老縣(xian)城,原名(ming)佛爺坪(ping),因曾是(shi)(shi)佛坪(ping)縣(xian)治(zhi),故稱老縣(xian)城。今屬周至縣(xian)轄,但(dan)非周至老縣(xian)城。這(zhe)里地處秦嶺腹地,山(shan)高路遠,林海莽(mang)莽(mang),物(wu)種(zhong)繁多,資源(yuan)豐富(fu),是(shi)(shi)個藏在深山(shan)人未識(shi)的(de)"處女地",被譽為"秦嶺翡(fei)翠"。
老縣(xian)(xian)城(cheng)是(shi)佛(fo)坪縣(xian)(xian)城(cheng)舊址(zhi),現存(cun)城(cheng)墻殘(can)跡(ji)、文(wen)廟(miao)及城(cheng)隍(huang)廟(miao)遺址(zhi)、白云(yun)塔(ta)、三龍珠(zhu)石(shi)刻(ke)、古(gu)碑石(shi)、唐(tang)代(dai)云(yun)杉古(gu)樹,附(fu)近有都督門遺址(zhi)、太白廟(miao)、藥王洞(dong)(dong)、怪石(shi)洞(dong)(dong),以及傳說的四(si)郎泉、北芳洲等(deng)人文(wen)景物(wu)。
漢高(gao)祖年(nian)(nian)(nian)間開通(tong)儻(tang)(tang)駱古道,時通(tong)時斷,前后延(yan)續了兩千多年(nian)(nian)(nian)。儻(tang)(tang)駱古道北(bei)起周至駱峪口,途(tu)經老縣(xian)城(cheng)(cheng)地區(qu),南(nan)到(dao)洋縣(xian)儻(tang)(tang)峪口,是古代長(chang)安通(tong)往漢中、四川的六(liu)條交(jiao)通(tong)干道之一。清道光4 年(nian)(nian)(nian)(1824 年(nian)(nian)(nian)) 在(zai)周至縣(xian)和(he)洋縣(xian)之間(現老縣(xian)城(cheng)(cheng))設(she)佛坪廳,民國十四年(nian)(nian)(nian)(1925 年(nian)(nian)(nian))縣(xian)城(cheng)(cheng)遷往袁家莊(今佛坪縣(xian)城(cheng)(cheng)),人口逐漸(jian)減少,目前僅剩一個自然村(cun)——老縣(xian)城(cheng)(cheng)。
1958 年老縣城(cheng)(cheng)歸(gui)屬周至縣厚畛(zhen)子(zi)(zi)鄉管轄; 1993 年西安市人民政(zheng)府在此批準建立老縣城(cheng)(cheng)縣級自然保護區,同年厚畛(zhen)子(zi)(zi)鎮——老縣城(cheng)(cheng)村公路通車
2001 成立文(wen)管所,恢復保(bao)護(hu)老縣(xian)城(cheng)文(wen)物
2002年開(kai)始(shi)修復老縣城城門(men),同年地方政府組織開(kai)展旅游活(huo)動。
2013年(nian)12月25日,經國務院(yuan)審定,成為(wei)國家級自然保護區。
老縣城自然保護區(qu)地(di)處(chu)秦嶺中段南坡的湑水河上游(you),行政(zheng)區(qu)域屬周至縣
厚畛(zhen)子(zi)鎮,地理位置(zhi)東徑107°40′-107°49′、北(bei)(bei)緯(wei)33°43′-33°50′之間。保(bao)(bao)護(hu)區(qu)(qu)四(si)周(zhou)被4 個國家(jia)級(ji)自(zi)然保(bao)(bao)護(hu)區(qu)(qu)、1 個擬(ni)建省級(ji)大熊(xiong)貓保(bao)(bao)護(hu)區(qu)(qu)和1 個大熊(xiong)貓走廊帶所包圍。東以(yi)(yi)(yi)秦嶺(ling)梁為界,與周(zhou)至(zhi)國家(jia)級(ji)自(zi)然保(bao)(bao)護(hu)區(qu)(qu)接壤,南以(yi)(yi)(yi)財神嶺(ling)為界與佛坪(ping)國家(jia)級(ji)自(zi)然保(bao)(bao)護(hu)區(qu)(qu)毗鄰,西南與長(chang)青(qing)國家(jia)級(ji)自(zi)然保(bao)(bao)護(hu)區(qu)(qu)相臨,西與黃(huang)柏塬自(zi)然保(bao)(bao)護(hu)區(qu)(qu)(擬(ni)建)相連(lian),西北(bei)(bei)接太白(bai)山國家(jia)級(ji)自(zi)然保(bao)(bao)護(hu)區(qu)(qu),北(bei)(bei)以(yi)(yi)(yi)秦嶺(ling)分水(shui)嶺(ling)為界,與厚畛(zhen)子(zi)林場(chang)大熊(xiong)貓走廊帶相靠(見附圖(tu)1),總面積(ji)12611 公頃(qing)。保(bao)(bao)護(hu)區(qu)(qu)整體地形(xing)呈“心”形(xing),地勢東南高而西北(bei)(bei)低,最高點魯班峰海(hai)拔2904 米(mi),最低處青(qing)龍寨(zhai)海(hai)拔1524 米(mi),相對高差(cha)1380 米(mi)。
