Wolong Nature Reserve
» Jiuzhaigou Aba, Si Chuan

卧龙自然保护区 熊猫之乡 天然动植物园

Wonglong Panda Reserve

Located in Wenchuan County of Sichuan Province, Wolong Nature Reserve is a key nature preservation area designed primarily to protect and reproduce the giant pandas. Established in 1963, the reserve covers an area of about 200,000 hectares. Wolong Nature Reserve houses more than 150 highly endangered giant pandas.

Something about "Wolong"

Wolong Nature Reserve is a fairyland for tourists. It enjoys warm and humid climate favorable to bamboo, pandas' favorite food. At the same time, 101 mountains are above 5, 000 meters (16,400 feet) varying from 6, 250 meters (20,500 feet) to 1, 150 meters (3, 772 feet). These contribute to bio-diversity preservation as well as spectacular beauty of natural scene in Wolong Nature Reserve.

A safe place in the mountains

The Wolong Nature Reserve is located high in the mountains of western China's Sichuan Province. Set up in 1963, Wolong is home to over 6,000 species of plants and animals. It is one of the last protected homes of the giant panda, red panda, golden snub-nose monkey white-lipped deer (Cervus albirostris). Wolong contains lush deciduous and evergreen temperate forests and high, ice-covered mountains. The Wolong Nature Reserve has four general regions:

  • Mountain slopes covered in deciduous and coniferous forests as well as bamboo groves.
  • River valleys, where most of the people live and farm.
  • High alpine slopes above the tree line where wildflowers grow and yaks live.
  • 20 glacier-covered mountain peaks over 4,000 m above sea level.

The legend of Wolong

Wolong means "sleeping dragon" and is a description of the mountainous peaks surrounding the Pitiao River valley. These mountains run through the center of the Wolong Nature Reserve.

The local Qiang people believe a giant dragon came wandering through the valley and fell in love with the beauty of the mountains and trees. The dragon decided to go to sleep and then never woke up.

Four seasons

  • In the spring, from April to June, the steep mountain slopes are covered with the bright purple and pink blossoms of rhododendron trees.
  • Summer lasts from June to September. It is warm and humid in the valleys and clear in the high mountains. Occasionally, sudden summer snowstorms occur in the mountains.
  • Fall begins in October, when leaves begin turning red, yellow, and orange. Visitors come from all over the world to see the beautiful scenery.
  • Few people visit Wolong in the winter when it is cold and wet. Snow falls in the mountains, but often it only rains in the valleys. Wolong receives over 170 cm of precipitation each year.

Home to animals

Reputed as bio-gene bank both at home and abroad, Wolong Nature Reserve is home not only to the giant pandas but also to rare and endangered animals such as red panda, and golden snub-nose monkey. white-lipped deer (Cervus albirostris), gnu (wildebeest) and precious plants like yew and beech.

Other major places of interests include: animal and plant specimen museum, local plant specimen No.2170, bird specimen No.225, beast No. 56, insects No.700 and fish No. 6 and amphibious reptiles No.17.

Various plants

In the reserve, there are over 4,000 species of plants, which have a very conspicuous vertical spectrum of vegetation. It differs with different elevations above sea level. Let's have a look at them from the bottom to the highest point.

  • The belt of broad-leaf trees.
  • Mixed broad-leaf and coniferous trees.
  • Coniferous trees with fir as the main plant.
  • High mountain grassy marshland.
  • Shifting stone shoals.
  • With only snow lotus and a few other plants.
  • Over 4,600 meters, nothing but snow.

Rare trees

The Wolong Nature Reserve is gifted with numerous types of ancient and precious and rare trees, some of which were imported, i.e. Japanese larch, the U.S pine, European dragon spruce etc. Among the floras are over 200 kinds of medicinal materials including the most famous ones: the bulb of fritillary, the tuber of elevated gastrodia, Chinese caterpillar fungus, the bark of eucommia etc. It abounds in bamboos which are the favorite feed of the grand panda.

