Hengduan Mountains, Mountain range in southwestern China
The Hengduan Mountains form a mountain range stretching across southwestern China through portions of three provinces, with peaks rising above 7,500 meters. Parallel river valleys cut through the ridges, creating deep corridors of steep terrain and lush vegetation.
The mountain range formed roughly 55 million years ago when the Indian Plate collided with the Eurasian Plate. This tectonic event shaped the uplift and created the river systems that define the landscape today.
Multiple ethnic minority communities live at different elevations throughout the mountains, each with their own languages and customs visible in local architecture and daily practices. These traditions shape how settlements are organized and how people use the landscape around them.
The cities of Chengdu and Kunming serve as the main entry points for exploring the mountains, offering good road connections and local services. Spring and autumn provide the most comfortable weather for trekking and traveling through the region.
The region is home to around 12,000 plant species, with more than 3,500 found nowhere else in the world. This biodiversity makes it one of the world's most significant botanical centers.
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