Green, Green, Green! Tune in to the Mountainous Province's Green Rhapsody!

Looking down at the 30°N latitude from above Earth, one would find this line traversing nearly all the driest regions of the Northern Hemisphere: the Sahara Desert, the Arabian Peninsula, and the desert clusters of the midwestern United States. In China, however, the Tibetan Plateau, the "Roof of the World," shields the region from subtropical high-pressure systems, allowing the warm southeastern monsoon to create the misty, boat-dotted landscapes of Jiangnan, the fertile "Land of Fish and Rice" where "Huguang feeds the nation," and the bountiful "Land of Abundance." Within this cradle of life, one place stands out as nature's favorite—a dazzling land bursting with vitality—

Photo by Li Lin

She is a jewel of the Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau. With an average elevation of over 1,100 meters, she retains the abundant sunlight of low-latitude regions while adding a refreshing coolness to the subtropical heat. The terrain, higher in the west and lower in the east, allows warm maritime air masses to advance slowly through the mountains, meeting cold northern air to form the "Yunnan-Guizhou Quasi-Stationary Front," bringing prolonged rainfall.

Tianqiao Village in Pugu Township, a unique landscape formed by sinkholes.

High mountains, long rivers, dense forests. Guizhou boasts the richest landscapes, with dramatic elevation changes and flexible hydrothermal conditions giving each mountain its own "green" charm—from humid valley monsoon rainforests to cold-resistant coniferous forests atop peaks, and even karst forests where flowers bloom from rocky crevices...

This diverse environment provides a home for countless species, making Guizhou one of China's most biodiverse regions.

Let us venture deep into this mountainous wonderland and explore the boundless life hidden in its lush greenery.

The Francois' langurs of Mayang River, spirits of the canyon.

Why does Guizhou's hidden realm teem with miracles of life?

If one word could summarize Guizhou's ecological environment, it would be—

Countless mountain ranges crisscrossing the land, extreme elevation variations, dense river networks, and an underground karst world... Guizhou lacks only marine ecosystems; all other types are richly represented.

Most abundant of all are Guizhou's forests.

The forests of Fanjingshan, "green" in layers.

In the eastern Wuling Mountains, at the foot of Fanjingshan, the "Peak of Wuling," lie evergreen broadleaf forests rich in plant species. Near the surreal "Chishui Danxia" in the north grows the world's densest and largest grove of tree ferns. In southern Libo, the best-preserved subtropical karst forest thrives. Along the Red River Basin in the southwest, monsoon rainforests with near-tropical flair flourish at the lowest elevations.

Fig. 1: Mixed coniferous and broadleaf forest in Fanjingshan. Photo by Long Jun

Fig. 2: Chishui Danxia. Photo by Li Lin

In these remote mountains and dense forests, 24,547 wondrous creatures have found their home. Among them are the Guizhou snub-nosed monkeys found only in Fanjingshan, the elusive and rare Leishan mustache toad, and the black-necked cranes breeding on the plateau... Across this land of less than 180,000 square kilometers, miracles of life abound.

Fig. 1: Black-necked crane. Photo by Yang Yaxiong

Fig. 2: Leishan mustache toad. Photo by Chen Peiliang

High mountains and deep valleys, a "sanctuary" for rare creatures.

Fanjingshan is known as the "ecological island in the karst ocean."

The name "island" reflects its unique feature: amidst the surrounding karst landscape, it stands as a towering metamorphic rock mountain, forming an ecological ark that creates habitats vastly different from the adjacent areas, providing refuge for 7,154 species of wild flora and fauna. The overlap between Fanjingshan's species and those of the surrounding mountainous regions is less than 30%, and it is also the home of the Guizhou golden snub-nosed monkey.

Fanjingshan is the habitat of the Guizhou golden snub-nosed monkey.

Taking the cable car to the summit of Fanjingshan, if you dare to look down at the 2,572-meter sheer drop, you will feel a magical sense of traveling through time—

The dove tree, known as the "Chinese pigeon tree," bears delicate, dove-like white flowers yet has survived on Earth for over 60 million years. In the distant Tertiary period, it thrived as part of the tropical flora but faced near extinction during the Quaternary glaciation two million years ago, surviving only sporadically in southern China. In Fanjingshan, it not only survived but even flourished, forming lush dove tree forests above 1,000 meters in elevation, creating a high-altitude floral sea alongside other ancient species like the Tetracentron sinense, long-spiked hornbeam, and beech, forming a sanctuary for relic organisms.

