The city is known as a “crown jewel”, an “animal and plant kingdom” and natural oxygen bar. Roughly 67 percent of Pu’er is covered with forest, with a green coverage ratio of 56.1 percent in central districts. Pu’er also has significant quality water resources, thanks to the various rivers running across it.

The central city recorded excellent air quality throughout 2011, with more than 4,000 negative oxygen ions per cubic centimeter, 12 times above the World Health Organization’s clean air standard. Pu’er has been hailed as a “Heaven on Earth” by United Nations Environment Programme experts.

Pu’er is one of the most biodiverse regions worldwide, including 5,600 kinds of plants in 352 categories, 51 of them under first or second State protection.

Pu’er is one of the most biodiverse regions worldwide, including 5,600 kinds of plants in 352 categories, 51 of them under first or second State protection. There are rare trees, such as Mersawa, toon, koombar and camphor trees. Quick-growing trees include Pinus khasys, Betula alnoides and Schima wallichii. There are 41 kinds of trees readily available for commercial use.

The city is also home to 1,496 kinds of animals, including 470 birds, 980 insects, 46 reptiles and amphibians. Roughly 16 animals, 16 birds and four reptiles and amphibians are under State protection. The region is home to Elephas maximus, gaur, Nomascus nasutus, loris, Panthera tigris corbetti, clouded leopards, red deer, forest musk deer, Anthracoceros coronatus, hornbills and Buceros bicornis.

The Nomascus nasutus are under first-grade State protection and is one of Yunnan’s specialties. They inhabit the Wuliangshan National Natural Reserve, which has the largest number of them in the world.

The Elephas maximus are under first-grade State protection, and their number has been growing since 1995 to more than 30 in 2010. They now total 73, accounting for a third of all nationwide.