Established in 1980, the Reserve covers an area of 10470 hectares. It is created mainly for protection of brown-eared pheasant and warm temperate subalpine coniferous forests.

Among the most militant pheasants we may notice the magnificent eared pheasants. Rich in coloration of the feathers, these birds have an additional feature in brilliantly coloured areas of bare skin on the head and r neck, which are furthermore rendered conspicuous by being developed with " horn ". These " horns " can be erected at will, and look much larger

Brown-eared pheasant is peculiar to China. It resides mainly in Liiliang Mountain Chain at the western part of Shanxi, and in Little Wutai .Mountain at the western part of Hebei. Situated at the middle part of Liiliang Mountain, Pangquangou Nature Reserve lies at an altitude of over 1600m above sea level, its highest peak rises 2830m. Annual precipitation measures 800mm and frost free period is 100 to 130 days.

Brown—eared pheasants are habitants of forests of larch, dragon spruce and white birch. They generally mate in spring and then lay from eight to twelve eggs in April or May. The eggs are laid in a depression in the thicket floor or among furrpw, without any nest. They display great courage and affection in defence of their eggs or young. Their diet consists of pine seeds, grass roots, tree shoots and insects.

The Reserve supports a vast array of plant and animal resources. Dahurian larch, spruce, Chinese pine, red birch, white birch and needle fir are all valuable. In addition to brown-eared pheasant there are more than 180 species of wildlife, of which 29 species, including leopard, musk deer, golden eagle, etc. are under key state protection.