The dove tree's iconic white bracts.

As the altitude rises further, reaching above 2,100 meters, where alpine shrublands would typically dominate, tall firs instead tower skyward. These are also ancient relic species, surviving the catastrophe two million years ago due to their cold resistance, yet gradually retreating to higher, colder areas as the Earth warmed. The vast, dense fir forests covering dozens of hectares on Fanjingshan's summit are unparalleled in southern China.

The fir forests and glossy-leaved beech communities of Fanjingshan.

Why has Fanjingshan become a haven for these ancient organisms? "Being tall enough" might be one reason.

About 400 million years ago, northern Guizhou, where Fanjingshan is located, rose from the ocean to become land, making it one of the oldest terrains in southern China. The Wuling Mountains underwent several uplifts during subsequent tectonic movements, eventually becoming towering peaks during the famous "Himalayan orogeny." Straddling the path of the southeastern monsoon, it became a warm and humid rainfall hub, bringing abundant precipitation to neighboring northeastern Guizhou and western Hunan. As the highest peak of the Wuling Mountains, Fanjingshan is thus one of the rainiest regions in Guizhou.

The towering mountain serves as the best barrier against extreme climate changes, while numerous rivers form the lifeblood of vegetation. More remarkably, Fanjingshan's solid metamorphic rock core and deep soil cover nurture primeval forests with robust root systems that protect the land, absorbing massive rainfall while rarely triggering floods. This is why Fanjingshan appears as it does—densely forested, largely undisturbed, with a green tapestry woven by Chinese chestnut, wingnut, fir, masson pine, azaleas, and arrow bamboo from its base to its summit.

The complex mountainous terrain, shielded by dense forests, further protects wildlife from human interference. This is why the remaining 800 or so Guizhou golden snub-nosed monkeys have become Fanjingshan's exclusive spirits, alongside rare animals like Tibetan macaques, forest musk deer, and golden pheasants.

Many rare species can be observed in Fanjingshan.

Figure 1: Tibetan macaque. Photo by Wu Xuewen.

Figure 2: Black-crested baza. Photo by Meng Xianwei.

Figure 3: Pseudohynobius salamander. Photo by Meng Xianwei.

Figure 4: Chinese festoon moth. Photo by Chen Zhengjun.

Figure 5: Ghost plant. Photo by Meng Xianwei.

Figure 6: Stonecrop. Photo by Li Guiyun.

If Fanjingshan primarily relies on "height" to serve as a guardian of life, the Chishu Alsophila Nature Reserve becomes a paradise for ancient organisms through its "depth."

This is truly an ancient wonder!

The Chishui Danxia, together with the Danxia landforms of Taining in Fujian, Langshan in Hunan, Danxiashan in Guangdong, Longhushan in Jiangxi, and Jianglangshan in Zhejiang, collectively form

the "China Danxia" World Natural Heritage site.

Photo by Li Lin

Towering red cliffs, with their layered textures, embody the beauty of "Danxia." In summer, waterfalls of various sizes cascade down the cliffs, shimmering with dazzling white light under the sun, creating a unique beauty that feels "almost otherworldly." It is in this extraordinary valley that the world's largest and most extensive community of tree ferns thrives.

Photo by Li Guiyun

The tree fern is a woody fern with a history of 200 million years, flourishing during the Cretaceous and Jurassic periods, coexisting with dinosaurs, and bearing witness to Earth's tumultuous changes over eons. After the Quaternary glaciation, the number of tree ferns, which prefer high temperatures and humidity but dislike direct sunlight, sharply declined. Although some survived in southern regions, they rarely formed communities again.

The tree ferns in the reserve impress with their tall stature.

But in Chishui, cliffs with a drop of over 1,400 meters outline inaccessible wilderness, while the humid and hot environment sheltered by the valley forests provides rare conditions for the proliferation of ancient life—

Not just tree ferns. The reserve is home to over 170 species of ferns, including ancient and rare species like Psilotum nudum. Due to the extreme heat and humidity, even tropical plants like wild bananas and Alocasia thrive here.

Photo by Li Guiyun

Life finds a way through the cracks in the rocks.

