Nestled on the western slopes of the Greater Khingan Range lies a hidden gem of primeval forest — the Hanma UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in Inner Mongolia. Like an ecological jewel set on the southern edge of the Northern Hemisphere's taiga, it is China's northernmost UNESCO biosphere reserve.

Covering an area about one-fourth the size of Shanghai, it was designated by UNESCO in 2015.

Hama lies at the southernmost edge of the global permafrost zone and serves as a natural lab for climate change research. Since becoming a no-hunting area in 1958, all logging has been strictly banned, preserving the full "genetic code" of its primeval forest.

This forest–wetland complex is one of a kind in East Asia. Wetlands make up 42.6% of the reserve, serving as critical breeding and resting grounds for a variety of waterbirds and migratory species. Moose, brown bears, lynxes, black-billed capercaillies, and white-naped cranes roam freely here, breathing vibrant life into the cold-temperate ecosystem.

Hanma is also a land rich in cultural memory. It is home to China's last reindeer herders—the Aoluguya Ewenki people. For generations, they have lived alongside reindeer in the cold-temperate forests, preserving a unique ecological culture and offering a vivid example of harmony between humans and nature.