Located in the southwestern part of Shaanxi Province, crossing the three counties of Taibai, Zhouzhi and Meixian and including the Taibai Mountain, Ao Mountain and Paomaliang linking the two, the Taibai Mountain Nature Reserve was established 1965. It occupies an area of 56.325 hectares. Covering with snow throughout the year. the 3. 676m above sea level Taibai Mountain in Chinese language means "everwhite mountain". The Qinling Mountain Range marks the southern brink of the temperate zone in China and forms a natural divide between the South and North China. Created for the protection of warm temperate zone ecosystems, the Reserve takes the main peak of the Qinling Mountain Range as its centre. The north-south transitional nature of the biota and climate is the most important feature here, thus forming a complex and abundant biotic population. The Reserve possesses 1,550 species of seed plants and 300 species of bryophytes. According to statistics, there are 230 species of birds, over 500 species of insects. And 40 species of beasts including the wild animals under special protection of the state (such as golden monkey, takin. black bear. golden pheasant, blood pheasant, green sheep, red-bellied tragopan, etc.) Famous for its unique scenery, the Taibai Mountain Nature Reserve will play an important role in the protection of glaciation relics and diversified biota and the conduction of scientific research on them. as well as in the development of tourism. |