When marveling at Guizhou's lush ecology, one premise should not be forgotten:

Guizhou has nearly 130,000 square kilometers of exposed karst terrain, covering over 60% of the province. While this creates majestic peak forests and canyons, it also forms an extremely fragile ecological foundation.

Karst landscapes are composed of easily eroded limestone and dolomite. The more abundant the rainfall, the more porous and loose the rock becomes. Due to its soluble nature, little residue remains, making soil formation a slow process. It cannot retain water or stabilize soil, making plant growth exceptionally challenging. Karst regions worldwide are prone to barrenness.

Libo in southern Guizhou features typical cone karst landforms, part of the "South China Karst" World Natural Heritage alongside the Stone Forest in Yunnan, Wulong in Chongqing, Guilin in Guangxi, Shibing in Guizhou, Jinfo Mountain in Chongqing, and Huanjiang in Guangxi. It also boasts the world's largest and best-preserved subtropical karst primary forest—the Maolan Karst Forest.

The primitive forest belt of Maolan Karst peak clusters in Libo.

It exhibits the most typical feature of karst landscapes: stones everywhere.

Smooth rock surfaces undoubtedly make seed germination difficult. Even in rock crevices, the thickest soil is only about 40 centimeters. Tree roots must stretch into every available space, forming intricate networks—sometimes "rocks enveloping trees," sometimes "trees enveloping rocks." Even century-old trees are often slender, with most diameters under 6 centimeters.

The beautiful water-bound forest of Maolan, Libo.

Yet, it boasts a rare landscape within karst terrain: abundant surface water.

It’s not that the stones here are more special than elsewhere, but life has found its own way. Starting with moss, plants grow in the tiniest moist spaces, wither, and turn into humus, gradually filling the cracks in the ground and preventing water from seeping away. "Retained water" gathers in the depressions beneath the rocks, and the humus soil becomes a new cradle. Life advances wave upon wave, occupying every corner—even towering trees grow at the bottom of the deepest karst "funnels," and beautiful lady slipper orchids bloom on jagged rock faces.

The cultural gene of "harmony between man and nature"

Forest homes in the Kuankuoshui Nature Reserve, Suiyang.

Photo provided by Guizhou Kuankuoshui Nature Reserve

In 2014, a over 2,000-year-old yew tree was discovered in Kelou Town, southeastern Guizhou. Standing over 30 meters tall and requiring five adults to encircle its trunk, it is the largest "King Yew" in Asia.

Perhaps you’ve heard of the yew tree. This slow-growing, hard-to-regenerate species has often been felled for its precious anti-cancer compounds in its bark, nearly facing extinction in the 1990s. Surviving specimens are usually found in remote, inaccessible areas.

The yew tree, an ancient relict plant on the brink of extinction.

Yet, this King Yew thrives beside a bustling mountain path leading into the village. No one has ever considered cutting it down because it is the village’s "sacred feng shui tree."

In Guizhou, many villages revere "feng shui trees" and plant "feng shui forests" around their settlements. Though ancestors may not have articulated systematic scientific principles, their long survival explorations instilled simple wisdom: with forests, villages are shielded from floods and "wind disasters," farmlands remain fertile, and hunted animals have space to thrive.

A nearly 2,000-year-old yew tree, a national first-class protected plant, was discovered in Cengong County.

Thus, they protect nearby woodlands in various ways. The Dong people’s unique organizational system, "Kuan," includes "Kuan agreements"—customary laws collectively decided upon. Centuries-old Dong Kuan rules stipulated: anyone caught cutting trees must pay a fine and replant. The Miao people’s "Yilang Code" also formalized clauses like "periodic mountain closures to protect tree growth." Many villages erected "forest protection steles," forbidding even firewood gathering outside designated times.

Villagers worship the 2,000-year-old sacred yew tree in Xiazhai Village, Kelou Town, Cengong County, Guizhou.

In the precious mountainous land, arable fields are scarce, yet Guizhou people carve terraces into hillsides, turning rugged terrain into a "land of fish and rice."

Most astonishing is their rice-fish-duck system, recognized in 2011 as a Globally Important Agricultural Heritage System:

Sown around Grain Rain, rice seedlings are spaced widely—sturdy enough to bear harvest hopes. Fry are released into paddies then, preferably carp for their fast growth and weed-only diet.