老(lao)縣城自然保護區(qu)管理處設(she)在周至(zhi)縣劇院路,區(qu)內設(she)有老(lao)縣城中(zhong)心站。管理處至(zhi)中(zhong)
心站道路全長(chang)110 公(gong)(gong)(gong)里(li),由周(zhou)至(zhi)縣(xian)城沿108 國道至(zhi)沙(sha)梁子(zi)(道路長(chang)63 公(gong)(gong)(gong)里(li)),經(jing)“沙(sha)厚(hou)路” (沙(sha)梁子(zi)至(zhi)厚(hou)畛子(zi)鄉村公(gong)(gong)(gong)路,道路長(chang)25 公(gong)(gong)(gong)里(li))至(zhi)厚(hou)畛子(zi),再轉“厚(hou)老(lao)路”(厚(hou)畛子(zi)至(zhi)老(lao)縣(xian)城林Ⅲ級道路,全長(chang)22 公(gong)(gong)(gong)里(li))抵達老(lao)縣(xian)城。
目(mu)前(qian)周至縣城至厚畛子(zi)每日發兩輛公共汽車(che),分(fen)別為(wei)早上八(ba)點和(he)下午一點班次。從厚畛子(zi)進入保護區(qu)內無公共汽車(che),入區(qu)交(jiao)通極(ji)為(wei)不便。設在周至縣城的保護區(qu)管理處,東往76 公里(li)至西(xi)安,南去297 公里(li)抵漢(han)中,西(xi)行106 公里(li)到(dao)寶(bao)雞,北走65 公里(li)達咸陽。
老縣城(cheng)自然保護區(qu)共有野生種子(zi)植(zhi)物112 科(ke),471 屬,1146 種(對(dui)于(yu)種下(xia)等級原(yuan)亞種、原(yuan)變種或原(yuan)變型不產于(yu)本區(qu)的(de)在進行植(zhi)物區(qu)系分析時,均按種對(dui)待,下(xia)同),分別占秦(qin)嶺種子(zi)植(zhi)物總(zong)(zong)科(ke)數(shu)的(de)70%,總(zong)(zong)屬數(shu)的(de)45%,總(zong)(zong)種數(shu)的(de)44%。
老(lao)縣城保(bao)護區內蘊藏(zang)著豐富的資源植(zhi)物,據不完全統計,有(you)(you)藥(yao)用植(zhi)物319 種(zhong)(其中被《中華人民共和(he)國(guo)藥(yao)典2000 版》收錄的原植(zhi)物有(you)(you)103 種(zhong)),可用于庭院(yuan)或(huo)其它觀賞(shang)的植(zhi)物232 種(zhong),油脂植(zhi)物和(he)芳香(xiang)植(zhi)物有(you)(you)136 種(zhong),纖維植(zhi)物有(you)(you)43 種(zhong),淀粉及糖類植(zhi)物有(you)(you)77 種(zhong),鞣質(zhi)植(zhi)物100 種(zhong)。
初步(bu)調查確知,老縣城自然保護(hu)區有野生脊(ji)椎(zhui)動(dong)物(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)263 種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong),隸屬(shu)(shu)25 目70 科179 屬(shu)(shu),占(zhan)陜西(xi)省(sheng)脊(ji)椎(zhui)動(dong)物(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)(許濤清、曹永漢,1996)739 種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)的35.59%。其(qi)中,哺乳(ru)動(dong)物(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)7 目24 科42 屬(shu)(shu)50 種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong);鳥類(lei)(lei)12 目35 科114 屬(shu)(shu)188 種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong);爬行類(lei)(lei)2 目5 科14 屬(shu)(shu)15 種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong);兩(liang)棲類(lei)(lei)2 目3 科4 屬(shu)(shu)5 種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong);魚類(lei)(lei)2目3 科5 屬(shu)(shu)5 種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)。