Gansu Baishuijiang National Nature Reserve (甘肅白水江國家級自然保護(hù)區(qū))
Established in 1978, Baishuijiang National Nature Reserve is located in Wenxian County, south of Gansu Province. The whole preservation zone is in the shape of a ribbon, 110 kilometers long east to west and 20 kilometers wide north to south. Covering an area of 183,799 hectares, the reserve is by now the largest reserve in the country and even in the world for the protection of giant pandas, and other rare wildlife. It was formally included in the Man and the Biosphere Program (MAB) of UNESCO in 2000.
The mild temperature, abundant rain, luxuriant forests and good ecological environment prove to be an ideal place for the growing of 11 types of bamboo – including giant pandas' favorite four types -- an encouraging sign that giant pandas can live and multiply well here.
The number of pandas living in the reserve has reached 140, accounting for 10 percent of the total number in China.