Baotaishan National Forest Park in Yongping County, Dali

Yunnan Baotaishan National Forest Park (云南宝台山国家森林公园) is located in the southwest of Yongping County (永平县), Dali Bai Autonomous Prefecture (大理白族自治州), Yunnan Province (云南省). Its geographic coordinates are between 99°27′–99°36′ E and 25°07′–25°14′ N, covering a planned total area of 1,047 hectares.

Situated within the Boshanshan section of the Yunling Mountains (云岭山脉博南山), the park features mid-mountain landforms with terrain sloping from north to south. Its highest peak, Mulianghua Mountain (木莲花山), reaches an elevation of 2,913 meters. The park lies in the north subtropical monsoon climate zone of the plateau, with a vegetation coverage rate of 96.68%. It is dominated by evergreen broad-leaved forests and contains over 1,000 species of plants.

On December 23, 2005, the State Forestry Administration officially approved the establishment of Yunnan Baotaishan National Forest Park.

Geographic Location

Yunnan Baotaishan National Forest Park is situated 63 kilometers southwest of Yongping County (永平县), 151 kilometers from Dali City (大理市), and 479 kilometers from Kunming City (昆明市). It borders Shuixie Township (水泄乡), Shanyang Township (杉阳乡), and Changjie Township (厂街乡) to the east, west, and north, respectively, and faces Longyang District (隆阳区) and Changning County (昌宁县) across the Lancang River (澜沧江) to the southwest.

The park lies within the northern experimental area of the provincial-level Jingguangsi Nature Reserve (金光寺自然保护区), with a total area of 1,047 hectares.

Topography and Geomorphology

Located between the Boshanshan (博南山) and Yuntaishan (云台山) ranges, the terrain of the park descends from the northwest to the southeast. The highest elevation point is the peak of Mulianghua Mountain (木莲花山) at 2,913 meters, while the lowest point is along the banks of the Lancang River (澜沧江) at 1,120 meters. Soil types include brown soil, yellow-brown soil, purple soil, paddy soil, and alluvial soil.

Climate Conditions

The park belongs to the plateau north subtropical monsoon climate zone, influenced by the warm and moist equatorial air mass from the Indian Ocean and the hot and dry continental air mass from northern India. It has distinct wet and dry seasons, with precipitation concentrated in the rainy season. The annual average temperature ranges between 12–14°C. January is the coldest month (1–3°C), and June is the warmest (15–17°C).

Natural Resources

Flora

The vegetation is mainly evergreen broad-leaved forest, featuring 1,001 plant species. These include:

• 22 families, 41 genera, and 90 species of ferns
• 134 families, 443 genera, and 911 species of seed plants
• 117 families and 439 species of medicinal plants

Representative species include:

• Manglietia tibetica (滇藏木莲)
• Michelia velutina (绒叶含笑)
• Tetracentron sinense (水青树)
• Pterocarya stenoptera (云南枫杨)
• Lindera megaphylla (厚皮香)
• Vaccinium bracteatum (南烛)
• Wild camellia (野山茶)
• Pinus yunnanensis (云南松)
• Pinus armandii (华山松)
• Juglans mandshurica (泡核桃)
• Vernicia fordii (油桐)
• Docynia indica (白木瓜)
• Gastrodia elata (天麻)
• Panax notoginseng (三七)
• Poria cocos (茯苓)

Nationally protected species include Manglietia tibetica (滇藏木莲), Rhododendron giganteum (大树杜鹃), Camellia reticulata (云南山茶), and Tetracentron sinense (水青树).

Fauna

The park is home to various animals such as:

• Leopard (金钱豹)
• Golden monkey (金丝猴)
• Wild donkey (山驴)
• Black bear (黑熊)
• Green peacock (绿孔雀)
• Golden pheasant (锦鸡)
• Fireback pheasant (凤凰鸡)

Over 30 species of wildlife found here are listed under national first- and second-level protection.

Major Attractions

Buddhist Sacred Area

Located in the eastern part of the park and north of the Zuihong Path (醉红道), this area highlights Buddhist cultural sites such as:

• Jingguangsi (金光寺): Built in 1628 (Chongzhen Era), it was known as the “Great Qing Lotus Maitreya Site of Western Yunnan.”
• Jinpingshi (金屏室)
• Pagodas for monks and nuns from different dynasties

Jingguangsi also houses the stele “Record of Master Yuhan’s Deeds” (《宝台法主临济下第三十八世玉汉和尚功行记碑》).

Forest Ecology Experience Zone

Located at the northwestern tip of the park in the upper reaches of the Xiannü River (仙女河), it extends from the boundary of the reserve’s experimental zone in the north to the Xiannü River in the south, from Yaopengzi Ridge (腰棚子山脊) in the west to the Rhododendron Scenic Area in the east.

Rhododendron Scenic Area

Located on the eastern side of the park and south of Zuihong Path (醉红道), this area features large groves of Rhododendron giganteum (大树杜鹃).

Development and Infrastructure

Infrastructure

Since December 2012, Yongping County has implemented infrastructure projects to protect the cultural and natural heritage of the park, including road improvements, fire safety, sanitation facilities, and educational exhibition halls.

Honors and Designations

• In March 1994, Baotaishan was designated as a provincial-level nature reserve by the Yunnan Provincial Government.
• In December 2005, it was officially approved as a national forest park by the State Forestry Administration.

Transportation

External Transportation

The park is 63 kilometers from the Dali–Baoshan Expressway. The road from Changjie Township (厂街乡) to the park entrance is gravel.

Internal Transportation

• A 1.38-kilometer concrete path connects the reserve management office to Jingguangsi (金光寺).
• An 830-meter cobblestone path links Jingguangsi to Xishen River (洗身河).

Travel Routes

1. Park entrance → Fangniudao (放牛道) → Campsite → Lotus Pond (莲池) → Jingguangsi (金光寺) → Mulian Restaurant (木莲饭店/管理所) → Visitor Service Area
2. Qingjing An Ruins (清静庵遗址) → Walnut Orchard (万亩核桃园) → Huiguang Temple (慧光寺) → Visitor Service Area
3. Park entrance → Mulian Restaurant (木莲饭店) → Jingguangsi (金光寺) → Lotus Pond → Xiannü River (仙女河) → Yaopengzi Ridge (腰棚子山脊)