Min Mountains


Min Mountains or Minshan are a mountain range in central China. It runs in the general north-south direction through northern Sichuan and southernmost borderlands of Gansu. The highest elevation is Mount Xuebaoding, 5588 m and the second highest is Mt Little Xuebaoding, 5443m.

Geography

The Min mountain range is a southern prolongation of the Kunlun Mountains that separates the basins of two major rivers of Sichuan: the Min River and the Jialing River. Both rivers flow in the general southern direction, and are tributaries of the Yangtze.
The Min Mountains are part of a wider mountainous region:
According to the Records of the Grand Historian, the Xia Dynasty managed this mountain range as early as 2000 BC.
The Lazikou Pass, a site of strategical importance during the Long March, passes through the Min Mountains and connects northwestern Sichuan with southern Gansu.

Ecology

The characteristic ecosystem of the Min Mountains and the Qionglai Mountains has been described by the World Wildlife Fund as the Qionglai-Minshan conifer forests.
Important tourism and nature conservation objects in the Min Mountains include the Jiuzhaigou Valley Nature Reserve and the Huanglong Scenic and Historic Interest Area ; both are listed on the UNESCO World Heritage Sites list.