After the animal wonders of China: the mixed bag of the East

China is an enigmatic country, cradle of one of the oldest civilizations in the world, which covers a territory so extensive that it is only surpassed by Russia, Canada and the United States. A huge country, full of magic and revealing contrasts. Both in their way of life, urban in appearance but essentially rural, traditional but innovative; as in its nature: two thirds of its territory remain almost unchanged and are occupied by rainforests, inhospitable deserts, rugged mountains, plateaus, vertiginous valleys and some of the most spectacular waterways on the planet. The adventurer who dares to visit is equally amazed by the animals of China.

Despite rapid economic development and inherent environmental deterioration in recent decades, this country still offers natural treasures unknown to most visitors. Among which its fauna stands out. It has more than 4,000 species of vertebrates, many of them endemic, as they only live in this area of Asia.

Nattule describe for you 7 species of the particular fauna that you can find in this Asian giant:

1. Giant panda

The panda, China's most beloved animal, is one of its national symbols. However, their survival is threatened by habitat destruction and poaching. So much so that there are barely around 1,600 copies on freedom.

To see them you must go to the temperate forests that expand in the southwest of the country, through the provinces of Sichuan, Gansu and Shaanxi. There, these giant plantigrades, when they are not dozing, devour up to 40 kilos of bamboo a day, a plant that forms the basis of their diet.

Giant panda © Matt

The Minshan mountains, which run from north to south across Sichuan province, are home to almost half of the world's panda population. This mountain range, full of vegetation, lagoons and waterfalls, is also the habitat of other valuable Asian species such as the takin or the golden snub-nosed monkey.

Among the 27 panda protection reserves that were established in the Minshan Mountains, is the largest and oldest in China: the Wolong National Nature Reserve, inaugurated in 1963, whose 300,000 hectares provide shelter to 150 giant pandas.

The Wolong Reserve has a research Center of the giant panda since 1980, the year in which it was also declared a Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO. For all this, it is a safe bet if you want to see and photograph these wonderful animals.

Keep in mind that you should avoid the rainy season and that the paths may not be very defined. It is best that you go to the administration office of the National Reserve, located in the village of Wolong, in the center of the Reserve, to obtain information about the routes to be taken.

Wolong Reserve © Muzinan

You can get to Wolong by public transport or by car. The journey from the provincial capital, Chengdu, takes around 3 hours, but it is worth it for the glaciers and snow-covered mountains that surround the Reserve.

2. Red panda

Overshadowed by its relative, it is less known in the media and known, but also a fascinating animal. With a friendly face and the appearance of a red-haired raccoon, it is one of the most difficult species to observe due to its shy character, its small size and its evening lifestyle habits. Its distribution is broader than that of the giant panda and is also found in some areas of northeastern Nepal, Bhutan, Myanmar and India.

Red panda (Animals of China)

In China, where it shares habitat with the giant panda in the mountain ranges of center and south of the country, is mainly concentrated in the areas of southern Tibet, northern Yunnan and most of Sichuan province.

The least known protected area in Sichuan province, where the red panda roams freely, is the Huanglong National Park. The steep forested slopes of this Chinese region make up its space. It takes advantage of the large masses of mixed forest to take shelter and feed in areas where bamboo grows. It also feeds on insects, other vertebrates, fruits and even resorts to bird nests.  

Nestled in the Min River basin, this Park stands out for its spectacular alpine landscapes of imposing peaks of more than 4,000 meters above sea level, karst reliefs, torrents and crystalline lakes. Huanglong is also distinguished for housing the easternmost glacier in China and one of the country's botanical jewels, the rhododendron forests giants. Numerous waterfalls turn this place into a place almost straight out of a story.

Rhododendrons

The main route to explore Huanglong starts from the funicular station that takes you to the high areas. From there, you can begin a descent that lasts about 7 hours with spectacular panoramic views.

The most comfortable option to come is to do so from Songpan City, even though there is only one bus early in the day. Another alternative is to rent a vehicle with a driver, although it will be more expensive.

Huanglong © Matt

3. Snow leopard

The great mountain ranges of Altai, Karakoram, Pamir and the Himalayas are the main areas to find this species as unknown as it is shy. In China it is possible to locate this mysterious feline in the 6 westernmost provinces, which are the most mountainous and least populated, in which it is estimated that the snow leopard population is around 2,000 copies, which makes it the largest in the world.

Snow leopard (Animals of China)

The altitude and the difficult access to these peaks make the leopard the true king of the mountains and the Himalayan blue ram on its main prey.

In the middle of the Tibetan plateau, in the province of Qinghai, is the Sanjiangyuan Nature Reserve, also known as the Three Rivers, as it houses the sources of the Mekong, the Huang He (Yellow River) and the Yangtze.

Himalayan blue ram (Animals of China)

With an area larger than that of Wales and England combined, this Nature Reserve is home to the largest population of these animals in China in its more than one million hectares. The most advisable thing to have a real chance of spotting this wonder of Asian fauna is to hire the services of a specialized local company, since locating this animal can take days, or even weeks, of intense searching at more than 2,500 meters away. altitude.

The best way to get to the Sanjiangyuan Reserve is to travel by bus from the capital, Xining, to Maduo, and from there hire the services of a private car.

