Qinling Mountains
Encyclopedia
The Qin Mountains are a major east-west mountain range
in southern Shaanxi
province, China
. The mountains provide a natural boundary between the North and South of the country, and support a huge variety of plant and wildlife, some of which is found nowhere else on Earth.
To the north is the densely populated Wei River
valley, an ancient center of Chinese civilization. To the south is the Han River valley. To the west is the line of mountains along the northern edge of the Tibetan Plateau
. To the east are the lower Funiu Shan and Dabie Shan
which rise out of the coastal plain.
The Northern side of the range is prone to hot weather, however the physical barrier of the mountains mean that the land to the North has a semi-arid
climate, with the lack of rich, fertile landscape can not support a wealth of wildlife. The mountains also acted as a natural defense against nomadic invasions from the North, as only four passes
cross the mountains. In the late 1990s a railway tunnel and a spiral
was completed, thereby easing travel across the range.
The highest mountain in the range is Mount Taibai
(太白山) at 3767 metres (12,358.9 ft), which is about 100 kilometres (62.1 mi) West of the ancient Chinese capital of Xi'an
and is the highest mountain in eastern China. Mount Hua
(华山) (2155 metres (7,070.2 ft)), Mount Li
(骊山/驪山) (1302 metres (4,271.7 ft)), and Mount Maiji (麦积山) (1742 metres (5,715.2 ft)) make up the three other significant peaks in the range.
.
basin of northern China, which was historically home to deciduous broadleaf forests, and the Yangzi River basin of southern China, which has milder winters and more rainfall, and was historically home to warm temperate evergreen broadleaf forests.
The low-elevation forests of the foothills are dominated by temperate deciduous trees like oaks (Quercus acutissima, Q. variabilis), elm
(Ulmus spp.), Common Walnut (Juglans regia), maple
(Acer spp.), ash (Fraxinus spp.) and Celtis spp. Evergreen species of these low-elevation forests include broadleaf chinquapins (Castanopsis sclerophylla), ring-cupped oaks (Quercus glauca) and conifers like Pinus massoniana
.
At the middle elevations, conifers like Pinus armandii are mixed with broadleaf birch
(Betula spp.) oak (Quercus spp.) and hornbeam (Carpinus spp.). From 2,600 to 3,000 meters elevation, these mid-elevation forests give way to a subalpine forests of fir (Abies fargesii
, A. chensiensis
), Cunninghamia
, and birch
(Betula spp.), with rhododendron (Rhododendron fastigiatum) abundant in the understory.
The region is home to a large number of rare plants, of which around 3,000 have so far been documented. Plant and tree species native to the region include Ginkgo
, thought to be one of the oldest species of tree in the world, as well as Huashan or Armand Pine (Pinus armandii), Acer miaotaiense
and Chinese Fir
. Timber harvesting reached a peak in the 18th century in the Qinling Mountains.
s, a sub-species of the giant panda
, which are protected in the region with the help of the Changqing and Foping nature reserve
s. Around 200 giant pandas live in the region, estimated at around a fifth of the entire wild giant panda population. The mountains are also home to the Golden Takin
(a species of Ox
), Golden Pheasant
, Golden Snub-nosed Monkey
, Temminck's Tragopan
, Crested Ibis
, Golden Eagle
, and Clouded Leopard
.
Mountain range
A mountain range is a single, large mass consisting of a succession of mountains or narrowly spaced mountain ridges, with or without peaks, closely related in position, direction, formation, and age; a component part of a mountain system or of a mountain chain...
in southern Shaanxi
Shaanxi
' is a province in the central part of Mainland China, and it includes portions of the Loess Plateau on the middle reaches of the Yellow River in addition to the Qinling Mountains across the southern part of this province...
province, China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
. The mountains provide a natural boundary between the North and South of the country, and support a huge variety of plant and wildlife, some of which is found nowhere else on Earth.
To the north is the densely populated Wei River
Wei River
The Wei River is a major river in west-central China's Gansu and Shaanxi provinces. It is the largest tributary of the Yellow River and very important in the early development of Chinese civilization....
valley, an ancient center of Chinese civilization. To the south is the Han River valley. To the west is the line of mountains along the northern edge of the Tibetan Plateau
Tibetan Plateau
The Tibetan Plateau , also known as the Qinghai–Tibetan Plateau is a vast, elevated plateau in Central Asia covering most of the Tibet Autonomous Region and Qinghai, in addition to smaller portions of western Sichuan, southwestern Gansu, and northern Yunnan in Western China and Ladakh in...
. To the east are the lower Funiu Shan and Dabie Shan
Dabie Shan
The Dabie Mountains are a major mountain range located in central China. Running northwest-to-southeast, they form the main watershed between the Huai and Yangtze rivers...
which rise out of the coastal plain.
