Meet Guizhou's rare monkeys

In Tongren, Guizhou, there are two rare species of monkeys — the Guizhou golden snub-nosed monkey and the Francois' langur.

The Guizhou golden snub-nosed monkey is classified as critically endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature, with a global population of only around 800, all of which reside in the Fanjing Mountain National Nature Reserve.

The Francois' langur is endangered, with just over 2,000 around the world, approximately one-third of which live in the Mayang River National Nature Reserve.

With the protection of the ecological environment in the Fanjing Mountain and the Mayang River areas in Tongren, the populations of these two national first-class protected wild animals continue to increase. Visitors often encounter them on mountain trails or even along roads.

Although the Guizhou golden snub-nosed monkey is one of the five species of snub-nosed monkeys in the world, the adult monkey's fur is not golden but mainly black or gray.

Their most distinctive features are their upturned nostrils and a tuft of yellow hair on the top of their heads.

However, when Guizhou golden snub-nosed monkey babies are born, their entire bodies are golden, so during breeding season, you can see the adorable sight of mothers carrying their golden infants in Fanjing Mountain.

Francois' langurs, also known as black snub-nosed monkeys, are also golden in color when they are babies. When they are a one year old, their backs turn black, and they have a tuft of black "mohawk" hair on their heads.

Their fingers are long and powerful, allowing them to move easily among the trees, just like other primates. They can also climb cliffs, and they take shelter in caves at night. The karst landforms in the Mayang River National Nature Reserve in Tongren have become their ideal home.

Through our Going Green charts and videos showcasing the black snub-nosed monkey and the Guizhou golden snub-nosed monkey, you will definitely be able to recognize these two precious primates when you visit the nature reserves.