A world of flowers

The Wolong Nature Reserve is also a world of flowers. Fifteen types of azalea have been discovered. In autumn, myriad blossoms and tree leaves of various colors decorate the mountains and forests like a series of brilliant and colorful paintings.

Attractions around » Jiuzhaigou Aba, Si Chuan

Natural Scene

Natural Scene

Nature Reserve & Scenic Area

Nature Reserve & Scenic Area

  Weather

  1. When is the best time go there?

  Food

  1. Prepare your own food and drink

  Shopping

  1. Do bargain hard

  Travel

  1. Time is too short? Then these are some must-see places and others you can skip.
  2. Sorry, no camping

  Customs

  1. Any festivals there?

  Other Hints

  1. Stay tight
  2. Take something fun with you in case the plane will be late.
  3. A useful book for you to buy
  4. Stay on the wooden plant roads if you plan to see everything in Jiuzhaigou.
  5. Stay safe and Keep warm

  • When is the best time to go there?

    Like the scenery, the climate at Jiuzhaigou is alpine. Autumn begins in early October and is the best time to visit because the scenery is at its most colorful.


  • Prepare your own food and drink

    Food and drink are not readily available in the park. Every bus stop has a toilet. There are only some snacks and water in the village at the transfer station.


  • Do bargain hard

    The listed prices are usually no true, so don't pay according to the price written on the price card, or you will get ripped off. Do bargain hard.


  • Time is too short? Then these are some must-see places and others you can skip.

    If you only have one day, see the main valley, starting at the'virgin forests' and working your way down. There are more colored pools on this side of the park, and more places to walk.


  • Sorry, no camping.

    It is not allowed to camp inside the Jiuzhaigou scene area, so it's wise not to prepare anything for camping, or you will carry all your camping stuff inside only to find it is not allowed.


  • Any festivals there?

    The Ice-waterfall Tourism Festival of Large Jiuzhai, Aba and the Southern Ice and Snow Festival of Sichuan, have been successfully held here simultaneously. They are usually held when winter comes to Jiuzhaigou, lasting about two months.

    During this time, a series of activities related to the beautiful Jiuzhaigou Valley are held successively, such as a photographic competition, ice sports, concerts and the Tibetan celebrations for Spring Festival.

    The local Tibetans hold some celebrations during Chinese Spring Festival. The most important and largest one is the Mazi Fair held in Zharusi Temple, which is located in Shuzheng Valley. Held annually on May 15th of the Chinese lunar calendar, it is a vital religious event for Tibetans living in Jiuzhaigou.


  • Stay tight

    The services in the park are designed to work around the tour groups. If you want to do things apart from the crowd, it is more difficult. You might go to the wrong place or at wrong time and end up getting nothing. So it's better to stay with you group.


  • Take something fun with you in case the plane will be late.

    The airplanes out of Jiuzhaigou are always late. You need to transfer, so that means you will have more time to wait in the airport. Due to some reason, the planes tend to be late a lot. So it is wise if you take a PSP, or gameboy or whatever to help you kill time.


  • A useful book for you to buy

    A tourist sketch map (3-5 Yuan), and the small book called 'A Complete Tour Guide of Jiuzhaigou, A world of Fairy Tales' (29.80 Yuan). It is the most informative book to make your trip easier.


  • Stay on the wooden plant roads if you plan to see everything in Jiuzhaigou.

    Follow the wooden plank roads. When you follow the plank roads, you will see more of everything, and everything in this park is worth seeing.


  • Stay safe and Keep warm

    The highest tourist destinations reach heights above 3,000 meters (10,000 feet) and altitude sickness is a possibility.

    In the winter months the park is extremely cold and it is necessary to dress warmly to prevent frostbite.


Located in the Wolong Valley, the nature reserve has become China's largest and certainly the most important sanctuary for giant pandas and other rare and precious animals and plants. In 1982, it was admitted by the UNESCO to be part of "the International Reserve Net of Man and Biosphere."

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