Huanglianshan Mountain Nature Reserve in Luchun County, Honghe

The Yunnan Huanglianshan National Nature Reserve is located in the southern part of Lüchun County, Honghe Hani and Yi Autonomous Prefecture, Yunnan Province, and is part of the southern extension of the Ailao Mountain Range. The reserve is geographically located between 102°03′33.5″–102°36′59″ E and 22°30′18.9″–22°55′35.7″ N. Established in 1983, it was promoted to a national nature reserve in 2003. In 2011, with the approval of the State Council, the reserve’s boundaries were adjusted, and its total area now spans 61,860 hectares, with a forest coverage rate of 84.3%.

The reserve is home to a rich and diverse ecosystem, including tropical seasonal rainforests, montane rainforests, humid evergreen broad-leaved forests, and montane mossy evergreen broad-leaved forests. These forest ecosystems provide habitats for numerous rare species and are crucial for maintaining biodiversity.

The reserve is home to several rare plant species, including Cycas luchunensis, Dipterocarpus tuberculatus, Magnolia cathcartii, and Hopea mollissima. Among these, Cycas luchunensis is an endemic species of the reserve, found only in the Xiao Hei River Basin of Lüchun County and the Black River Basin of Vietnam.

The reserve is also a habitat for many rare animal species, such as the black-crested gibbon, white-cheeked gibbon, Indochinese tiger, and sun bear. These rare animals thrive within the reserve, helping to maintain ecological balance.

The southern part of the Huanglianshan Reserve is connected to Vietnam’s Mong Yi National Nature Reserve, which in turn is linked to Laos’ Phongsaly National Nature Reserve. As an integral part of the “Green Triangle” at the China-Vietnam-Laos border, the reserve holds significant importance in regional ecological protection.

The Yunnan Huanglianshan National Nature Reserve Administration was established in May 2003 and is responsible for the protection, management, and research within the reserve. The construction and development of the reserve have been supported and guided by the National Forestry and Grassland Administration and other relevant departments.