Maolan National Nature Reserve

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Overview

Libo Maolan National Nature Reserve is a forest ecosystem type nature reserve. In 1996, it became a member of China’s World Biosphere Reserve Network. In 2007, it was included in the World Heritage List as part of the South China Karst of Libo Karst.

Maolan National Nature Reserve is next to Libo Zhangjiang Scenic Area

Location

Maolan National Nature Reserve is located in Libo County, Qiannan Buyi and Miao Autonomous Prefecture in Guizhou Province, bordering Huanjiang County of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region and adjacent to Guangxi Mulun National Nature Reserve.

Climate

The protected area belongs to the mid-subtropical monsoon temperate climate.

It has the characteristics of a humid climate in the mid-subtropical mountains with warm spring and autumn, no severe cold in winter, no sweltering heat in summer, and abundant rainfall.

The annual average temperature is 15.3℃, the average annual temperature difference is 18.3℃, the average temperature in January is 5.2℃, and the average temperature in July is 23.5℃.

The annual precipitation is 1,753mm, which is concentrated in April-October, with an average annual relative humidity of 83%. 1273 hours of sunshine throughout the year

Topography

Maolan Nature Reserve is a typical karst peak cluster funnel and peak cluster depression landform.

The karst landforms are diverse, cone-shaped depressions, layered on top of each other, it is the largest remaining karst forest in the world’s karst area

Protected range

The total area of Maolan Nature Reserve is 212.85 square kilometers, divided into: core area (area of 83.05 square kilometers), buffer zone (area of 81.3 square kilometers), experimental area (area of 45.8 square kilometers), eco-tourism area (area of 19.15 square kilometers).

The forest coverage rate of the protected area is 87.4%, of which the core area accounts for 92%.

The protected area involves 21 local villages. Nearly 8,000 ethnic minorities such as Buyi, Shui, Yao, Miao, Maonan, Zhuang and Han live in the area

Protection object

Maolan Nature Reserve is a forest ecosystem type nature reserve. The main protection objects are the central subtropical karst forest ecosystem, and rare & endangered wild animals and plants.

Among them, there are three species of leopard and forest musk deer under first-class protection, and more than 40 species including macaque and white pheasant under second-class protection. Among them, five species are endemic to Maolan.

Features

·There are more than 500 species of arbor trees growing here, and there are many rare species such as Ginkgo biloba, Liriodendron tulipifera known as living fossils.

·In addition to rare plants, many ancient wild animals such as forest musk deer, macaque, deer, South China tiger and so on are preserved here.

·In addition to the beautiful scenery of the mountains and plains, the ancient Yao villages, Buyi villages, and Laqiao water villages are scattered among them, and it is possible to experience ethnic customs and performances.

·The reserve is a good place to watch the original ecological nature and a paradise for outdoor sports enthusiasts.

Travel seasons

The best time to travel is summer, especially July-August.

In spring (March to March), the rape-flower are blossom in Lianshan Bay from February to March, and the looming ancient buildings of the Buyi people are hidden under the golden flower sea;

Before and after the Qingming Festival, peaches and plums are fragrant. On both sides of the Zhangjiang River and Qijiang River, there are pink and crimson blood peach flowers everywhere, which is a good time for outing.

In summer (June-August), the Maolan water forest is green and the Vanilla Garden Valley is full of lavender purple romance. It is also wonderful for the water activities of Rafting in Shuichun River.

Autumn (September-November), the sky is high and the clouds are pale, the red leaves are colorful, and there are great autumn colors in Large and Small Qi-kong Scenic spots

In winter (December to February), from the beginning of January to the end of February, colorful plum trees are in full bloom in Maolan Scenic Area, which complements the ethnic customs of Yaoshan Mountain.

Historical evolution

In 1984, Maolan Nature Reserve was established.

In December 1986, the Government of Libo County listed Maolan Karst Forest as a county-level nature reserve.

In 1987, with the approval of the Guizhou Provincial Government, a provincial-level nature reserve was established.