The Northern side of the range is prone to hot weather, however the physical barrier of the mountains mean that the land to the North has a semi-arid
Semi-arid
A semi-arid climate or steppe climate describes climatic regions that receive precipitation below potential evapotranspiration, but not extremely...
climate, with the lack of rich, fertile landscape can not support a wealth of wildlife. The mountains also acted as a natural defense against nomadic invasions from the North, as only four passes
Mountain pass
A mountain pass is a route through a mountain range or over a ridge. If following the lowest possible route, a pass is locally the highest point on that route...
cross the mountains. In the late 1990s a railway tunnel and a spiral
Spiral (railway)
A spiral is a technique employed by railways to ascend steep hills.A railway spiral rises on a steady curve until it has completed a loop, passing over itself as it gains height, allowing the railway to gain vertical elevation in a relatively short horizontal distance...
was completed, thereby easing travel across the range.
The highest mountain in the range is Mount Taibai
Mount Taibai
Mount Taibai is a mountain located on the border between Mei, Taibai and Zhouzhi counties in the south west of Shaanxi Province, China. The mount's highest point, Baxian Tower , rises to a height of 3767.2 meters and is the tallest in the Qinling Range, as well as the watershed between the Han...
(太白山) at 3767 metres (12,358.9 ft), which is about 100 kilometres (62.1 mi) West of the ancient Chinese capital of Xi'an
Xi'an
Xi'an is the capital of the Shaanxi province, and a sub-provincial city in the People's Republic of China. One of the oldest cities in China, with more than 3,100 years of history, the city was known as Chang'an before the Ming Dynasty...
and is the highest mountain in eastern China. Mount Hua
Mount Hua
Mount Hua or Hua Shan in Chinese is located in Shaanxi Province, about 120 kilometres east of the city of Xi'an, near the city Huayin in China. Also known as Xiyuè, Western Great Mountain, it is one of China's Five Sacred Taoist Mountains, and has a long history of religious significance...
(华山) (2155 metres (7,070.2 ft)), Mount Li
Mount Li
Mount Li is a mountain located in the northwest of Xi'an in Shaanxi Province, China. The mountain is part of the Qinling mountain range and rises to a height of 1302 metres above sea level...
(骊山/驪山) (1302 metres (4,271.7 ft)), and Mount Maiji (麦积山) (1742 metres (5,715.2 ft)) make up the three other significant peaks in the range.
Biology
The environment of the Qin Mountains is that of the Qin Ling Mountains deciduous forests ecoregionEcoregion
An ecoregion , sometimes called a bioregion, is an ecologically and geographically defined area that is smaller than an ecozone and larger than an ecosystem. Ecoregions cover relatively large areas of land or water, and contain characteristic, geographically distinct assemblages of natural...
.
Flora
The Qin Mountains form the watershed between the Yellow RiverYellow River
The Yellow River or Huang He, formerly known as the Hwang Ho, is the second-longest river in China and the sixth-longest in the world at the estimated length of . Originating in the Bayan Har Mountains in Qinghai Province in western China, it flows through nine provinces of China and empties into...
basin of northern China, which was historically home to deciduous broadleaf forests, and the Yangzi River basin of southern China, which has milder winters and more rainfall, and was historically home to warm temperate evergreen broadleaf forests.
The low-elevation forests of the foothills are dominated by temperate deciduous trees like oaks (Quercus acutissima, Q. variabilis), elm
Elm
Elms are deciduous and semi-deciduous trees comprising the genus Ulmus in the plant family Ulmaceae. The dozens of species are found in temperate and tropical-montane regions of North America and Eurasia, ranging southward into Indonesia. Elms are components of many kinds of natural forests...
(Ulmus spp.), Common Walnut (Juglans regia), maple
Maple
Acer is a genus of trees or shrubs commonly known as maple.Maples are variously classified in a family of their own, the Aceraceae, or together with the Hippocastanaceae included in the family Sapindaceae. Modern classifications, including the Angiosperm Phylogeny Group system, favour inclusion in...
(Acer spp.), ash (Fraxinus spp.) and Celtis spp. Evergreen species of these low-elevation forests include broadleaf chinquapins (Castanopsis sclerophylla), ring-cupped oaks (Quercus glauca) and conifers like Pinus massoniana
Pinus massoniana
Pinus massoniana is a species of pine, native to a wide area of central and southern China, including Hong Kong and Taiwan, and northern Vietnam, growing at low to moderate altitudes, mostly below 1,500 m but rarely up to 2,000 m altitude.- Description :It is an evergreen tree reaching 25-45 m in...
.
At the middle elevations, conifers like Pinus armandii are mixed with broadleaf birch
Birch
Birch is a tree or shrub of the genus Betula , in the family Betulaceae, closely related to the beech/oak family, Fagaceae. The Betula genus contains 30–60 known taxa...
(Betula spp.) oak (Quercus spp.) and hornbeam (Carpinus spp.). From 2,600 to 3,000 meters elevation, these mid-elevation forests give way to a subalpine forests of fir (Abies fargesii
Abies fargesii
Abies fargesii is a species of fir, which is a conifer in the Pinaceae family.It is found only in China. It is also known as Farges' fir, after the French missionary, botanist and plant collector, Paul Guillaume Farges, 1844-1912.-References:...
