Wild Sichuan: Photographing rare mountain species (China series: Part 2)

6 hours ago 2

Photo: Erez Marom

In the previous article about photographing mammals in China, I told the story of photographing black-and-white snub-nosed monkeys in Yunnan – the first of two species of snub-nosed monkeys I had the opportunity to capture. I'll tell you about the second species in the next article, but before we get to that, I'd like to tell you about a couple of pit stops I made to shoot other kinds of mammals.

Photo: Erez Marom

The pit stop was mainly planned to make use of a day that would otherwise be dedicated to driving. Tangjiahe National Nature Reserve, a renowned 40,000-hectare biodiversity hotspot in Qingchuan County, Sichuan Province, was on my route and allowed me to spend more time shooting, even if it was a very short visit. Tangjiahe is recognized globally as a premier spot for wildlife viewing, and the landscapes on the way – and in the park – are breathtakingly beautiful.

Upon entering, I was greeted by a face only a mother could love: that of a very aggressive Tibetan macaque. The macaques are far from shy and are known to harass human visitors, meaning that one must approach them with caution. I got my fair share of aggressive grinning behavior and decided to retreat before getting into an actual fight with a monkey and ruining the rest of the trip.

I found it hard to make out this look by the Tibetan Macaque. One second, it was quiet; the next, it gave me the feeling that I was asking for trouble. In any case, I loved how colorful its face was.

Tangjiahe National Nature Reserve, China

Canon EOS R5 II | Canon RF 24-105mm F4 L IS USM | ISO 200 | 1/400 sec | F4
Photo: Erez Marom

Tangjiahe is home to a wide selection of mammal species. While not all of them are that exciting, I found a lot of pleasure in viewing and shooting things I don't usually take an interest in, specifically ungulates. I found a few muntjac (barking deer) gently grazing the mountain slopes.

Reeves's Muntjacs are roughly the size of a medium dog, featuring distinct facial markings, long canine tusks in males, and a tendency to be solitary, nocturnal herbivores.

Tangjiahe National Nature Reserve, China

Canon EOS R5 II | Canon RF 100-500mm F4.5-7.1 L IS USM | ISO 1600 | 1/250 sec | F7.1
Photo: Erez Marom

A more visually-interesting animal was the Sichuan takin - a large, muscular mountain ungulate native to the eastern Himalayas and the mountainous forests of southwestern China, especially in Sichuan province. It has a distinctive appearance – often described as a cross between a goat and an ox – with a heavy body, thick coat, and a prominent, arched nose that helps warm cold mountain air before it reaches the lungs. Both males and females have strong, curved horns, and their dense fur, along with oily skin secretions, helps them withstand cold, wet alpine environments.

Takins have such distinct and interesting builds and features. I love the elongated face and short horns; it gives them a bit of a mythological appearance. Do you agree?

Tangjiahe National Nature Reserve, China

Canon EOS R5 II | Canon RF 100-500mm F4.5-7.1 L IS USM | ISO 3200 | 1/500 sec | F6.3
Photo: Erez Marom

Sichuan takins live in herds that move seasonally, climbing to higher elevations in summer to graze on grasses, bamboo, and leaves, and descending to lower, forested areas in winter, which is the reason I could shoot them with relative ease. They are well adapted to steep, rugged terrain and can navigate cliffs with surprising agility despite their bulk. The species faces pressures from habitat loss and historical hunting, but it is protected in China, with populations found in reserves, such as Tangjiahe, that also shelter the giant panda, making conservation efforts for both species interconnected.

I tried to get a shot of a takin crossing the stream, but at the last second it backed off.

Tangjiahe National Nature Reserve, China

Canon EOS R5 II | Canon RF 100-500mm F4.5-7.1 L IS USM | ISO 3200 | 1/800 sec | F7.1
Photo: Erez Marom

Another location I'd like to talk about is Wawu Mountain (Wawushan), a striking flat-topped massif in Sichuan Province, rising like a vast natural plateau above surrounding valleys. Known for its sheer cliffs, dense temperate forests, and frequent cloud cover, it creates a dramatic, almost otherworldly landscape. Wawu's table mountain topography supports a rich mosaic of ecosystems, making it an important biodiversity hotspot.

A relatively rare shot of two red pandas cuddling together. This is almost exclusively possible during the mating season.

Wawu Mountain, China

Canon EOS R5 II | Canon RF 100-500mm F4.5-7.1 L IS USM | ISO 3200 | 1/500 sec | F6.3
Photo: Erez Marom

Among its most charismatic inhabitants is the red panda, a shy, tree-dwelling mammal that thrives in Wawu Mountain’s cool, bamboo-rich forests. These elusive animals spend much of their time in the canopy, feeding on bamboo leaves, as well as fruits, insects, and small vertebrates. Wawu Mountain’s protected status and relatively intact habitat make it one of the better places to support completely wild red panda populations, and sightings are practically guaranteed if you spend 2-3 full days. The same ecosystem also shelters other notable species, linking Wawu’s conservation importance to the broader network of Sichuan reserves that protect iconic wildlife, such as the giant panda.

A red panda munching on bamboo leaves.

Wawu Mountain, China

Canon EOS R5 II | Canon RF 100-500mm F4.5-7.1 L IS USM | ISO 3200 | 1/400 sec | F7.1

On the last morning, we even got some snow to accentuate the red pandas' beautiful red coloring.

Wawu Mountain, China

Canon EOS R5 II | Canon RF 100-500mm F4.5-7.1 L IS USM + RF 1.4X | ISO 3200 | 1/200 sec | F9
Photos: Erez Marom

In the next, and last article in this series, I will share the story of how I managed to capture my most desired species of snub-nosed monkey, even though the universe tried to make it as difficult as it could.

Photo: Erez Marom

Erez Marom is a professional nature photographer, guide and traveler. You can follow Erez's work on Instagram and Facebook, and subscribe to his mailing list for updates.

If you'd like to experience and shoot some of the world's most fascinating landscapes and wildlife with Erez as your guide, take a look at his unique photography workshops in China, Colombia, Vietnam, Madagascar and other locations.

Erez has recently published his first e-book, Solving the Puzzle, thoroughly explaining his views about composition in landscape photography and beyond.