Huang He River © Vick

4. Golden snub-nosed monkey

This primate is considered, along with the giant panda, one of China's national treasures. Like the bear, the golden monkey is a endemic species from China. And it is also in danger of extinction due to the deforestation of the montane forests in which it lives, in the center and southwest of the country. For this reason, it is under state protection and several reserves have been established to protect it.

Accustomed to living at high altitudes, golden monkeys are the primates that best tolerate cold and snow. Look for them among the trees, as they usually hang out in the canopy feeding on leaves, fruits, bark and small insects. In addition to his golden fur, you can easily recognize them by the intense blue tone of their face. An unusual color in mammals.

Golden snub-nosed monkey © Dan Doucette

On the northern slopes of the Qinling Mountains, between the Yangtze and Huang He rivers, lies the Zhouzhi National Nature Reserve, where a good part of the 20,000 specimens of these monkeys spread around the world live.

This Reserve covers around 55,000 hectares and is home to a rich variety of animals and plants. Its exuberant virgin nature is another plus to visit it, since the 90% from your territory It is covered with forest. Within the Reserve, several small rivers and streams with crystal clear waters converge to feed the Heihe River, one of the longest in China.

Zhouzhi Reserve © Shen

The easiest way to get to Zhouzhi is to travel by bus from Xian. The journey to the Reserve takes approximately an hour and a half.

5. Bactrian camel

The only truly wild camel that exists in the world is the Bactrian camel. It beats its Arabian relative in the number of humps, but loses by a lot in population. It is estimated that there are only a few 1,000 copies spread across the Gobi Desert in Mongolia and the northeast China, where it is located between the Taklamakan and Lop Nur deserts.

Bactrian camel (Animals of China)

The latter expands over 3,000 square kilometers southeast of the Xinjiang province. There was a time when Lop Nur, home of China's largest inland lake, was an important stop on the Silk Road.

Today, however, desertification has meant that the area is sparsely dotted with small salt lakes and seasonal lagoons. The merchant caravans no longer stop there, although it now stands as an ideal enclave for adventure lovers and for those who go in search of this 2-humped camel. In 2001, a nature reserve was established especially to protect them.

The Lop Nur Reserve It is located east of the Tarim River basin. From north to south, the sand dune corridor that extends for 80 kilometers forms a natural barrier that shelters the Bactrian camel.

Lop Nur © stella_nghingyu

When you visit, bring protection and plenty of water, as daytime temperatures can reach 40 degrees. The best months to avoid strong sand storms are April and October. It is also recommended to never travel alone. It is best to visit this area in organized groups.

6. Elephant

China's relationship with the elephant has not always been good. Mainly because the country is one of the main buyers of ivory. Hence, it is encouraging that the Government has established, to preserve this animal, the Xishuangbanna Nature Reserve.  

Located in Yunnan province, this Nature Reserve covers a wide expanse of thick tropical forests and varied vegetation in which rivers and streams intersect. About a hundred wild elephants live there, concentrated especially in the area known as the Elephant Valley, which covers about 370 hectares within the Reserve.

Group of elephants (Animals of China)

So that you can observe them without danger, a elevated wooden walkway which takes a tour through the treetops for 290 meters. There are also some cabins placed near the rivers to see them when they come to drink or bathe in the morning or at dusk.

Another good option if you don't want to walk is to use the 2 kilometer long funicular that flies over the Reserve.

The Elephant Valley is located just over 40 kilometers from the city of Jinghong. From there they travel every hour and a half buses heading to the Reserve. The best time of year to visit is between November and April, due to the weather, although you can do it without problems throughout the year.

Xishuangbanna © Işık Güner

7.Takin

The takin is one of the most curious animal species in China. This species of hairy bull related to goats lives in the Himalayas and the mountain ranges of the western and northwestern China, a country in which it is considered in danger of extinction, since its population is only a few thousand specimens.

Among the 4 subspecies of takin that exist, the golden takin is probably the most striking. Its golden yellow fur has led us to think that this species is the true origin of the Greek myth of the Golden Fleece of Jason.

Takin (Animals of China)

Indiscriminate hunting has decimated the species. The surviving specimens are scattered in small groups in the Qinling Mountains, south of Shaanxi province.

In the Foping Nature Reserve, nestled in these mountains, the takin wanders between 1,500 and 3,000 meters of the slopes, feeding on mountain grasses, small bamboo shoots and leaves of trees and bushes. In summer, it migrates to the rocky peaks and the most alpine areas.

The Foping Reserve is also known for housing a significant population of panda bears and for sheltering one of the oldest plant species in the world, the panda tree. ginkgo, which is said to have medicinal properties.

Road to Qinling Mountains

The place is located 215 kilometers from Xian, from where buses travel. It is an ideal enclave for ecotourism lovers. Ornithological routes, wildlife observation routes and hiking are activities that can be done in the Reserve. If you want to visit it on your own, you must first contact the administration to request permission, so it is best to book an organized visit.

Millennial countries know that rushing is not good for survival. For this reason, calm is the hallmark of deep China, where even the fauna behaves calmly. Nothing to do with that of the savannah. Bamboo has less protein than wildebeest, but it does not flee.