Guangxi Longhu Mountain Nature Reserve
Guangxi Longhu Mountain Nature Reserve (hereinafter referred to as Longhu Mountain) is located in Long'an County, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. It is an autonomous regional nature reserve for forest and wild fauna and flora. Its main protected targets include wild animals and plants such as macaques, Cycas calcicola, Camellia pubipetala and precious medicinal herbs, as well as the limestone karst ecosystem.
The founder of the reserve was Comrade Qin Bo, former cadre of the Department of Health of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. At present, the administrative organ is the Administration Office of Guangxi Longhu Mountain Nature Reserve. It is a public welfare institution with partial financial allocation at the principal section level, with an authorized staffing of 13 people. Administratively, it is under the jurisdiction of the Forestry Bureau of Long'an County.
After more than 30 years of ecological protection, Longhu Mountain has become a natural experimental base and biological gene bank for multidisciplinary research covering northern tropical karst flora, fauna, geography, geology and ecology. Equipped with complete service facilities for accommodation, catering, entertainment and shopping, it is an ideal destination for scientific research, teaching practice and eco-tourism.
I. Geographical Location
Longhu Mountain spans Qiaojian Town and Pingshan Township in Long'an County, Nanning City. It lies between 22°56′–23°00′ North Latitude and 107°27′–107°41′ East Longitude, 35 kilometres from the county seat and about 83 kilometres from downtown Nanning.
Specific boundaries: It stretches from Longyao, Longmei and Longqiong of Longyao Village in the east, to Qunxu of Yali Village in the south, Xialiang, Dizha and Lianlian of Yali Village in the west, and Longmu and Jiuhua of Xinguang Village in the north. The reserve runs 8.0 kilometres from east to west and 5.0 kilometres from north to south.
The total area is 2,255.7 hectares, including 824.5 hectares of core zone, 472.4 hectares of buffer zone and 958.8 hectares of experimental zone.
II. Geology and Landforms
Longhu Mountain sits on the northern slope of the Western Daming Mountain Range, on the northeastern edge of the limestone mountain area in southwestern Guangxi. Most peaks stand 300–500 metres above sea level, with the main peak of Longshan reaching 551.1 metres and valley elevations at around 200 metres.
III. Climate and Hydrology
The reserve features a south subtropical climate with mild weather, abundant rainfall and high relative humidity.
The annual average temperature is 21.8°C; the average summer temperature is 29.2°C (roughly 26°C at night). The coldest month averages 13.2°C, while the hottest month averages 33.2°C. The annual precipitation reaches 1,500 millimetres, mostly concentrated in summer and autumn.
Thanks to well-preserved vegetation with a forest coverage rate of 81.5%, a unique local microclimate has taken shape, free from scorching summers and frigid winters. The area is dotted with jagged karst peaks, and plentiful rainfall ensures perennial running water.
The Lushui River originates from Western Daming Mountain. Merging with underground river systems of Daxin County and Tiandeng County near Pingshan Township, it turns into a surface river, flowing southwest to northeast across the reserve and finally emptying into the Youjiang River.
IV. Historical Evolution
- In 1979, a medicinal flora and fauna survey team headed by Qin Bo, former Director of the Department of Health of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, conducted an environmental survey around Longhu Mountain and discovered a great number of rare wild species.
- In April 1980, the People’s Government of Long’an County approved the establishment of Di’ai Natural Medicinal Herb Reserve under the administration of the County Health Bureau, covering an area of 271 hectares.
- In April 1982, it was renamed Guangxi Longhu Mountain Nature Reserve, and the Reserve Management Station was founded.
- In June 1987, the reserve was transferred to the Forestry Bureau of Long’an County. In the same year, it was designated a Class A scenic area at the autonomous regional level.
- In November 1991, with the approval of the People’s Government of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Longhu Mountain was officially designated an autonomous regional forest and wildlife nature reserve.
- In January 2001, the administrative organ was renamed from Longhu Mountain Nature Reserve Management Station to the Administration Office of Guangxi Longhu Mountain Nature Reserve.
