Wanglang Nature Reserve and Giant Panda Tour Trip & Wildlife in Wanglang

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China Wanglang National Nature Reserve - Wildlife in Wanglang

As the treasure of China, giant panda is one of the most rare and beloved animals in the world, is threatened with extinction - only about 1,000 pandas live in the wild. Although historically pandas were found throughout much of China and in Burma and Laos, today all of the wild pandas in the world live in six isolated forest areas in central China.

Wanglang nature reserve is situated in Pingwu county, the north of Mianyang city. The reserve covers an area of 32 hectares, it is 5.4% of the whole Pingwu. Before its establishment, there is a pastureland with abundant nature resources. That time was expressed by local people “the natural resources is so enough that you can beat river deer with sticks and catch fish with wooden dippers.” In 1963, it was established by the Sichuan Forestry Bureau, is located in the Minshan Mountains in some of China's most important panda habitat. It is neighbor, also back garden of Jiuzhaigou valley. In 1996, the reserve got assistance from WWF (world wild fund) in many aspects of technique, professor, money and so on. Now it is paradise for pandas and other species, although it can’t match its big brother, such as Wolong reserve. Following the road up the valley containing the Baima Villages and you could arrive at Wanglang Nature Reserve. About 5 miles into reserve there is lodging with hot showers and food. It is a quiet place to enjoy nature, hike, and relax in a mountain lodge setting. The principal endangered species in there are pandas (about 30), taking (an ungulate), and snubbed nosed golden monkeys. The peaks look like the steep peaks in the Rockies but the forested areas are much richer in biological diversity. There are estimated to be about 30 wild pandas living in Wanglang. At Wanglang you have a unique opportunity to experience the lush forests, beautiful mountains, and thick bamboo groves of the panda’s home. Additionally, you can visit the colorful Baima people who have lived in the area just outside the reserve for hundreds of years.

On 25th August 2005, Sichuan Wanglang National Nature Reserve’s Accommodation Product has achieved the prestigious Green Globe Benchmarked Certificate under the new Green Globe Certification program, which recognizes the operation’s commitment to operating at the world’s highest environmental standard. Sichuan Wanglang National Nature Reserve has spent considerable time benchmarking its energy and water consumption, waste production and disposal as well as implementing an integrated environmental and social policy.

The main purpose of Wanglang nature reserve is to protect the giant panda and its habitat, and the 10 other nearby reserves in remote areas of northern Sichuan are critical to the continued survival of the giant panda. Because, poaching and illegal logging problems are still exist on this region.

There are no captive pandas at the reserve and because wild pandas live in high mountain areas in thick foliage and avoid humans, you will probably not see a panda at Wanglang, However, your trip to the panda's home will be one you will talk about for years to come and your visit to. Wanglang will help support conservation of the world's treasured creatures, the giant panda. Wanglang protects the giant panda by following ways:

Patrolling the reserve for poachers and sick or injured pandas.

Protecting the forest as a key habitat area.

Educating visitors about panda protecting and environment issues.

Supporting panda research.

Providing a corridor for panda migration between adjacent panda habitats.

Educating local residents about the value of conserving pandas.

What Can We do to Protect Giant Panda at Wanglang

1,Don't purchase any animals or eat their meats.
2,Acquaint yourself with the regulation of the Reserve and follow it.
3,Make a donation to panda conservation at Wanglang Nature Reserve
4,Purchase souvenirs at the Reserve, a portion of which supports panda conservation programs at Wanglang.
5,Join an environmental organization to protect wildlife.
6,Tell your friend about Wanglang and its panda protection.

Wanglang Area Eco-tourism Goals

The overall goal of developing eco-tourism is to improve panda and panda habitat protection. This goal will be achieved by two main means:

1, Providing fund for Wanglang Reserve, the local communities, and the local government. Eco-tourism's income will reduce the pressure for exploitation of resources that affect the panda's habitat, which live in the reserve and outside the reserve. 2, Providing environmental education to visitors of reserve. Visitors' education will create a base of good-will and surport for the preservation efforts of the reserve and the rest of the county.

Eco-tourism Activities

Wanglang Reserve

Build lodge and guest facilities, including library, visitor information center, research and study facilities. (completed in 2000)Train Staff (in process)

Develop ecotourism activities including guided walks and treks, interpretive self-guided nature trails, and wildlife viewing stations. (in process)

Establish Visitor Environmental Education Program (in process)

Baima Communities:

Advice on tourism - understanding the needs and requirements of both Chinese and foreign visitors.

Develop ecotourism activities such as home-stays, demonstration of traditional dance and song, handicraft sales, and guided walks to help generate income to improve local livelihoods and motivate local people to conserve their culture and panda habitat.

Community improvement projects - funding for water, sanitation, power, etc. to make tourist accommodations safe and comfortable.

Micro-credit - a small loan program to help the economically disadvantaged members of the community improve their income by providing goods and services needed in the eco-tourism business.

