The area with the richest butterfly resources in the world is known as the “paradise of butterflies,” home to over 150 million butterflies.
As June begins, in the Hong River Butterfly Valley located in Jinning District, Yunnan Province, China, a large number of golden butterflies have emerged from their larvae, transforming into butterflies in a very short period.
Butterfly paradise in the Hong River Valley, Yunnan Province, China.
This region is situated in a tropical and subtropical monsoon climate zone, characterized by rich forest resources that provide excellent conditions for butterfly reproduction. A total of 11 families, 138 genera, and over 320 butterfly species have been identified here, making it the richest butterfly resource area in the world, aptly named “the paradise of butterflies”, with over 150 million butterflies residing.
Currently, two major butterfly outbreaks are known to occur globally, found only in two locations: Mexico and the Hong River Butterfly Valley in China.
Chinese reporters captured the moment when a large number of butterflies emerged from their chrysalises, gathering amidst the mountains and forests. This phenomenon occurs when a significant number of butterfly larvae transform into butterflies within a short period from May to June each year.
The outbreak of butterflies is primarily due to the dominance of the golden butterfly, along with a few rare species such as the golden-billed swallow and the golden-backed swallow that can also be observed. According to Yang Zhenwen, the curator of the Hong River Butterfly Valley Museum in China, monitoring from 23 observation points indicates that the population of golden butterflies reached over 150 million in 2022.
Yang Zhenwen noted that the local forest coverage is 70%, coupled with significant elevation differences, and the unique climate has facilitated the genetic diversity and natural development of flora and fauna in the area.
