Situated in the two counties of Wudu and Wenxian on the east side of Minshan Mountains, Gansu Province, and covering an area of 210,000 hectares,the Baishuijiang River Nature Reserve was set up in 1978 for the protection of panda and natural ecosytems on which the giant pandas rely for existence. Located in the transition zone between the Palaearctic region and the Oriental region, the Reserve slopes from northwest to southeast in terrain with great disparity in climate, forming a very rich fauna and flora region system. The Reserve houses 265 species of vertebrates, of which 15 species are under the key national protection, such as giant panda, golden monkey, takin, golden pheasant, blue—eared pheasant, etc. There are 5 zones of vertical spectrum of vegetation as follows: with the rise of the terrain, there are, evergreen deciduous and broadleaf mixed forests, deciduous and broadleaf forests, mixed coniferous — broadleaf forests, coniferous forests and high mountain bushes or high mountain meadows. Among them 11 species of precious trees (English yew, tricuspid China fir, bacury, etc. ) are under the key national protection. Due to flourishing fountain bamboo here, pandas are living and multiplying smoothly. As a green treasure — house, the Reserve provides an ideal home for giant pandas.