Fanjing Mountain National Nature Reserve is located in an area comprising parts of three counties of Jiangkou, Yinjiang and Songtao in the northeast of Guizhou Province. With an area of 567 square kilometers, the Reserve is 21 kilometers wide and 27 kilometers long. Fanjing Mountain is also a famous mountain for Buddhism in China.   

Fanjing Mountain is believed to include the best-preserved virgin forests in subtropical zone. In the Reserve virgin forests cover an area of about 10,000 hectares and forest coverage reaches 80%, especially evergreen broad-leaved forests in valleys and at the foot of Fanjing Mountain. Established in 1978, Fanjing Mountain National Nature Reserve with abundant wildlife was classified as the national reserve and joined the International Man and Biosphere Reserve Network of UNESCO in 1986. The main targets for protection in the region are golden monkeys, dove trees, and other rare animals and plants.

 Climate

Fanjing Mountain is in the alpine monsoon climate of mid sub-tropic zone. It's not frigid in the winter and not hot in the summer. On an average the temperature is about 5℃to 7℃all year round and annual precipitation here reaches 2,600 millimeters. The mountain rises abruptly and the direction of wind changes drastically; sea of clouds and cloud of falls often appear as a result. Also interesting is that a rainbow Buddhist Halo often appears which can compare favorably with that of Emei Mountain thanks to its specific terrain and weather. In the Buddhist Halo, people can find enlarged shadows of people and objects, and regard it as an auspicious sign.

 Physical Features       

With the highest peak, Fenghuang, with an altitude of 2,572 meters, Fanjing Mountain is the main summit of Wuling Mountains. Researches show that Fanjing Mountain is 1 to 1.4 billion years old in terms of geologic age. Some parts of the mountains are eroded. There are many rocks of peculiar shape such as cliffs, precipices, irruptive rocks, stone pillars and stalagmites. In addition eight streams in the Reserve flow in different directions and form many rapids and shoals. All of this mentioned above makes Fanjing Mountain a famous scenic spot at home and abroad.

 Plants

The Reserve contains many floral elements and it is rich in plant resources, of which many are unique and grow only in this area of the world. There are altogether more than 800 plants in the Reserve, among which there are 413 species of higher plants and 151 species of tremellas including 15 species under the state protection such as dove trees and Chinese tulip trees. The Reserve has diversified vegetation and clearly distinguished vertical zones including temperate evergreen coniferous forests, evergreen broad-leaved forests, evergreen deciduous broad-leaved mixed forests, deciduous broad-leaved forests, and coniferous and broad-leaved mixed forests. With the high terrain and temperature, low and short forests are formed in a certain part of the top of the mountain, such as azaleas and Chinese ilexes.     

The dove tree

The dove tree, one of special species of China, is listed in the inventory of plants under the first-grade state protection. During spring and summer, dove trees blossom and their flowers just look like doves. And this forms a peculiar and beautiful picture especially in the sunshine. The Chinese tulip tree is also an ornamental plant. In addition, a Guizhou crape myrtle of a thousand years old is found in Fanjing Mountain. It is 30 meters high with a diameter of about 2 meters. 

 Animals

With favorable nature conditions, Fanjing Mountain provides an ideal habitation area for rare birds and animals. 304 species of vertebrate were identified here in the Reserve, including 57 species of animals, 173 species of birds, 34 species of amphibians and 40 species of reptiles. And among them Guizhou golden monkeys, clouded leopard, South China tigers and giant salamanders are included as national protected animals. Birds in the Reserve account for 40.19%, and 9 species such as egrets are distributed in Fanjing Mountain National Nature Reserve.