Location: Xuan Son Commune, Thanh Son District, Phu Tho Province, over 80km from Viet Tri City and 160km from Ha Noi.
Characteristics: Xuan Son National Park owns unique beauty of primeval forest on limestone mountains with high biodiversity and specific cultural features of local ethnic groups.
Xuan Son National Park was established in February, 2002. The park covers an area of 15,048ha including 11,000ha of natural forests, 1,396ha of limestone-mountain forests. There are many original biotopes, for example some strange plants that can change the colour of its leaves four times daily.
◊ Flora and Fauna
The flora consists of 465 species of upper plants, many precious timbers (bassia, parashrea stellata, teak). The fauna has 282 species including 23 species of amphibians, 30 species of reptiles, 168 species of birds and 61 species of mammals. There are many rare species, such as tibetan bears, cheetahs, white pheasants, gray gibbons, cobras.
◊ Topography
Here, 14 caves have been discovered in primeval forests on limestone mountains, forming an original landscape.
Within the park, there are three peaks: Voi (1,387m), Ten (1,244m) and Can (1,144m). Most of caves in these mountain ranges are the habitat of bats. Entering the caves, you can be shocked by various strange-shaped stalactites and stalagmites. Many caves, despite their narrow entrances, are very large, housing hundreds of people. There are some caves running 7-8km inside the mountains.
◊ Ethnic Groups
Within and around Xuan Son National Park, some ethnic groups (Muong and Dao) reside. Here, you will have opportunities to explore their life through original costumes, traditional singing and dancing performances, and handicraft products.
