Tangjiahe B&B recommendations

Number of people: 2 people

Model: Mini Countryman

Best travel time: Tangjiahe is suitable for summer, but there are many people and animals will hide at this time ; September to April of the next year is a good time to observe wild animals. Winter is cold, but there are few people in the scenic area, so it is the best time to see animals. Beginning in late November, black bears begin to hibernate.

Route: Arrive at Tangjiahe Nature Reserve in Qingchuan County, Sichuan Province.

Total kilometers: 82 kilometers, 2 hours and 50 minutes (excluding highways)

Travel preparation:

1. Necessary clothing: Tangjiahe is cool in summer. Winter is cold. When looking for wild animals, don’t choose clothes that are too bright in color; choose light and quiet shoes that are suitable for long-distance hiking. If traveling outside of winter, use anti-mosquito medication.

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

Tickets:

RMB 55 in peak season, RMB 27.5 in off-season; free for those aged 60 and above; sightseeing bus (optional)

Opening hours: 8:00- 17:00

Recommended accommodation:

Tangjiahe Hotel, standard room is 298 yuan in low season and 498 yuan in 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. Outside the hotel, if you re-enter the scenic spot the next day, you need to purchase a new ticket.

There are signs everywhere in Tangjiahe, which are very helpful in finding wild animals. Look carefully at the sign, there will be animals that have appeared here.

Observe the distance between wild animals, especially large animals such as Sichuan takin, and keep a distance of more than 50 meters;

Do not take your hands away from monkeys. Take the remaining food away and pack it;

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

Use the trails built for tourists in the scenic area, and pay attention to both sides of mountains.

Sichuan Antelope

There are about 1,000 antelopes in Tangjiahe. It is a national first-class protected animal and is also a common animal here. Tangjiahe Scenic Area is surrounded by mountains on both sides and a river in the middle. The trails are sandwiched in the valley. Along the river, Sichuan takin are afraid of heat, so they are easier to see in the morning and evening when the temperature is low, and they usually appear in the mountains on both sides. Sichuan takin have a bad temper, and their honest appearance is just an illusion. It should be observed from a distance of more than 50 meters. If a Sichuan takin comes towards you, stay away from it and stay out of the way.

Danger index:

Witness possibility:

Little water chestnut

A third-level protected animal, it is also the most common animal in Tangjiahe. Of course, wildlife won’t be waiting to greet visitors on the road, but it still requires your eyes to spot it. Muntjacs can be found throughout the day in the forests on both sides, in open meadows, and on hillsides. The little muntjac, also known as the mountain bark deer, is identified by its rough and fast "wow-wow-wow" call. If there is such a sound in the valley, it means that the muntjac is nearby. Notice those flickering shadows in the forest. If you spot movement, don't chase it. Little muntjacs are naturally timid. When frightened, it will run away immediately and disappear in an instant. Stand still and wait for the little muntjac to appear. The defense ability of the barking deer is weak, but when encountering unavoidable danger, the male barking deer will go against the enemy with the sharp horns on its head, so you should keep a distance when observing.

Danger index:

Witness possibility:

Reckless

Nationally protected animals are more neurotic and timid than muntjacs. Crowned deer are harder to find than muntjac and takin. Pay attention to the deeper parts of the forest, such as the forest on both sides of the creek deep into Monkey Valley. If there is a fleeting shadow, it may be too late. Scan the distant forest for medium-sized and blue-gray creatures.

Danger index:

Witness possibility:

Chinese gazelle

National second-level protected animal, the legendary auspicious beast, Jiang Ziya's mount. The Chinese gazelle is a lone ranger. Due to its outstanding climbing ability, it is often found on steep slopes in mountains and forests. Generally speaking, gazelles will not run away from people, but they will become aggressive when frightened, so they need to keep a distance of more than 50 meters. Pay attention to the mixed coniferous and broadleaf forest on the hillside, which is a high frequency spot for gazelles. Such as the Feixiang Forest small circular trail on the uphill slope.

Danger index:

Witness possibility:

Tibetan monkey

National second-level protected animal, unique to China, is the largest macaque species. Monkey Valley is a frequented place for Tibetan chieftain monkeys. You may find it once you enter Monkey Valley. To observe wild Tibetan toast monkeys, do not hold food in your hands and do not eat it. At present, the Tibetan chieftain monkeys in Tangjiahe Nature Reserve still have relatively complete natural habits. Leftover food and garbage should be taken away and should not be placed in the trash can outside the Monkey Valley, as this will attract Tibetan monkeys to rummage.

Danger index:

Witness possibility:

Rock squirrel

Species endemic to China. Walking on the pristine wilderness, in addition to paying attention to the big ones, the small creatures are also fascinating. Pay attention to the stone crevices in the valley. The rock squirrels there are very vigilant and will immediately retract into the stone crevices at the slightest movement and disappear again.

Danger Index:

Visiting Likelihood:

Eurasian Otter

Eurasian otters often visit streams at night. If you want to observe Eurasian otters, you need to stay at the Tangjiahe Hotel in the scenic area. Watch out for streams where schizothorax congregate, but civets may also appear on occasion.

Danger index:

Possibility of witnessing:

After three days in Tangjiahe, the animals I saw were 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 2,422 species of plants. Therefore, for wildlife lovers, bird lovers, and plant lovers, it is an easy-to-access, relatively cheap biological gene bank worth visiting again and again. I will go to Tangjiahe again this year. This guide's introduction to animals is really simple. Additions are welcome.