In May 1988, the State Council approved the Maolan Nature Reserve as a national nature reserve and made it clear that the reserve is a scientific reserve for the purpose of protecting a complete integrated natural ecosystem and also protecting rare animal resources.

In 1995, It was joined the China Biosphere Reserve Network.

In 1996, it was joined the UNESCO International Network of Man and Biosphere Reserves (MAB) and became a World Biosphere Reserve. In the same year, it was listed as one of the 22 eco-tourism routes in the country by the Chinese Ecotourism Professional Committee.

In July 2002, its karst primeval forest area was the largest of its kind in the world, and it was included in the 2002 new edition of the “Guinness Records of the Great World”.

In 2007, it was approved as a world natural and cultural heritage by UNESCO,

Festival

Libo Plum Festival

Libo is famous for its plum blossoms, which bloom in the middle of January each year. The Muchao Village of Dongtang Township in the Libo Maolan Reserve is the best place to appreciate plum blossoms. The flowering period lasts more than one month. At this time, red plum, green plum, yellow plum, white plum and other colorful plum blossoms embellish the karst forest more dreamy and blurred.

You can enjoy the plum blossoms, stroll along the secluded path, and taste the green plum wine brewed by the local method. During the event, Libo-featured hunting dance, dwarf dance, bench dance, horn dance, monkey dance, Lusheng dance and other ethnic minority song and dance performances will be launched.

According to the customs of the local Yao nationality during the New Year, a “thousand banquet” was set up for visitors to taste local specialties.

Time: mid-January to mid-February

Position: Wanmu Meiyuan Scenic Area, Dongtang Township, Libo County

Maolan Reserve Data

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How to get to there

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The transportation to Libo County is very convenient. The expressway goes directly to Libo Zhangjiang Scenic Area.

There are direct buses to Libo from Guiyang, Duyun, Kaili, Nanning, Liuzhou, Chongqing, Guangzhou and other large and medium cities,

By Vehicle

At present, there are highways in the scenic area that lead to Guangxi Nandan, Huanjiang, Jinchengjiang and Guizhou’s Mawei, Sandu, Dushan, Duyun, and Guiyang, and extend to Guangxi of Liuzhou, Guilin, and Nanning.

Road distance and travel time from Libo to various places

To Kaili City: 167 kilometers, about 3 hours
To Guiyang City: 300 kilometers, about 4 hours
To Guilin: 480 kilometers, about 5.5 hours
To Zhaoxing Dong Village: 238 kilometers, about 4 hours
To Longsheng Terraces: 330 kilometers, about 5.5 hours

Libo Bus Station

Add: Libo County, Buyi and Miao Autonomous Prefecture, Qiannan
Phone: +86 854 361-1077

By Flight

Libo airport is only 13 kilometers away from Libo County, and it can be reached in less than half an hour by vehicle. So far, there are 5 cities including Beijing, Chengdu, Guiyang, Hefei, and Chongqing that have direct flights to Libo.

Once arriving at Libo airport, take airport shuttle bus to Libo county, and then switch to local vehicle to Libo Zhangjiang Scenic Area; or to charter a vehicle from the airport to Libo Zhangjiang Scenic Area.

Libo Airport (Qiannan Airport)
Address: Libo County, South End of Qiannan Buyi and Miao Autonomous Prefecture, Guizhou Province, China
Phone number: +86 854 378-9005
IATA: LLB
Altitude: 380 meters

By train

The Gui-Guang High-speed Railway passes through “Duyun Station” and “Sandu Station” in southern Guizhou, both of which can reach the Libo Zhangjiang Scenic Area in just over an hour’s drive.

The two nearest ordinary railway stations to Libo are Dushan and Mawei Railway Station. It is ok to choose to take the train to any one of this two stations, and then switch to local bus or mini bus to Libo County. Both of this two stations are about 1.5 hours from Libo County. From Mawei train station, it is only a 20-minute drive from the west gate of Small Qi-Kong Scenic Area.