Rare 'living fossil' stands tall

One curious attraction among the relatively untouched surroundings of Miaotang is the largest known Chinese fir in Asia and second worldwide. Experts from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations visited the area in 2005 and estimated the tree's age to be around 1,200 years, conferring its title as a 'living fossil.'

Another intriguing feature is that the fir now stands virtually alone in the midst of a giant construction site as work on the Miaotang Reservoir gathers pace ahead of its projected completion in 2025. While this major infrastructure project commenced following the relocation of local villagers, the potential loss of this irreplaceable landmark has been averted thanks to being incorporated into the overall construction process.

In recent years, ecological restoration has been a key trend that has proceeded in harmony with swift economic development. Since the relocation of Miaotang first began, the establishment of Wulipo Nature Reserve was later announced by the State Department among 21 such reserves nationwide in June 2013. Following efforts to restore the natural environment, the reserve now has 3000 hectares of primeval forest and 300 hectares of prime meadows. These are now home to many rare plants, trees, and nationally protected animal species.

Meanwhile, the new Miaotang Reservoir under construction is set to provide freshwater resources for cities and towns while providing rural dwellers with water for drinking and irrigation. Similar to the nearby Zhongzuipo Reservoir that provides hydro-power on the Houxi River, it will hold 10.64 million cubic meters of pristine water behind a concrete-steel dam 107 meters high and will play a vital role in further poverty alleviation and improvements to the lives of people in Wushan.