Last update 23 Nov 2007
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From the Qinling Panda Focal Project published by the WWF:
Qinling: home of the giant panda
The Qinling Mountains lie in the middle of China, extending from Gansu Province in the west to Henan Province in the east. It is the watershed of China's tow main rivers, the yangtze and the Yellow River, and is the demarcation between north and south China in terms of geography an climate. Located 106°05’ ~ 111°05’ and 32°40’ ~ 34°35’ with a total area of 52,000 sq Km, the Qinling Mountains in Shaanxi Province are one of the sources of mystery and awe that live in the minds of those who have seen pictures of or visited the region. Rugged, yet lushly covered, mountains push through clouds in ridges, like the backs of slumbering dragons. The mountains and abundant rainfall allow for an area that has extremely high biodiversity. Under its protection, Guanzhong Plain (where Xi'an, the capital of 13 Chinese dynasties, is located) became the cradle of Chinese culture. The slope are home to a number of the world's endangered animals including the golden monkey, takin, crested ibis, golden eagle, and clouded leopard. It is also one of the few natural habitats that support China's nations symbol: the giant panda.
WWF China e-tour of the Qinling Mountains: http://www.wwfchina.org/english/pandacentral/htm/wwf_at_work/qinling_etour/ql_etour_1.htm