Fanjing Mountain inscribed on World Heritage list

By Zhang Junmian: 0 Comment(s)Print E-mail China.org.cn, July 3, 2018

Fanjing Mountain [Photo by Zhang Junmian/China.org.cn]

Fanjing Mountain, situated in southwest China's Guizhou province, was inscribed on the UNESCO's World Heritage list at the 42nd session of the World Heritage Committee in Manama, capital of Bahrain, on July 2.

The mountain became China's 13th World Natural Heritage site, bringing the total number of World Heritage sites in the country to 53.

Known as the No.1 mountain in Guizhou and the highest of the Wuling Mountain Range, Fanjing Mountain lies at the intersection of the three counties of Jiangkou, Yinjiang and Songtao in Tongren city. Its highest peak -Mount Phoenix- stands some 2,572 meters above sea level. The over 80-meter-high Larger Golden Peak at the top of the mountain offers a fantastic sight: a steep stone pillar supporting a huge square rock known as the "Pile of 10,000 Books".

The mountain is well-known for its magnificent natural landscape and subtropical ecology featuring rare plants and wildlife. The mountain, with great biological diversity and integrity, is home to 4,394 species of plants and 2,767 species of animals. The most precious wildlife and plants species include the grey snub-nosed monkey (Rhinopithecus brelichi) and the Abies fanjingshanensis.

In 1986, it was listed as one of the first national nature reserves in China and brought under the protection of UNESCO's Man and Biosphere Program.

The mountain became a sacred Buddhist site early in the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). It has been as famous as Mount Emei, Mount Wutai, Mount Putuo and Jiuhua Mountain for a long time.

Visitors can feast their eyes on the views of the mountains shrouded in mist and clouds, beautiful vegetation, steep cliffs, echoing caverns and ancient bridges.