Shaanxi - Yangxian Nature Reserve 37 images Created 19 Mar 2018
The Taibaishan area, of almost 1000 sq km, is number 11 of the original “Minor Dongtian’s” from 400-500 AD, all then officially protected by the Emperor of the Tang Dynasty in 725 AD. Dongtians, or “Cave Heavens”, are de facto nature reserves from early Taoist times, and this has been a protected area since almost 1600 years. The Dongtian system of ancient nature reserves, with in all 157 "Cave Heavens" is one of the main reasons that wonderful animals like the Great panda and the Golden snub-nosed monkey survived into our times and were not all killed hundreds of years ago. This is the by far oldest of all protected area networks in the world. The Golden snub-nosed monkey (Rhinopithecus roxellana) is now increasing in numbers in large part of its distribution area, thanks to modern Chinese nature conservation actions. One of Chinas wildlife comeback species!
