Pictures of the enchanting Shennongjia Forest in China
The world-famous Shennongjia National Nature Reserve (神农架国家自然保护区) includes 2618 square kilometers of forest and has high plant diversity, due to a variety of natural conditions.
Shennongjia Forestry District, Hubei, lies within the Daba Mountains ecoregion. The three tallest peaks, not far from the main tourist center, Muyu Town, are Shennong Deng (3,105 meters), Da Shennongjia (3,052 m), and Xiao Shennongjia (3005 m). Shennongjia is an ideal place for ecological research on biodiversity.
There are 2,062 species of plants and 336 terrestrial vertebrates including 40 species of endangered animals.
The population of the rare golden snub-nosed monkey was reported to have grown between 1990 and 2005 from 500 to over 1200. The Chinese name is Sichuan golden hair monkey (川金丝猴).
Snow occurs frequently within its range. The golden snub-nosed monkey can withstand colder average temperatures than any other non-human primates.
The distribution of the golden snub-nosed monkey is limited to temperate forests on mountains in four provinces in China: Sichuan, Gansu, Shaanxi, and Hubei.
The golden snub-nosed monkey is found in groups ranging in size from 5-10 individuals to bands of about 600.
The climate is cool, moist and rainy.
Shennongjia encompasses three vertical vegetation zones: subtropical, warm temperate and cold temperate.
There are 336 species of terrestrial vertebrate, 200 species of bird, 30 species of reptiles, including 40 species of animals under the first-grade state protection [Cultural-China.com]
The forest is inhabitated by monkeys, South China tigers, golden eagles and giant salamanders. Albinos bears and monkeys are found in Shennongjia now and then.
The forest is also home of the Chinese version of a legendary creature like the Bigfoot or the Himalayan Yeti.
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