Shaanxi: Changqing Huayang Scenic Site

Changqing Huayang tourist zone is located 76 kilometers north of Yangxian County, south slope of Qinling Mountain. With an average elevation of 1700 meter above sea level, the tourist zone has 48,000-hectare forest land, 6,500-hectare water area, and 557-hectare agricultural acreage( 337 hectares of paddy field and 220 hectares dry land). Endowed with the biodiversity and the cream of natural landscape, the four national treasures — the crested ibis, giant panda, golden monkey, and takin are in a great number and widely spread in the scenic site. In addition, alpine meadow and precious plant like Abies chensiensis, and natural karst caves set off against with each other, forming the unique Qingling eco-tourist attraction. The latest Xian package tour gave me the first chance to step close to the cute giant pandas.

Up to now, the tourist zone has obtained the international Registration Certification of " Green Globe 21 "approved by WTO and entered the China’s “Man and Biosphere Programme”. The four national treasures and the primeval forest have grabbed the imagination of tens of millions of tourists from both at home and abroad. Besides, in the heartland of the tourist zone, there is the ancient town of Huayang and Ancient Dangluo Pland Path, which adds some cultural atmosphere to the scenic site.

Qinling Mountain enjoys a famous reputation of “China’s Central Garden”. Nestling up against Taibai Mountain, with west to Chenggu and Liuba County, and east to Foping and Zhouzhi County, Changqing Huyang tourist zone covers a total area of 29,906 hectares. It is a comprehensive ecotourist attraction which combines natural reserves, precious plants and animals viewing, ecological humanity sightseeing, Red tourism, adventure travel, religious tourism and leisure travel together. Because of its biodiversity, it is hailed as “the shelter of relic plants and the paradise of wild lives of Qinling Mountain. The four national treasures of crested ibis, giant panda, golden monkey, and takin perches and reproduce at the same place, which is seldom seen in China. Particularly, giant pandas are intensively spread in the area. According to the ten-year research conducted by Peking University and Changqing Natural Reserve, currently there are over 80 giant pandas there, accounting for 30% of the total amount of that in Qinling Mountain. The distribution density ranks the first across the country.

For visitors of Xian tour, Changqing Huayang tourist zone has become a must-see attraction for giant panda—the National Treasure.