The Niubeiliang World Biosphere Reserve was approved by UNESCO to join the World Network of Biosphere Reserves in 2012. It is a national nature reserve of forest and wildlife type, primarily established to protect the National Class I Protected Animal, the Takin and its habitat. Located in the central section of the Qinling Mountains, the reserve spans the junction of Chang’an District (Xi'an City), Ningshan County (Ankang City), and Zhashui County (Shangluo City), stretching along the main ridge of the Qinling Mountains in a narrow east-west strip.
As a vital component of the “Qinling Nature Reserve Cluster”, the Niubeiliang World Biosphere Reserve represents the most biodiverse area in the eastern Qinling Mountains of Shaanxi Province. It was identified as one of the 40 top-priority biodiversity conservation areas in the China Biodiversity Conservation Action Plan. The reserve has successively joined the International Conservation Alliance and the World Network of Mountain Biosphere Reserves. Renowned as the “Cover of Zhongnanshan Mountain” and the “Emblem of the Qinling Mountains”, it stands as a flagship for ecological conservation in the region.
