Sichuan Tangjiahe Nature Reserve, a world-class adventure destination, wildlife travel guide

Number of people: 2 people

Car type: mini countryman

Best travel time: Tangjiahe is suitable for summer vacation, but there are many people, so animals will hide at this time; September to April of the following year is a good time to observe wild animals. Winter is cold, but there are very few people in the scenic area, which is the best time to watch animals. Black bears begin to hibernate from about the end of November.

Route: Arrive at Tangjiahe Nature Reserve, Qingchuan County, Sichuan

Total kilometers: 82 kilometers, 2 hours and 50 minutes (No expressway)

Travel preparation:

1. Necessary clothing: Tangjiahe is cool in summer and cold in winter. When looking for wild animals, it is not advisable to choose clothes that are too bright in color; choose shoes that are suitable for long-distance hiking, are light and do not make noise easily. If traveling outside of winter, take anti-mosquito medication.

2. Daily necessities: There are no restaurants in the scenic area, so prepare full snacks, self-heating rice, and drinking water.

Tickets:

55 yuan in peak season, 27.5 yuan in off-season; free for those aged 60 and above; 30 yuan for sightseeing cars (non-tourists) Required)

Opening hours: 8:00-17:00

Recommended accommodation:

·Tangjiahe Hotel, standard rooms are 298 yuan in the off-season and 498 yuan in the peak season. Tangjiahe Hotel is located in the scenic area. If you need to observe and photograph wild animals at night, you must stay in the scenic area.

·B&B, Lao Pan’s Home, starting from 100 yuan. The B&B is outside the scenic area. If you re-enter the scenic area the next day, you need to purchase a new ticket.

·There are signboards everywhere in Tangjiahe, which are of great help in finding wild animals. Read the signs carefully, they will tell you about the animals that have been seen here.

·When observing wild animals, you must keep a distance from the animals, especially large animals such as Sichuan takin, and keep the distance at least 50 meters;

·In areas where monkeys are infested, do not hold food in your hands and take away food leftovers or packaging;

·Do not use flash when taking photos; do not feed or lure , do not chase;

· Just use the trails built for tourists in the scenic area, and pay attention to the mountains and forests on both sides.

Sichuan Takin

A national first-level protected animal. There are about 1,000 in Tangjiahe. Common animals here. Tangjiahe Scenic Area has mountains on both sides, a river in the middle, and the trail is sandwiched in the valley. Hiking along the river, Sichuan takin are afraid of heat, so they are easier to see in the morning and evening when the temperature is lower. They usually appear in the mountains and forests on both sides. The Sichuan takin has a bad temper, and its simple and honest appearance is just an illusion. It must be observed at a distance of more than 50 meters. If a Sichuan takin is approaching you, stay away and do not block the road.

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Little muntjac

A national third-level protected animal, it is also the most common animal in Tangjiahe. Of course, wild animals will not wait to greet tourists on the road, they still need to be discovered with your eyes. Little muntjacs may be found in the forests on both sides, in open grasslands, and on hillsides throughout the day. The little muntjac is also called the mountain barking deer, and its distinctive sign is its loud, rapid "wah wah wah" call. If such a sound echoes in the valley, it means that the muntjac is nearby. Pay attention to the fleeting shadows in the forest. Do not chase after any movement. Little muntjacs are very timid by nature and will run away immediately when frightened and disappear in an instant. Stand quietly, waiting for the little muntjac to appear. The defense ability of the muntjac is weak, but when encountering unavoidable danger, the male muntjac will go against the enemy with the sharp horns on its head, so observation still requires keeping a distance.

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Hooded deer

A national second-level protected animal, its nervousness and timidity are even worse than those of a small muntjac. The tufted deer is harder to spot than the muntjak and takin. Pay attention to the depths of the dense forest, such as the forest on both sides of the stream deep into the Monkey Valley. If there is a fleeting shadow, I am afraid it is already too late. Scan the forest from a distance, paying attention to medium-sized, blue-gray creatures.

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China Serow

A national second-level protected animal, the legendary auspicious beast, Jiang Ziya’s mount. The Chinese serow is a lone ranger. Because of its outstanding climbing ability, it often appears on steep slopes in mountains and forests. Serows generally do not run away when they see people, but they can be aggressive when frightened, so you must keep a distance of more than 50 meters for observation. Pay attention to the mixed coniferous and broad-leaved forests on the hillsides, which are frequent spots for serows. Ruxiangfei Forest Small Loop Trail is on the uphill slope.

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Hidden Emirati monkey

A national second-level protected animal, a unique species in China, and the largest species in the genus Macaque. The Monkey Valley is a place where Tibetan chief monkeys frequently appear. Once you enter the Monkey Valley, you may find it. When observing wild Tibetan emirates, do not hold food in your hands, let alone feed it. At present, the Tibetan chief monkeys in Tangjiahe Nature Reserve still retain relatively complete natural habits. Leftover food and garbage must be taken away and cannot be thrown into the trash can outside the Monkey Valley, as this will attract Tibetan Emirates to rummage.

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Iwamatsu Rat

A species unique to my country. When hiking in the primitive wild land, in addition to paying attention to the big guys, the little creatures are also very charming. Pay attention to the rock squirrels that appear and appear in the cracks in the rocks in the valley. If there is a slight movement, they will immediately shrink into the cracks and disappear.

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Eurasian otter

Eurasian otters often appear by the stream at night. If you want to observe Eurasian otters, you need to stay at the Tangjiahe Hotel in the scenic area.

Keep an eye out for streamside areas where schizothorax congregate, but sometimes civets show up.

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I stayed in Tangjiahe for three days. Animal sightings are just the tip of the iceberg. Tangjiahe has 72 species of nationally protected animals, 145 species of birds (please refer to the previous article), and 2422 species of plants. Therefore, it is easy and relatively cheap for wildlife lovers, bird lovers and plant lovers. A biological gene bank worth visiting again and again. I will go to Tangjiahe again this year. The coverage of animals in this guide is really crude. Everyone is welcome to add.