Wolong National Natural Reserve

Set up in 1963, the Wolong Nature Reserve in Chengdu city boasts more than 6,000 species of plants and animals. It is also taking the responsibility of the protection of the giant panda, red panda, takin, and golden snub-nose monkey. Wolong contains lush deciduous and evergreen temperate forests and high, ice-covered mountains. Wolong is asserted as the “Man & Biosphere” protected area by UNESCO.

The most famous in Wolong is its giant pandas. In order to help pandas’ survival, a special breeding center inside the Wolong Nature Reserve was built through the efforts of the Chinese government and other concerned groups. The name of this center is China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda. The Center cares for several red pandas and over 50 captive giant pandas. Many were rescued after an injury or illness. Each year new giant panda babies are born to female pandas at the center. The Center is the most successful facility in the world for breeding giant pandas. Most of the giant pandas in zoos around the world come from Wolong.

There are four distinctive seasons in Wolong. Spring is from April to June. During this period of time, the steep mountain slopes are covered with the bright purple and pink blossoms of rhododendron trees. In the summer, from June to September, it is warm and humid in the valleys and clear in the high mountains. Occasionally, sudden summer snowstorms occur in the mountains. Autumn begins in October, at that time, leaves begin turning red, yellow, and orange. Visitors come from booth domestic and abroad to see the beautiful scenery.