Data Zone
Country/territory: China (mainland)
IBA criteria met: A1, A2, A3 (2009)
For more information about IBA criteria, please click here
Area: 44,391 hectares (443.91 km2)
Site description (2009 baseline)
Located in the western part of the Longmen Shan mountains, in the transitional area between the Sichuan Basin and the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau. The vegetation shows prominent vertical zonation, with broadleaf evergreen forest below 1,600 m, broadleaf evergreen-deciduous mixed forest at 1,600-1,900 m, coniferous-broadleaf mixed forest at 1,900-2,500 m, coniferous forest at 2,500-3,500 m, and alpine scrub and grassland above 3,500 m.
Key biodiversity
Non-bird biodiversity: Nationally protected plants include Davidia involucrate, Tetracentron sinense and Cathaya argyrophylla. Animals include Ailurpoda melanolenca, Pygathrix roxellanae, Panthera pardus, Neofelis nebulosa, Ailurus fulgens, Moschus berezovskii and Moschus sifanicus.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Xiaozhaizigou Nature Reserve (China (mainland)). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/xiaozhaizigou-nature-reserve-iba-china-(mainland) on 23/12/2024.