Ecology has been an important topic in China for years. In Tianmu Mountain area, local authorities has been attaching great importance to ecological protection.

Tianmu Mountain lies within the borders of Lin’an district, 84 km west of downtown Hangzhou. Part of the mountain has been preserved as the Tianmu Mountain National Nature Reserve, which become part of UNESCO’s World Network of Biosphere Reserves.

Reaching an elevation of 1,506 meters, Tianmu Mountain has eastern and western peaks, each topped with a permanent pond. Tianmu Mountain, literally meaning “eyes-that-face-heaven mountain”, gets its name from this set of ponds. The mountain is notable for its canopy of large trees and treasure-trove of biodiversity. It boasts awe-inspiring sights such as rare forests of large Japanese cedars and the only wild population of ginkgo trees in the world. It is a vital habitat for rare and endangered birds.