Lying at the west bank of Nujiang River, Gaoligongshan National Nature Reserve has developed in the renowned great fault longitudinal valley, the western block of Hengduan Mountains and the suture line zone for the collision and subduction between Indian Plate and Eurasian Plate. The hills are towering, slopes are steep and valleys deep, presenting a vertical altitude difference of over 4,000m. In the past millions of years, the Nature has created with uncanny workmanship many a spectacular views for Gaoligong mountains, including splashing milky way, high peaks and grotesque rocks, pass of stone gate and valley wall etc. The peculiar landform brings the climates of tropical, temperate and cold zones, forming the amazing three-dimensional view of “height of spring at the foot of mountain, chilly winter on the top, four seasons in one hill, weather differs from area to area”. The reserve still hosts multiple historic sites like the ancient “south silk road” developed by generations and west Yunnan battlefield in WWII. 

Gaoligongshan National Nature Reserve, with a total area of 120,000 hectares (9km wide  E-W, 135km long S-N) and a forest coverage rate of 85%, is considered a bright pearl of Hengduan Mountains. Hosting over 5,000 flora and fauna, it is listed as a “biodiversity reserve” by UNESCO and a class A reserve by WWF. In 1919, British biologist George Foresst sawed a tree with age of 280 years and circumference of 2.6m in Gaoligong Mountain, carried the trunk back to Britain, and displayed it in British Museum with a name of “specimen of king Rhododendron Prostum Var. Giganteum”. Through investigation, however, the title of “king” should go to another tree in Gaoligong Mountain, with a base diameter of 3.07m. Gaoligong Mountain is still closely linked to the history of Tengchong County, for both the Ancient South Silk Road and Stilwell Road built in WWII penetrate through the mountain, telling the people about the past history and tragic stories.