Longshan National Forest Park
National forest park in Hunan with high biodiversity.
Longshan National Forest Park, whose Chinese name means "Dragon Mountains," sits in Yangshi Town, Lianyuan, Hunan. It is also referred to as Hunan Baili Longshan Longshan National Forest Park. The park lies in southern Lianyuan, bordering Hetang Town to the southeast, Maotang Town to the southwest, Fengping Town to the north, and Louxing District of Loudi to the east. Its total area is 131.21 square kilometers.
The Hunan Provincial Forestry Department first made it a provincial forest park in 1992. In 2006, the State Forestry Administration upgraded it to a national forest park. Four years later, in 2010, the park absorbed the Longshan area of Xinshao County and adopted its current longer name.
The park’s highest point is Yueping Peak, which rises 1,513.6 meters above sea level. Within the park, the Fengshukeng Reservoir covers 800,000 square meters and offers fishing and boating. Construction on the reservoir began in 1975 and finished in 1979.
The park supports a subtropical evergreen broad-leaved forest, rich in plant and animal life. It hosts 164 mammal species, including 12 under class II national protection, such as the golden pheasant, Chinese sparrowhawk, and hoplobatrachus tigerinus. Forest coverage approaches 100 percent. More than 1,672 plant species grow here, with 54 listed as nationally key protected plants.
On the mountaintop stands the Palace of the King of Medicine, a Taoist temple built in 1774 during the Qianlong period of the Qing dynasty.
A 5D glass bridge opened to the public on July 10, 2018. Construction ran from February to July of that year. The bridge is 198.8 meters long, 2 meters wide, and hangs about 118 meters above the ground.
- location
- Yangshi Town, Lianyuan, Hunan, China
- area
- 131.21 square kilometers (50.66 sq mi)
- highest_point
- Yueping Peak, 1,513.6 meters (4,966 ft)
- designated_provincial_park
- 1992
- designated_national_park
- 2006
- forest_coverage
- nearly 100%
- notable_feature
- Palace of the King of Medicine (built 1774)
Lore & Background
Longshan National Forest Park was initially established as a provincial forest park in 1992 by the Hunan Provincial Forestry Department. In 2006, it was reclassified as a national forest park by the State Forestry Administration. The park's name was changed to Hunan Baili Longshan Longshan National Forest Park in 2010 after the Longshan area of Xinshao County was merged into it.
The park's geography includes Yueping Peak, the highest point at 1,513.6 meters above sea level, and the Fengshukeng Reservoir, which was constructed between 1975 and 1979 and covers a surface area of 800,000 square meters. A Taoist temple, the Palace of the King of Medicine, was built on the mountaintop in 1774 during the Qianlong period of the Qing dynasty.
The park features a 5D glass bridge that opened to the public on July 10, 2018. Construction of the bridge began in February 2018 and was completed in July 2018. It measures 198.8 meters in length and 2 meters in width, suspended about 118 meters above the ground.
Reader's Guide
Longshan National Forest Park is significant for its high biodiversity and conservation value. It contains a subtropical evergreen broad-leaved forest with a forest coverage rate of nearly 100%. The park hosts 164 species of mammals, including 12 species under class II national protection such as the golden pheasant, Chinese sparrowhawk, and hoplobatrachus tigerinus. It also cultivates more than 1,672 plant species, of which 54 are nationally key protected plants. The park's designation as a national forest park in 2006 underscores its importance for ecological preservation and scientific research. Its historical site, the Palace of the King of Medicine, adds cultural value, while the 5D glass bridge serves as a modern tourist attraction. The park's expansion in 2010 reflects ongoing efforts to consolidate protected areas in the region.
Did You Know?
- The park was originally designated as a provincial forest park in 1992.
- Yueping Peak, the highest point, stands 1,513.6 meters above sea level.
- The Palace of the King of Medicine was built in 1774 during the Qing dynasty.
- The 5D glass bridge opened on July 10, 2018, and is 198.8 meters long.
- The golden pheasant and Chinese sparrowhawk are birds, not mammals—the park's mammal list includes other species under class II protection.
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