China

Covering an immense area from the icy forests of the Russian border to the tropical rainforests of Southeast Asia, China is one of the world’s most biodiverse countries and among the most rewarding wildlife destinations on the planet. Its extraordinary geographical diversity includes the towering Himalayas, the Tibetan Plateau, vast deserts, temperate forests, subtropical mountains, bamboo woodlands, extensive wetlands and more than 18,000 kilometres of coastline. This remarkable variety of ecosystems supports an exceptional concentration of endemic and globally threatened species found nowhere else on Earth.

China is internationally renowned for its iconic mammals. The country is the last refuge of the Giant Panda, while its mountains shelter elusive species such as the Snow Leopard, Golden Snub-nosed Monkey, Red Panda, Chinese Goral and Takin. Dense forests provide habitat for Asiatic Black Bears, clouded leopards and an extraordinary diversity of smaller mammals, while the remote Tibetan Plateau supports Tibetan Wolves, Wild Yaks and Tibetan Antelope roaming some of the highest landscapes on Earth.

For birdwatchers, China is equally spectacular. With more than 1,500 bird species recorded, it ranks among the richest countries in Asia for avian diversity. Its position between the East Asian-Australasian Flyway and the Central Asian Flyway makes it a critical migration corridor, attracting millions of birds every spring and autumn. Ancient forests echo with pheasants and laughingthrushes, alpine meadows host cranes and snowcocks, while coastal wetlands provide vital stopover sites for globally threatened shorebirds. China is particularly famous for spectacular endemic species such as the Golden Pheasant, Chinese Monal, Crested Ibis and Sichuan Jay, as well as numerous rare laughingthrushes, parrotbills and leaf warblers.

The country’s protected area network has expanded dramatically in recent decades, culminating in the creation of the Giant Panda National Park, one of the largest protected areas in the world. Alongside reserves such as Wolong, Tangjiahe, Yading, Zhalong and the forests of northeast China, these landscapes preserve some of Asia’s last great wildernesses. Whether exploring bamboo forests in Sichuan, alpine valleys on the Tibetan Plateau, tropical jungles in Yunnan or the coastal mudflats of the Yellow Sea, China offers unparalleled opportunities to experience one of the richest concentrations of wildlife anywhere on the planet.