V. Fauna and Flora Resources
Lying right on the Tropic of Cancer, Longhu Mountain boasts northern tropical seasonal limestone rainforest of Guangxi. Its flora belongs to the Sino-Vietnamese border floristic province of the Indo-Malaysian tropical floral kingdom. The biodiversity is extremely rich.
Up to now, more than 1,200 plant species belonging to 583 genera and 157 families have been recorded, among which 713 species are medicinal plants.
- Six national Class I and Class II protected wild plants: Cycas calcicola, Cibotium barometz, camphor tree, Zenia insignis, Excentrodendron hsienmu and Malania oleifera.
- Seven endemic species of Guangxi: Phoebe calcicola, Machilus nigra, Wikstroemia indica, Parachute climber, Feronia limonia, Murraya kwangsiensis and Amesiodendron chinense.
- Seven species unique to Longhu Mountain: Camellia pubipetala, Aspidistra calcicola, Aspidistra claviformis, Aspidistra umbrosa, Aspidistra longanensis, Peliosanthes maculata and Tupistra longispica.
There are 215 wild vertebrate species, including 50 mammals and 132 birds.
- 26 species under national key protection: François’ langur, bear macaque, python, rhesus macaque, mandarin duck, great hornbill, silver pheasant, large Indian civet and small Indian civet.
- 89 species listed as key protected wild animals of Guangxi.
The most famous wildlife here is wild macaques. Since regular artificial feeding started in 1983, the monkey population has grown from over 100 individuals to more than 3,000, forming eight large troops today.
VI. Major Scenic Spots
Origin of the Name Longhu Mountain
According to local legend, a dragon and a tiger once fought fiercely for this treasured land for years, disturbing people living for hundreds of miles around. The Jade Emperor sent a fairy to mediate. She drew a boundary river among the mountains — today’s Lushui River. The dragon settled on the southern hill (Longshan, Dragon Hill) and the tiger occupied the northern hill (Hushan, Tiger Hill), hence the joint name Longhu Mountain (Dragon-Tiger Mountain). Peace was restored, and local people lived in peace and contentment. To watch over the villagers forever, the fairy left her incarnation as Fairy Peak, now a well-known scenic spot.
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Monkey Watching in Remote Mountains
There are eight troops with over 3,000 macaques, each led by a monkey king. Among China’s four famous monkey mountains, Longhu Mountain boasts the most human-friendly monkeys. Once you enter the monkey zone, groups of macaques will come to greet tourists, begging for food or playing around. Visitors can get up close, take photos and fully appreciate the harmony between human beings and nature.
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Bonsai Garden
This is another core attraction. It features countless natural bonsai landscapes with grotesque rocks, thousand-year-old banyan stumps and ancient creepers. Tree roots, trunks and vines twist around, wrap around or penetrate through stones. Some look like a group of toads craving swan meat; some resemble lovers worshipping the moon facing twin peaks; others look like golden monkeys. There is also a narrow slit sky carved by nature’s craftsmanship, forming vivid natural rock bonsais.
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Immortal Blessing Garden
Located at the foot of Tiger Hill, this Buddhist shrine draws pious worshippers. It houses a stone tortoise and a live tortoise that have lived for a thousand years. Lighting an incense stick, visitors can pray to Guanyin and all deities for children, wealth, safety and marriage. Sincere prayers are believed to be answered.
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Panoramic View from Tiger Hill
Tiger Hill stands 397 metres high, covered with dense ancient trees and tangled vines. It is home to numerous protected plants including the floral queen Camellia pubipetala, Garcinia paucinervis and Excentrodendron hsienmu, as well as herbal medicines such as Aspidistra elatior, polygonatum and Kwangsi centipeda, just like a vast botanical garden.
Standing atop the hill, you can overlook the whole landscape and enjoy a full view of Dragon Hill, presenting a wonderful scene of "the divine dragon showing only its head but not its tail".
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Water Recreation
Launched in 2006, recreational items include water bicycles and drifting on the Lushui River
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