Hunan Wulingyuan Scenic And Historic Interest Area
The Hunan Wulingyuan Scenic and Historic Interest Area is a UNESCO World Heritage Site covering around 26,400 hectares of the planet. Located in the Hunan Province of China, this site is famous for having narrow, quartzite sandstone, pillars and peaks numbered at over three thousand. The area is dotted with ravines, gorges, streams, pools, waterfalls, among other spectacular natural features.
There are around forty caves located along the Suoxiyu River and Tianzi Mountain, including one of the largest caves in China. Almost a third of the area is composed of limestone, which accounts for cave formation and the amazing calcite deposits within the caves. There are also numerous underground brooks and streams which drain into the Suoxi River. Two large natural bridges, the Bridge of the Immortals and the Bridge Across the Sky, are also located in this site. The Bridge Across the Sky, or Tianqiashengkong, is thought to be the highest natural bridge in the world, lying roughly 357 meters above the valley.
Many endangered plants and animals also call this area home. There are over three thousand plant species located in this area. Many of these species have particular value for medical purposes. The Chinese giant salamander, clouded leopard, Chinese water deer and many other threatened animals roam the site. The clouded leopard is so rare that one has never actually been seen, though tracks and other signs of existence have been found.
Regarded as remote and inaccessible, this area has remained mostly untouched by humans throughout its history. It was not until the formation of the People’s Republic of China in 1949 that interest in this area was peaked. The establishment of the Wulingyuan District in 1988 has led to efforts to ensure that the protection of the species and land. The year 1992 saw the designation of the core zone as a World Heritage Site.