, A. chensiensis
Abies chensiensis
Abies chensiensis, the Shensi fir, is a fir native to Gansu, Hubei, Sichuan, Tibet, Yunnan in China and Arunachal Pradesh in India. It was first described by Philippe Édouard Léon Van Tieghem in 1892....
), Cunninghamia
Cunninghamia
The genus Cunninghamia is a genus of one or two species of evergreen coniferous trees in the cypress family Cupressaceae. They are native to China, Taiwan and northern Vietnam, where they may reach 50–55 m in height....
, and birch
Birch
Birch is a tree or shrub of the genus Betula , in the family Betulaceae, closely related to the beech/oak family, Fagaceae. The Betula genus contains 30–60 known taxa...
(Betula spp.), with rhododendron (Rhododendron fastigiatum) abundant in the understory.
The region is home to a large number of rare plants, of which around 3,000 have so far been documented. Plant and tree species native to the region include Ginkgo
Ginkgo
Ginkgo , also spelled gingko and known as the Maidenhair Tree, is a unique species of tree with no close living relatives...
, thought to be one of the oldest species of tree in the world, as well as Huashan or Armand Pine (Pinus armandii), Acer miaotaiense
Acer miaotaiense
Acer miaotaiense is a species of maple native to China, in southeastern Gansu, southwestern Henan, northwestern Hubei, southern Shaanxi, and Zhejiang....
and Chinese Fir
Cunninghamia
The genus Cunninghamia is a genus of one or two species of evergreen coniferous trees in the cypress family Cupressaceae. They are native to China, Taiwan and northern Vietnam, where they may reach 50–55 m in height....
. Timber harvesting reached a peak in the 18th century in the Qinling Mountains.
Fauna
They are home to the Qinling pandaQinling Panda
The Qinling panda is a subspecies of the giant panda, discovered in the 1960s but not recognized as a subspecies until 2005. Disregarding the nominate subspecies, it is the first giant panda subspecies to be recognized...
s, a sub-species of the giant panda
Giant Panda
The giant panda, or panda is a bear native to central-western and south western China. It is easily recognized by its large, distinctive black patches around the eyes, over the ears, and across its round body. Though it belongs to the order Carnivora, the panda's diet is 99% bamboo...
, which are protected in the region with the help of the Changqing and Foping nature reserve
Nature reserve
A nature reserve is a protected area of importance for wildlife, flora, fauna or features of geological or other special interest, which is reserved and managed for conservation and to provide special opportunities for study or research...
s. Around 200 giant pandas live in the region, estimated at around a fifth of the entire wild giant panda population. The mountains are also home to the Golden Takin
Takin
The Takin , also called cattle chamois or gnu goat, is a goat-antelope found in the Eastern Himalayas. There are four subspecies: B. taxicolor taxicolor, the Mishmi Takin; B. taxicolor bedfordi, the Shanxi or Golden Takin; B. taxicolor tibetana, the Tibetan or Sichuan Takin; and B. taxicolor...
(a species of Ox
Ox
An ox , also known as a bullock in Australia, New Zealand and India, is a bovine trained as a draft animal. Oxen are commonly castrated adult male cattle; castration makes the animals more tractable...
), Golden Pheasant
Golden Pheasant
The Golden Pheasant or "Chinese Pheasant", is a gamebird of the order Galliformes and the family Phasianidae...
, Golden Snub-nosed Monkey
Golden Snub-nosed Monkey
The golden snub-nosed monkey is an Old World monkey in the Colobinae subfamily. It is endemic to a small area in temperate, mountainous forests of central and Southwest China. The Chinese name is sichuan golden hair monkey . It is also widely referred to as the sichuan snub-nosed monkey...
, Temminck's Tragopan
Temminck's Tragopan
The Temminck's Tragopan, Tragopan temminckii is a medium-sized, approximately 64cm long, pheasant in the genus Tragopan. The male is a stocky red-and-orange bird with white-spotted plumage, black bill and pink legs. It has a bare blue facial skin, inflatable dark-blue lappet and horns...
, Crested Ibis
Crested Ibis
The Crested Ibis , also known as the Japanese Crested Ibis or Toki , is a large , white-plumaged ibis of pine forests. Its head is partially bare, showing red skin, and it has a dense crest of white plumes on the nape. This species is the only member of the genus Nipponia.Their habitat is usually...
, Golden Eagle
Golden Eagle
The Golden Eagle is one of the best known birds of prey in the Northern Hemisphere. Like all eagles, it belongs to the family Accipitridae. Once widespread across the Holarctic, it has disappeared from many of the more heavily populated areas...
, and Clouded Leopard
Clouded Leopard
The clouded leopard is a felid found from the Himalayan foothills through mainland Southeast Asia into China, and has been classified as vulnerable in 2008 by IUCN...
.