Because of protection measures, the mountain has become an oasis in a downtown area. It is among the first national key scenic spots and the only national nature reserve in Hunan.

It is also one of the few areas with well-preserved forest vegetation in subtropical China.

Photo shows a tourist scenic spot in the Hengshan Mountain. [Photo by Kuang Daiyong/For chinadaily]

Zhou Guiting, deputy director of Hengyang's Nanyue Forestry Bureau, said the unique geological landforms and the warm and humid climate have helped make Hengshan Mountain a refuge for many creatures, thus preserving many flagship species.

"Hengshan Mountain has an obvious vertical forest land spectrum, with ancient and famous trees all over it," he said.

Photo shows a silver pheasant foraging in the Hengshan Mountain. [Photo by Kuang Daiyong/For chinadaily]

The forest coverage rate of the scenic spot has reached nearly 92 percent, Zhou said.

Hengshan has 2,817 species of vascular plants belonging to 1,055 genera in 224 families, including 44 species of wild plants on the national key protection list, he said, with 7,539 ancient and famous trees under strict protection.

  Photo shows branches of a villous Chinese honey locust ( Gleditsia sinensis) in the Hengshan Mountain. [Photo by Kuang Daiyong/For chinadaily]

The villous Chinese honey locust (Gleditsia sinensis) is a unique flagship species in Hengshan Mountain. It was first discovered by botanists in 1954 and is listed as a national first-class key protected wild plant.

The local government has formulated a "one plant, one policy" protection scheme for nine wild villous Chinese honey locusts, Zhou said.

Photo shows a Chinese river-deer foraging in the Hengshan Mountain. [Photo by Kuang Daiyong/For chinadaily]

Photo shows a grey-faced buzzard eagle flying down from a tree in the Hengshan Mountain. [Photo by Kuang Daiyong/For chinadaily]

Source: China Daily