Tiered paddies sustain a vibrant microcosm.

Once seedlings root, fluffy ducklings join—they avoid rice but devour pests, though their wandering requires daily herding back. By autumn, fragrant rice, plump fish, and sturdy ducks promise a bountiful year.

Mist-shrouded mountains blend forests and terraces.

In central Guizhou, people craft even more ingenious lifestyles.

In Baojiatun Village of Anshun, there stands an ancient hydraulic engineering marvel dubbed the "Mini Dujiangyan." Much like Sichuan's Dujiangyan, it features a "fish-mouth diversion" structure that splits water drawn from the Xingjiang River into two channels, creating a "twin rivers encircling farmland" layout. A series of tiered canals then irrigate the fields. Over 600 years later, without the need for dredging or fear of water scarcity, this ancient system continues to nourish the karst-dominated land prone to soil erosion, crafting a pastoral landscape that rivals the beauty of Jiangnan.

Baojiatun Village, Anshun: A Jiangnan-like oasis amidst a karst sea.

Blessed with "natural beauty," yet striving for a "green revolution."

In Weining Yi, Hui, and Miao Autonomous County of northwestern Guizhou lies a famed natural reserve—Caohai.

This rare highland freshwater lake-wetland ecosystem spans 30 square kilometers, hosting over 100,000 migratory birds each winter. As one of the largest wintering grounds for the near-threatened black-necked crane, it’s hailed as the "Hometown of China’s Black-Necked Cranes."

Once plagued by poverty-driven reclamation that shrank the wetland to 5 square kilometers and nearly wiped out the cranes, Caohai saw a turnaround with lake restoration and afforestation. The wetland rebounded, and bird species soared from 203 to 246.

Resolving "human-bird land disputes" didn’t require sacrifice. Relocating residents to non-wetland areas freed up fertile land, boosting livelihoods through eco-friendly economies.

Black-necked cranes at Caohai, like musical notes upon the wetland.

Balancing economic growth with ecological recovery—this is Guizhou’s green revolution blueprint.

Huayudong Bridge in Guiyang exemplifies this dual focus.

Spanning the bird-rich and water-protected Hongfeng Lake Wetland, its 2019 reconstruction pioneered a "build-while-dismantling" method. New arches were erected beside the old bridge, which was then suspended and segmented without polluting the lake—earning the Gustav Lindenthal Medal for pristine execution.

Such examples abound. For decades, Guizhou’s rapid growth has paralleled ecological strides: a "River Chief" system purifies waterways, upholding its role as the Yangtze-Pearl River ecological shield; "eco-accounts" grant loans based on conservation scores, helping small businesses and farmers thrive sustainably; and tailored farming—like planting prickly pears and tea on fragile karst soil—boosts both biodiversity and global acclaim.

Villagers tend to sarcandra seedlings at Taojiawan Nursery in Pingjiang Town, Rongjiang County, Qiandongnan Miao and Dong Autonomous Prefecture.

陶家湾草珊瑚育苗基地对草珊瑚苗进行管护。‍

Since its 2009 debut, the Guiyang Ecological Civilization Forum (upgraded internationally in 2013) has galvanized consensus. Guizhou’s achievements include: 2.29 million hectares of protected areas (13.01% of its land); 99.4% clean-air days across 88 counties; 100% excellent water quality at key river exits; 62.81% forest coverage; and Guiyang, China’s first "National Forest City," with 6.48 million mu of forests blending seamlessly into urban life.

This ecological powerhouse proclaims: Guizhou is not just a pristine treasure but a低碳, innovative green pioneer.

From ancient times to today, Guizhou’s "green legend" marches on. What chapters await?

Special Thanks | Cao Zijuan, Xu Jian

Researcher, Guizhou Academy of Forestry

Professor, Guizhou Normal University Karst Research Institute

Director of the Center for Nature Conservation and Community Development, Guizhou Normal University

Fanjingshan Research. Guizhou People's Publishing House

Scientific Survey Collection of Maolan Karst Forest. Guizhou People's Publishing House

Scientific Survey Collection of Chishu Alsophila Nature Reserve. Guizhou Ethnic Publishing House

Li Bosheng. The Only One in the World: Re-evaluating the Value of Fanjingshan. Man and the Biosphere. 2015(3)