reserve. Cen Can, the famous poet of the Tang Dynasty described the dangerous steep of the Tangluo Trail: “the sky looks smaller by the high peaks around, the sun can be seen when nap at noon. The moon is close to you during night, and cloud is around you in your traveling morning”. During Qing Dynasty, there were ten thousand people lived here, you can still see the remains of houses, temple, ditches and bridges of that time.

With beautiful scenery, the nature reserve is a very good place for tourists to visit. The Luban Peak are around by cloud, the glacial remains show in an incredible shape. An large waterfall goes down into a deep pool named Niangniangtan, and a hole nearby the Niangniangtan has a very beautiful name, Jade Lady. Rare and pretty species of mammals and birds will attract your attention when you walk in the forest. With so many beautiful things that you simply cannot take them all in, you may forget to come back if you visit Foping Nature Reserve.

For ten years construction, Foping Nature Reserve has become an education site for tourist and local people. The exhibition room and specimens of animals and plants show the people rich fauna and flora of Qinling Mountains. Guest house, restaurant, store and clinic are available for tourists. There are six camping sites located in Luban Peak and Three Immortals Peak, tourists can camp there. The accommodation of conservation stations within the Nature Reserve is quite good for tourist too.

Welcome people both within and out of China to visit Foping Nature Reserve. You will fell in love with the romantic charm of nature here.

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