China has about 570 species (60% of the world's species) of rhododendrons, of which more than 400 are endemic to China.
Rhododendron is one of the largest genera of seed plants in China, and its distribution is extremely widespread, except for Xinjiang and Ningxia, which has no record of the distribution of wild rhododendrons, but also in other provinces and regions. The most diverse and biodiverse regions are Yunnan, Sichuan and Tibet, where rhododendrons account for about 75% of China's species. Their distribution in various provinces and regions is in order: about 245 species in Yunnan, about 182 species in Tibet, 181 species in Sichuan, and about 423 species distributed in these three provinces (regions), accounting for 75% of the Chinese species; followed by more than 60 species in Guangxi, about 60 species in Guizhou, and more than 40 species in Guangdong and Hunan.
southwest
Located in the northwest region of Yunnan, Deqin, Gongshan, Zhongdian, Weixi, Lijiang, Zhongdian, Jianchuan, Heqing, as well as Ninglang, Yangpi, Dali, Tengchong and Luxun and other places have become the central area of rhododendron distribution in Yunnan Province, and more than 70% of the rhododendron species in Yunnan Province are concentrated in the lofty mountains and mountains at an altitude of 2500 to 4200 meters.
The Baima Snow Mountain, the world-famous Gaoligong Mountain, the Biluo Snow Mountain, and the Haba Snow Mountain in Deqin County not only attract the world with their majestic peaks and beautiful scenery, but also the most abundant distribution of rhododendrons in China.
Species of the subgenus Evergreen Rhododendron, which are distributed in Tibet, China, mostly grow into tall trees and form major or dominant communities in their distribution areas. There are a large number of rhododendrons distributed in the Doxiongla Mountain in Nyingchi County, and when the ice and snow melt in early summer, the rhododendrons bloom all over the mountain, adding endless magnificence to this majestic mountain. Rhododendrons are not only large in area here, but also concentrated in variety. When you stand in a rhododendron cluster and make just one in-situ circle, you will find nearly 30 different species of rhododendrons, an abundance of species that is rare in any region of the world.
Located in Sichuan, Baoxing, Muli, Mianning, Luding, Kangding and other places are the most abundant areas of rhododendron and the origin of many model species. Located in Luding, Kangding and Asbestos Counties, Sichuan Province, Gongga Mountain, with a maximum altitude of more than 7,000 meters, not only has the reputation of the highest peak in Sichuan, but also is one of the richest flora in Sichuan Province, there are about 80 species of rhododendrons in the territory, most of which are endemic to Sichuan, and are one of the most distributed rhododendrons in China.
The world-famous Mount Emei is a famous Buddhist shrine in China and one of the main areas where the species of Rhododendron are distributed in Sichuan. From the Jiulao Cave at an altitude of 1500 meters to the Ten Thousand Buddhas Peak at an altitude of 3100 meters, there is a concentrated area of rhododendron distribution, and there are about 20 species of rhododendrons, of which more than 50% are endemic to Sichuan.
Guizhou Province is one of the main distribution areas of China's evergreen rhododendron after the above three regions, there are about 60 species of rhododendrons, mainly distributed in the central mountains and the western alpine areas, the territory of Lei Gong Mountain, Fanjing Mountain and so on is the most abundant distribution of rhododendrons in the province.
South
South China, which includes three administrative regions of Guangdong, Guangxi and Hainan, is one of the important areas for the distribution of rhododendrons in China, with more than 80 species. Among the 6 subgenus distributed in China, in addition to the subgenus rhododendron leafy bracts, the remaining 5 subgenera are distributed in South China, and this area is the main distribution area of the subgenus Macinthus and the subgenus Yingshanhong, and the species of the two subgenera account for 66% of all species in the region, many of which are endemic to the region.
Central and Eastern China
The distribution taxa of rhododendrons in central China (including Hubei, Hunan, Henan) and East China (including Shanghai, Jiangsu, Anhui, Shandong, Fujian, Zhejiang, Jiangxi) are similar to those in South China, mainly in the subgenus Equimum and Yingshan red subgenus, with 52 species of rhododendrons, accounting for 9% of The Rhododendron species in China, of which there are 8 species of Rhododendron subgenus, 22 species of evergreen Rhododendron subgroup, 16 species of Yingshan Red subgenus, 5 species of Lantana subgenus, and 1 species of Sheep Tadpole subgenus.
There are 48 species of rhododendron in East China, accounting for 8% of Chinese species, and the species of Yingshan Red subgenus and Horse Honeysuckle subgenus are more abundantly distributed in this region, of which 7 species of Horse Honeysuckle subgenus, accounting for 27% of the subgenus species in China, and 20 species of Yingshan Red subgenus, accounting for 26% of the subgenus species in China.
Northwest Territories
The northwest region includes Ningxia, Xinjiang, Qinghai, Shaanxi and Gansu, except for Ningxia and Xinjiang, which have no wild rhododendron distribution, and the other three provinces have one. The rhododendron taxa distributed in this area is similar to that in Tibet, including the subgenus evergreen rhododendron, the subgenus rhododendron and the subgenus rhododendron, with a total of 49 species of rhododendrons, accounting for about 8% of the Species in China.
North China and Northeast China
There are 5 and 7 species of rhododendrons in North China (including Beijing, Tianjin, Hebei, Inner Mongolia and Shanxi) and Northeast China (including Liaoning, Jilin and Heilongjiang), respectively, which are the areas with the lowest distribution of rhododendrons in China, but there are 4 species in Changbai Mountain in the northeast region, which is the most distributed rhododendron in the two regions and an important area for the study of rhododendron fauna.
Taiwan
Finally, it is worth mentioning the distribution of rhododendrons in Taiwan Province of China. Taiwan is a special area of Rhododendron distribution in China, with a total of 22 species in the whole region, of which 20 species are endemic to the province, and the main body of Rhododendron Taiwan is composed of species of the subgenus Yingshan red and the subgenus Of Honeysuckle.