Park of China
Overview
| Designation | UNESCO World Heritage (natural, 2018) |
| Name | Fanjingshan |
| Country | China |
| Nearby cities | Guiyang, Fenghuang |
| Nearby sites | Wuyang River 102km, Mengdong River 165km, Furong River, Wulong 169km, Mount Jinfo 193km, Liping Dong Villages 193km Search nearby |
| Mountains | Wuling Mountains |
| Latitude, longitude | 27.90, 108.68 Google Maps |
| Themes | Mountain, Forest, Wildlife, Plant |
About
Fanjingshan (梵净山) was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2018 as a natural site.
Why it was inscribed
An important habitat for biodiversity and threatened species.
Fanjingshan, in Tongren, Guizhou, belongs to the Wuling Mountains and rises from about 500 m to 2,570 m. It is a block of metamorphic rock surrounded by karst, long isolated from its surroundings, which has kept many ancient plants and animals, including the endemic Guizhou snub-nosed monkey and Fanjingshan fir. The Red Clouds Golden Summit, a lone rock pillar on top, is its best-known sight.
Travel tips
Getting there: the nearest airport is Tongren Fenghuang, on the Guizhou-Hunan border about 21 km from Tongren city. From Guiyang take a train to Tongren and then a bus to Jiangkou or Yinjiang counties, whose county towns are the main places to stay.
Entrances: the mountain lies where Jiangkou, Yinjiang and Songtao counties meet in Tongren, with several entrances, each with its own ticket and shuttle bus; the towns of Jiangkou and Yinjiang are the usual starting points.
The summit: the summit area is a set of steep rock spires; the New Golden Summit (Red Cloud Golden Summit) is 2,336 m high and is climbed by stone steps, narrow and queued when busy. The Mushroom Rock, about 10 m tall, stands nearby.
Wildlife and plants: the park is the only home of the Guizhou snub-nosed monkey, which lives in forest at roughly 1,000 to 2,000 m and is rarely seen by visitors. The mountain has large stands of old forest and fir.
Time: the summit alone takes most of a day including transfers; the western route and surrounding areas need two days.
Season: spring brings rhododendrons, summer is cool, autumn is clearer, and in winter rime ice and snow cover the summit and the steps freeze. Rain and mist are common all year.
Where to stay: there is almost no lodging in the park; most visitors stay in Jiangkou or Yinjiang and visit in a day.
Caution: paths are wet and steep, so wear non-slip shoes and carry rain gear. Stay on the paths inside the reserve and do not feed monkeys.
Stamps
In 2005 China Post issued 2005-19 “Fanjingshan Nature Reserve”, four stamps: the Golden Summit, the Mushroom Rock, broadleaf forest and the Heiwan River.
Nearby
| World Heritage | Shibing Karst (Yuntai Mountain) 99km, Wuyang River 102km, Furong River, Wulong 169km, Laosicheng Site 175km |
| National parks | Shiqian Hot Springs 62km, Nine Dragon Cave 70km, Wu River Gorges, Yanhe 84km, Fenghuang Ancient Town 91km |
| AAAAA attractions | Wulingshan Grand Rift Valley Scenic Area 6km, Zhenyuan Ancient Town Scenic Area 97km, Youyang Peach Blossom Spring Scenic Area 106km, Ayi River Scenic Area 151km |
| AAAA attractions | Yunshe Village 21km, Zhongnanmen Historical and Cultural Tourism Area 53km, Daming Border City 56km, Miao King City 56km |
| UNESCO Global Geoparks | Xiangxi UNESCO Global Geopark 143km |
| Historic cities | Fenghuang County 91km, Zhenyuan County 97km |
| Cities | Fenghuang 90km |
| Historical sites | Zhaiying Village Ancient Building Complex 23km |
| National geoparks | Fenghuang National Geopark 85km, Youyang National Geopark 106km, Hongshilin National Geopark 148km |
| Nature reserves | Fanjingshan National Nature Reserve 2km, Fodingshan National Nature Reserve 87km, Huangsang National Nature Reserve 131km |
| Historic towns | Zhaiying Town 23km |