Walk on the wild side

By Chen Liang (China Daily)
Updated: 2009-06-24 17:17

The major tourist site in the park is at the end of the main road, an artificial lake called Tian Chi, or Heavenly Lake.

About 3 km further, on the lake’s bank, is Mingfeng Valley, or Phoenix Valley. Along a well-paved 2-km road visitors can explore a secondary tropical forest. Unfortunately, there are few animals (except a kind of red-bellied squirrel), or birds to see because of heavy poaching up until 10 year ago.

Tian Chi Resort is nearby. Staying here you are free to wander around and enjoy the peace, especially in the morning before day-trippers arrive.

At this time there is birdsong and assorted frogs and reptiles may make an appearance. You may even see a red jungle fowl cross the road. One guest was told “a big, shy cat” in a tree was a rare clouded leopard.

While there is little likelihood of being bothered by clouded leopards, mosquitoes and leeches can be a problem. It is wise to dress in a long-sleeved shirt and pants.

Another advantage of staying in the resort is you may get the opportunity to visit the reserve’s primitive forest, which is about 4 km away from the resort, on the opposite side of the lake. The resort manager, surnamed Zhao, may be able to arrange this.

The forest is dense but surprisingly quieter than Phoenix Valley. There are a few birds and squirrels, more frogs, reptiles and more leeches, so many in fact there is even a 200-m “leech path”.

There is a small platform in the forest. A fire watch tower erects on the platform, from which you can view the forest canopy and lake. Here you may see woodpeckers, barbets, minivets and nuthatches. Even giant squirrels might make an appearance.

You cannot dally too long as you will need some time to get back and avoid all those leeches on the way down.

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