The Zhangjiajie National Forest Park in central China's Hunan Province is famous for its precarious peaks, limpid streams, dense forests, and giant karst caves.

Despite being far off the beaten path, on the steep cliffs and mountaintops of Zhangjiajie, the wuling pine still manages to draw people's attention. The plant is known for its ability to grow and thrive on the most precarious rock faces.

Its roots secrete a kind of acidoid that dissolves the rocks and absorbs nourishment from them, requiring very little water to grow in difficult terrains. 

The plant species, native to the incredibly beautiful forest park, was found and named by Professor Qi Chengjing in 1988.  

From the wetlands along the coast to the dense rainforests hidden in the southwest of China, all boast an array of plant species. In this series, we will go on a tour to learn about some of the most representative flora in different provinces and see how they live in harmony with the local geography and climate.

(Cover image provided by CGTN Nature film crew, designed by CGTN's Yu Peng. Video provided by CGTN Nature film crew, edited by CGTN's Zhao Ying.)

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