Below the summit pinnacles, the forest of Fanjingshan descends through distinct altitude bands: red fir and birch at the upper elevations, transitioning to subtropical mixed forest with an extraordinary density of species as you drop below the treeline. The mountain is one of the most biodiverse temperate forest environments in Asia — over 2,000 vascular plant species, including the Fanjingshan fir found nowhere else, and animal life from the Guizhou snub-nosed monkey in the canopy to salamanders and invertebrates in the stream systems.
The cloud forest experience is best on the approach trails below the cable car, where the path moves through mature woodland with mosses and ferns on every surface and periodic openings showing the mist-covered valley below. Morning, before the light has fully penetrated, gives the forest a quality that photographers find maddening — too dark for sharp images, exactly right for the atmosphere. The footbridges over the streams on the lower trails pass over clear mountain water running over moss-covered stones.
The Fanjingshan National Nature Reserve, established in 1978, covers the mountain and its immediate surroundings. Entry to the nature reserve is included in the main scenic area ticket, but the hiking paths are distinct from the tourist infrastructure around the cable car and summit. Ask at the base for trail maps showing the lower forest routes.