Established in September 1965, the Shaanxi Taibai Mountain National Nature Reserve is among China’s first batch of national nature reserves and the first in Shaanxi Province. It serves as a comprehensive protected area focusing on the conservation of warm-temperate mountain forest ecosystems, natural historical heritages, and the giant panda and its habitat. Recognized as a globally significant Grade A reserve, it spans Meixian County, Taibai County, and Zhouzhi County, covering a total area of 75,693 hectares. The reserve encompasses Mount Taibai, the highest peak of the Qinling Mountains, with an elevation of 3,771.2 meters, making it the tallest mountain in the eastern half of mainland China.
The reserve harbors extraordinary biodiversity, including 1,892 species of seed plants, 326 species of mosses, 137 species of lycophytes and ferns, and 42 nationally protected wild plants such as Chinese yew, Taibai Mountain purple-spotted peony , and the rare single-leaf grass. Its fauna includes 91 mammal species, 301 bird species, 42 amphibian and reptile species, 18 fish species, and 2,622 insect species, with 84 nationally protected animals such as the giant panda, golden snub-nosed monkey, and takin. Over 100 rivers flow through the reserve, including 10 with watersheds exceeding 100 square kilometers.
Ecologically, Mount Taibai is hailed as a “natural botanical and zoological garden” and a “genetic treasure trove”. Geographically, it is revered as the “central water tower” of the Qinling range, the primary crest of China’s north-south divide. Culturally, it stands as a cradle of Chinese civilization and a profound symbol of the nation’s historical heritage. As the starting point of “Qinling conservation”, the Taibai Mountain Reserve plays a pioneering role in ecological protection, driving the development of the Qinling Nature Reserve Cluster. Safeguarding Taibai’s ecosystems holds immense significance for fostering harmony between humans and nature and advancing the vision of a “Beautiful China”.