Local Tourist Bureau:

Build awareness about ecotourism among County officials and tour operators. Help guide plans for sustainable tourism development.

Capacity building - help develop the capacity of the local tourist bureau to promote tourism and to adequately identify and serve the needs of the tourist industry.

The Wanglang Forest Lodge

The lodge is in a quiet mountain valley at the Headquarters of Wanglang Reserve. The lodge can accommodate 50 people (ten triple and ten double rooms). One triple and one double room share a bathroom with toilet, sink, and shower. The lodge has a restaurant (an ala carte menu and set meals are available), lounge, bar, library, and meeting room. The lodge is available for individuals, groups, and conferences.

Activities at Wanglang

At the Information Center and Tea Room
The Information Center at the Reserve entrance (Baozigou) has displays highlighting Wanglang's history, ecology, geology, flora, and fauna; panda ecology; the Baima culture, and the panda conservation program in Pingwu County that is sponsored by World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF). Tea, snacks, and gifts are available at the Center.

In the Reserve
Drive the scenic 10 km road to the park headquarters.
Picnic in designated areas.
Walk the roads and trails in the reserve. To increase your enjoyment and understanding of the area, Reserve naturalist guides are available to accompany you on your tour of the reserve.
View wildlife and watch birds. Note: it is rare to see pandas. Takin, musk deer, blue sheep as well as other animals can be seen occasionally. Birdwatching is excellent, especially during the spring and fall migration seasons. To increase your chances of seeing and hearing the wildlife and birds, be quiet and wear muted colors.

At the Reserve Headquarters (Muyangchang)
Relax at the Wanglang Forest Lodge.
Dine on Sichuan cuisine at the lodge restaurant.
Go on a guided bus tour of the Reserve.
Arrange overnight guided tent camping (seasonal).
Listen to ranger talks at night.
Go on guided nature walks.
Read about the natural and culture history of the Reserve and the geology, flora, fauna in the lodge library.
Walk on self-guided nature trails.
Kids - Become a Junior Ranger.

Weather and Clothes
The mountain weather is changeable, and it can be much colder and rainier at Wanglang than at lower elevations. Bring extra clothes for warmth and rain protection and wear comfortable, waterproof walking shoes. Bring sunscreen for sunny days. June, July, and August receive the most rain, however, it can rain anytime. Snow is possible as early as September, but is most prevalent from November through March.

Warnings
Drive slowly: All roads are narrow - some are one lane. Blind curves and hills can be dangerous.
Watch your step: Roads and trails can be uneven.
Go off trail only with a Reserve Guide.
Be alert for wild animals: Do not approach or feed animals. Keep at least 10 meters away from any animal you see. If an animal is acting strangely, report it to the Reserve staff. Wild boars live in the Reserve and can be dangerous. There are no snakes in the Reserve, however, two species of poisonous snakes live just outside the reserve.

Wanglang Nature Reserve - Wildlife, Geography, Geology

Wanglang is in a mountainous area ranging in elevation from 2,430 to 4,980 meters (7,533 to 15,438 feet). These mountains, which are in the transition zone between the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau and the Sichuan Basin, were formed by uplifting, folding, and earthquake activity. Huge landslides beneath the towering peaks attest to recent earthquake activity.
There are many species of trees, shrubs, grasses, ferns, and other plants at Wanglang. Spruce, larch, fir, pine, cedar, and birch are common trees. Parts of Wanglang were logged in the 1950's, and the staff tells fascinating stories about the Reserve's efforts to reclaim the logged areas. Old growth timber, hundreds of years old, still grow in the higher elevations. Visitors can walk through rhododendron forests and towering pines to high mountain passes. A species list of plants in the Reserve is available at the Wanglang Forest Lodge.

Wildlife in Wanglang Giant Panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca), an endangered species.
Takin (budorcas taxicolor), an endangered species.
Golden Snub-nosed Monkey (rhinopithecus roxellarae),an endangered species.
Wanglang Reserve was established to protect the giant panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca). By protecting pandas and their habitat, the reserve also protects other wildlife that live in the area. The golden snub-nosed monkey (rhinopithecus roxellarae), the takin (budorcas taxicolor), and the leopard cat (panthera pardus) are three threatened species that live in the forests and meadows of Wanglang. Other mammals at Wanglang include bear, fox, various wild cats, lynx, red panda, musk deer, blue sheep, and picas. A species list of animals in the area is available at the Wanglang Forest Lodge.

Birds in Wanglang Many birds inhabit or migrate through Wanglang. A bird list containing common and rare species is available at the Wanglang Forest Lodge.

Relative Itineraries

         5 Days Giant Panda Tour in Wanglang Reserve and Chengdu Panda Base

        6 Days Giant Panda Tour in Wanglang Reserve and Chengdu Panda Base

         11 Days Giant Panda Tour for Giant Panda in Wolong Fengtongzhai Wanglang