Flower lover finds perfect time to follow orchids as they bloom

Each June, Zou Tao begins reaching out to his contacts at the Wanglang National Nature Reserve in Pingwu county, Sichuan province, to monitor the growth of various orchid species, such as the Cypripedium palangshanense and the rare black orchid, Risleya atropurpurea.

"I want to know when they will be in full bloom," he said.

At 37, Zou is not only a wildlife photographer based in Chengdu, the capital of Sichuan, but also a nature tour leader. Wanglang is the highlight of his annual tours, showcasing the orchids of the Minshan Mountain range in northern Sichuan. Once he receives word that the orchids are at their peak, Zou sets off on his tour to Wanglang.

As an experienced botany enthusiast, he has participated in numerous botanical surveys and photography expeditions throughout Southwest China, a region renowned for its rich biodiversity.

His familiarity with the area's diverse flora and fauna makes him an expert guide. Among the various destinations for his nature tours, Wanglang holds a special place in his heart.

Zou's connection with Wanglang began in 2012, when a chance encounter with a few orchids sparked his enduring passion.

"I believe that was the start of my flower-hunting journey in Wanglang," he said. However, it wasn't until 2019 that he began leading tours, eager to share his enthusiasm with others.

The year 2018 marked a turning point for Zou. As a contract photographer for Chengdu's nature photography website, Swild.cn, he spent a lot of time exploring Wanglang, capturing the reserve's vibrant ecosystem for a documentary. This immersion unveiled a secret he hadn't fully appreciated: the incredible diversity of Wanglang's orchids.

Since 2012, Zou estimates he has visited Wanglang over 20 times. Over these years, he has successfully documented nearly 50 of the 60 known orchid species within the reserve.

"Most of the orchid species found in the Minshan Mountain range can be discovered in Wanglang," he said.

Since 2019, Zou has been leading small groups of nature enthusiasts to Wanglang annually, between June and July.

"I organize one group a year, timing our visit when the orchids are in full bloom and at their most splendid," he said.

He intentionally keeps the groups small, typically under 12 people, to ensure in-depth experiences, adhering to the principles of sustainable ecotourism.

"We emphasize respect for the environment, the culture and the local ethnic groups. And we ensure our tourism practices are sustainable," he said.

Each tour spends nearly three days exploring Wanglang. In that short time, his guests typically witness nearly 40 orchid species in full bloom. "Nowhere else in China, not even in the tropical and subtropical forests with a higher concentration of orchids, can you see so many species blooming at once in such a short time," Zou said. "In this regard, Wanglang has very few competitors."

Beyond the sheer number of species, Wanglang boasts a remarkable variety of Cypripedium orchids, also known as lady's slipper orchids. Of the 50 or so species of lady's slipper orchids in the world, China lays claim to roughly 35 or 36, with Sichuan being the most diverse region in the country, hosting 23 species. The Minshan Mountain range, where Wanglang is nestled, is home to nearly 20 of them.

"Every year, between June and July, is the peak blooming season for the lady's slipper of the Minshan Mountains," Zou said. "That's when we go to Wanglang and the surrounding areas. We can usually see around 11 or 12 lady's slipper species, including the nine found within Wanglang itself."

For orchid enthusiasts, lady's slippers are a highly prized sighting. "Lady's slippers are a group that everyone wants to see," Zou said. "The allure of seeing over 10 species at once is irresistible to most flower lovers."

Wanglang's appeal to nature tour groups also lies in its exceptional infrastructure. "In Wanglang, you can stay comfortably. And the scenic area has shuttle buses that can take you to the places with the most orchids," Zou said.

"The places where you can see various orchids are very accessible, and you don't need to hike long distances. Logistically speaking, Wanglang is a place where you can stay comfortably and see flowers easily."

In recent years, thanks to the development in the Giant Panda National Park, Wanglang's infrastructure has improved significantly, especially its interpretive system of natural history.

"There you can get a feeling of being in a national park in the western United States," Zou said.