Qinling Mountains: Home to giant pandas

In comparison to the widely renowned giant pandas of Sichuan province, the Qinling giant pandas, represented by Qi Zai – the world's only captive brown giant panda – are relatively unknown.

While zoos are the go-to places to see giant pandas in Sichuan, do you know where to go in Shaanxi province if you wish to encounter these majestic creatures? Perhaps the only place would be their natural home – the Qinling Mountains.

With a round head, a short muzzle, and small ears, the Qinling giant pandas are aptly named "beauties among national treasures".

To date, wild brown giant pandas have been spotted 11 times in the Qinling Mountains region, indicating a considerable population of wild giant pandas in the area. This year, Shaanxi province has seen a string of news reports on wild giant panda sightings.

The wild giant panda population in the Qinling Mountains has increased from 273 to 345 individuals, accounting for 18.5 percent of the total national population of wild giant pandas.

With a habitat area of 3,606 square kilometers and a potential habitat area of 2,446 sq km, there are an average of 10 wild giant pandas per 100 sq km in the Qinling Mountain area, placing the region at the forefront in terms of encounter rates, population growth, and population density nationwide.

To create a more habitable environment for giant pandas and ensure the continuous expansion of the wild population, Shaanxi has implemented a series of measures.

Over 10 natural reserves focusing on giant panda conservation have been established in the Qinling Mountain region, alongside a number of research and education centers.

The Qinling Mountains are not just a home to giant pandas, but also to numerous other rare flora and fauna.

Shaanxi has been actively working to enhance biodiversity conservation in the Qinling Mountains. With their majesty and scale, the Qinling Mountains nurture an endless array of life, hosting an increasing number of wildlife species that thrive in this tranquil and mysterious ecological haven.