Alpine Rhododendron forest in Baima Snow Mountain

The Azalea Forest is lush. In the mountains 2600-4200 meters above sea level, the Alpine Rhododendron, which lives in seclusion, quietly opens year after year. There are 47 kinds of common mammals and 45 kinds of birds. It is an ideal habitat for Yunnan snub nosed monkey. The distribution of Rhododendron forest in western Yunnan is closely related to the vertical band spectrum of forest vegetation. In the shady slope Rhododendron Yunnan pine forest at 2600-3000m above sea level, there are Rhododendron grandiflorum, Rhododendron parvifolium, etc.; in the shady slope and semi shady slope Rhododendron fir forest at 3000m-4000m above sea level, there are Rhododendron rustica, Rhododendron loquat leaf, Rhododendron bracteatum, etc.; in the alpine shrub meadow belt at 4000m-4200m above sea level, Rhododendron mainly distributes in communities. The above three types of rhododendrons constitute the Alpine Rhododendron forest in western Yunnan. In spring or at the turn of spring and summer, rhododendrons are in full bloom, with exotic flowers and gorgeous colors, which are highly ornamental.

Alpine Rhododendron forest in Baima Snow Mountain

Baima Snow Mountain Nature Reserve is located in the middle part of Hengduan Mountains, the main peak of North Yunling mountain, Baima Snow Mountain (also known as Baimang Snow Mountain) and Jinsha River Slope of Renzhi snow mountain. Administratively, it is subordinate to Deqin County of Diqing Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, bordering Mangkang County of Tibet in the north and Derong County of Sichuan across Jinsha River in the East. The total area is 1879931 hectares.

brief introduction

Baima Snow Mountain Nature Reserve was established in 1983. It covers an area of 1880 square kilometers. It includes Baima Snow Mountain and Renzhi snow mountain in the north of Yunling mountain. Between Jinsha River and Lancang River. The mountain range of the reserve originates from Tanggula Mountain, which is called tranquil mountain in Tibet, and Yunling mountain in Yunnan, which is the watershed of Lancang River and Jinsha River. The reserve is located in the north section of Yunling mountains, with the main peaks of Renzhi, Baimang, Geli and Jiawu as the skeleton. The peak line of the whole reserve is above 4000 meters above sea level, and there are 20 peaks above 5000 meters above sea level.

The total area is 1879931 hectares. Among them, the natural forest area is 76658 hectares, accounting for 40.8% of the total area; the open forest area is 7538 hectares, accounting for 4.0%; the shrubbery area is 15951 hectares, accounting for 8.5%; the newly built forest area is 81 hectares, accounting for 0.1%; the non forest area is 38978 hectares, accounting for 20.7%; the non forest area is 48771 hectares, accounting for 25.9%. The total volume of standing trees in the reserve is 16338757m3.

The elevation of Baima Snow Mountain is 5430 meters, 3500 meters higher than the nearby river valley, forming an obvious vertical landscape belt. Below 2300m, there is sparse shrub grass slope belt in dry hot valley; 3000-3200m, there is coniferous, broad-leaved and deciduous mixed forest belt, growing Tsuga yunnanensis, Tsuga Lijiang, Pinus armandii, Pseudotsuga lancangensis, Acer Lijiang, Sorbus mandshurica, etc.; 3200m-4000m, there is subalpine dark coniferous forest belt, which is the main part of forest resources in the nature reserve, including Abies longibracteata, Abies cangshanensis, Abies chuandianensis, Abies zhongdianensis Lijiang spruce, big fruit Sequoia, etc. are dominated by a variety of evergreen rhododendron, and the grass is dominated by Artemisia meadow.

Introduction to Rhododendron forest

Rhododendron also known as YINGSHANHONG, rhododendraceae, semi evergreen and deciduous shrubs. Leaves alternate, ovate elliptic. It blooms in spring with broad funnel-shaped corolla, red, and two or several flowers clustered at the end of branches. Alpine Rhododendron forest is not only an important type of dwarf forest, but also the most beautiful forest type. It is one of the most widely distributed vegetation types in western Yunnan, with low plant height, natural shape and high ornamental value. When the snow and ice melt in early summer, rhododendrons bloom all over the mountains, giving the desolate mountains a magnificent coat.

In western Yunnan, many evergreen plants are deterred from growing on the high mountain gravel slopes, but the Rhododendron forest is still lush. In the mountains 2600-4200 meters above sea level, the Alpine Rhododendron, which lives in seclusion, quietly opens year after year. The meaning of their life seems to be to bloom beautiful flowers. Biologically, they are social plants. They grow together and open collectively, forming a fascinating "sea of flowers" at the turn of spring and summer.

The distribution of Rhododendron forest in western Yunnan is closely related to the vertical band spectrum of forest vegetation. In the shady slope Rhododendron Yunnan pine forest at 2600-3000m above sea level, there are Rhododendron grandiflorum, Rhododendron parvifolium, etc.; in the shady slope and semi shady slope Rhododendron fir forest at 3000m-4000m above sea level, there are Rhododendron rustica, Rhododendron loquat leaf, Rhododendron bracteatum, etc.; in the alpine shrub meadow belt at 4000-4200m above sea level, Rhododendron is mainly distributed in communities. The above three types of rhododendrons constitute the Alpine Rhododendron forest in western Yunnan. In spring or at the turn of spring and summer, Rhododendron is in full bloom. Its exotic flowers and gorgeous colors are highly ornamental.

There are more than 200 species of Rhododendron in the Alpine Rhododendron forest in western Yunnan, including Rhododendron micranthoides, Rhododendron jinbeiense, Rhododendron yinbeiense, Rhododendron Weihua and Rhododendron microphylla. When azaleas are in full bloom, the mountains are decorated with various colors.

Climate impact

The climate of the reserve is dry and wet season, with less and concentrated rainfall. The climate changes with the elevation, forming the characteristics of warm and dry valley and cold mountain. Therefore, the vertical band spectrum of natural landscape is very obvious.

Animals in scenic spots

There are 47 species of mammals and 45 species of birds. Yunnan snub nosed monkey, a famous rare animal, is protected?. The subalpine coniferous forest of 3200-4000 meters is the distribution area of Yunnan snub nosed monkey, and this reserve is its core distribution area. In addition, there are macaque, red panda, leopard cat, forest musk deer, goshawk, Golden Eagle, Tibetan pheasant, ring necked pheasant, etc.

Special flavor products

Gastrodia elata, Cordyceps sinensis, Saussurea involucrata, dried yak, etc.

evaluate

One of the ten most beautiful forests in China on October 23, 2005, the list of the most beautiful places in China was released in Beijing. Sponsored by National Geographic of China and co sponsored by 34 media across the country, the event lasted for 8 months and won three categories of awards, namely "experts association group", "media follower group" and "Internet mobile popularity group". "Media group" and "popularity group" produced 12 award-winning places by media voting, netizens voting and mobile phone users voting respectively. The awards of "expert society group" launched by National Geographic magazine of China are unique, which are divided into 15 types: mountain, lake, forest, grassland, desert, Yadan landform, island, coast, waterfall, glacier, canyon, urban area, rural ancient town, tourist cave, swamp and wetland. Among them, the Alpine Rhododendron forest in Baima Snow Mountain is rated as one of the ten most beautiful forests in China.

Address: high mountain gravel slope in western Yunnan

Longitude: 99.078925

Latitude: 28.333703