The ancient trees of Mang Mountain are recorded in their growth rings

Located in the Wuling Mountains of Yizhang County, Hunan Province, Mang Mountain is one of the most well-preserved primitive forest areas in the Nanling Mountain Range and the largest national forest park in Hunan. It was designated as a national nature reserve in 1994. With its towering peaks and dense forests, the vegetation here shows distinct vertical zonation from elevations of 400 meters to over 1,900 meters, featuring evergreen broad-leaved forests, alpine dwarf forests, and mixed coniferous-broadleaf forests. The area boasts diverse tree species, including numerous ancient trees with majestic forms, some dating back hundreds or even thousands of years. During visits, you can see a 1,200-year-old Fagus longipetiolata (a nationally protected Class I tree) outside Guanyin Ancient Temple in Tiantai Mountain Scenic Area, a 1,000-year-old rhododendron (also a Class I protected tree) at the Rhododendron Viewing Platform, and along the plank road by the mountain stream in General's Fort Scenic Area, a Fokienia hodginsii (a nationally protected Class II species) that has grown tenaciously for thousands of years with its roots deeply embedded in rock crevices... No wonder Mang Mountain is called the "Green Heart of Nanling" and the "Natural Arboretum of Southern China."