A state natural reserve within the territory of Lin'an City which is under the jurisdiction of
Hangzhou, the Tianmu Mountains is an international "Human and Biosphere" ecological forest zone, centered around the West Tianmu Mountains, 1,506 meters in altitude and 90 km away from Hangzhou. The Tianmu Mountains is full of thick plants, with many living species, among them there are 2,160 higher plants, 74 mammals and 148 birds, and numerous amphibians, reptiles and insects.
The forest in the Tianmu Mountains is very unique. Being old, big, high, rare and numerous, it is unparalleled in the world. The colony of Japan cedars is seldom seen either at home of abroad, 20 of them being 200 cm or more in diameter of breast height, one of which is the "Tree King", dubbed by Emperor Qianlong of the Qing Dynasty.
There are also many historical relics in the Tianmu Mountains, thich was regarded as "the 34 th fascinating place" in Taoism. Legend says that the important figure of Taoism, Zhang Daoling of the Han Dynasty, referred to as Master Zhang by later generations, was born in this place, where one can see the ruins of Zhang's residence and the pit in which he made his pills of immortality. The Tianmu Mountains was also the place where the Buddhist Linji Sect found its resurgence.
