In 2006, during the assembly of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee, the Sichuan Giant Panda Sanctuaries were officially inscribed on the World Heritage List. This vast region, located in the west of Sichuan province, has a central protection zone measuring more than 9200km², equivalent in size to a large national park. This is not a single location, but a network of strategic areas, including the municipality of Baoxing – site of the first scientific description of the giant panda -, the famous Wolong National Nature Reserve and the Dujiangyan scenic area, of exceptional scenic value.
This is the largest and most complete habitat natural habitat of giant pandas in the world, housing more than 30% of the wild population. But the region is not just a haven for pandas: its biodiversity is truly impressive. Traveling through these primordial forests is like exploring a “living natural museum”. It is possible to see golden monkeys playing among the treetops or observe herds of takinslarge mountain bovines, peacefully wandering through the alpine meadows. The songs of more than 300 species of birds echo throughout the forest, and, with a little luck, the most attentive may even discover tracks of snow leopards or clouded leopards.
The region is also home to between 5000 and 6000 species of plants, which makes the flora equally stunning. Among them, the David involveda “living plant fossil”, whose white flowers evoke the image of doves. It is also possible to admire the elegance of the orchids and the exuberance of the azaleas that, in spring, dye the hills with vibrant colors. This botanical richness makes the region one of the areas with the greatest biodiversity in the temperate world, after tropical forests.
The charm of the giant panda turned him into a true cultural ambassador worldwide. Many will remember the adorable Po, from the animated franchise If Fu Pandawhose second film was set at Qingcheng Mountain in Dujiangyan. From films to international conservation projects, the panda has become a bridge that connects different cultures and promotes friendship between nations.
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