Fanjingshan

UNESCO Natural World Heritage site in Guizhou — an isolated mountain island rising from subtropical forest, home to two critically endangered endemic species: the Guizhou snub-nosed monkey and the Fanjingshan fir.

Fanjingshan was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2018 as an island of biodiversity in the Wuling Mountains of eastern Guizhou. The mountain rises steeply from surrounding hills to a summit plateau at 2,570 m, creating microclimates that have allowed relict ecosystems to survive largely isolated from the rest of China since the last glacial maximum.

The site is the only habitat of the Guizhou golden snub-nosed monkey (Rhinopithecus brelichi), with a wild population of approximately 750 individuals — one of the world's rarest primates. The Fanjingshan fir (Abies fanjingshanensis) is also found only on the mountain's higher slopes. In total, the site supports over 7,000 plant and animal species, including 37 plant species endemic to the mountain.

Fanjingshan has been a sacred Buddhist site for centuries, drawing pilgrims to the cluster of Ming-dynasty temples perched atop the dramatic 'New Golden Summit' — a narrow sandstone pillar split into twin peaks, each topped with a small Buddhist hall connected by a bridge. The physical effort of the climb — ascending more than 8,000 stone steps from the main gate — adds to the mountain's contemplative character.

A cable car now runs from a mid-mountain station to near the summit plateau, reducing the ascent time for those unable or unwilling to climb the stone steps. From the upper cable car station it is still a 30-minute walk to the New Golden Summit itself. On clear days the surrounding Wuling Mountains stretch in all directions; cloud and mist frequently wrap the summit, creating an atmospheric backdrop for the Buddhist temples.