在這些脊(ji)椎(zhui)動(dong)物(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)中,有國家重(zhong)點(dian)保護(hu)動(dong)物(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)30 種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong),其(qi)中,國家I 級(ji)(ji)重(zhong)點(dian)保護(hu)物(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)6 種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong),II 級(ji)(ji)重(zhong)點(dian)保護(hu)物(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)24 種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)。它們(men)分(fen)別(bie)是(shi):哺乳(ru)動(dong)物(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)I 級(ji)(ji)保護(hu)物(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)5 種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong),II 級(ji)(ji)保護(hu)物(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)6 種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong);鳥類(lei)(lei)I 級(ji)(ji)保護(hu)物(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)1 種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong),II 級(ji)(ji)保護(hu)物(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)18 種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)。
老縣城豐富的(de)植物種類、明顯的(de)季相變化、茫茫的(de)茂密林海、稀有的(de)古樹名木(mu)、罕見的(de)奇花異草(cao)、寶(bao)貴的(de)珍稀植物等所構成(cheng)的(de)色彩斑斕、五色繽(bin)紛的(de)野生(sheng)植物景觀。
在(zai)(zai)(zai)(zai)保護區(qu)內,有(you)野生脊椎動(dong)物263 種(zhong),鳥類(lei)188 種(zhong)。其中國家一級保護動(dong)物有(you)大(da)熊貓(mao)、金絲猴、羚(ling)牛、林麝、豹(bao)等6 種(zhong)。無論是在(zai)(zai)(zai)(zai)草(cao)地上還是樹叢中,小型獸類(lei)及鳥類(lei)頻頻出沒,站在(zai)(zai)(zai)(zai)光頭山頂,那成群結隊的(de)羚(ling)牛在(zai)(zai)(zai)(zai)草(cao)地間撒歡,憨態可掬(ju)的(de)大(da)熊貓(mao)在(zai)(zai)(zai)(zai)竹(zhu)林里覓食,機警(jing)敏(min)捷的(de)金絲猴在(zai)(zai)(zai)(zai)樹冠(guan)中嬉(xi)戲,構成一幅“天蒼(cang)蒼(cang),野茫(mang)茫(mang),野生動(dong)物穿梭忙(mang)”的(de)壯觀景象。
老縣城(cheng)(cheng)在河流沖積作用(yong)下(xia)形(xing)成的一個(ge)長約(yue)(yue)5 公(gong)里(li),寬約(yue)(yue)800 米的臺(tai)地(di)(di),為典型的山(shan)間盆地(di)(di)景觀,城(cheng)(cheng)南2 公(gong)里(li)酷似人(ren)頭頂的冠山(shan),城(cheng)(cheng)東(dong)的魯班峰,城(cheng)(cheng)北的藥王洞,阮全溝的溶洞,正河的玉(yu)璽(xi)石等(deng)組成豐(feng)富(fu)的山(shan)體景觀。
長約(yue)20 公里的(de)(de)湑(xu)水(shui)河(he)東向西流,形成(cheng)湑(xu)河(he)漫(man)步的(de)(de)溪流景(jing)觀(guan)(guan),城(cheng)南(nan)的(de)(de)靈泉、漏(lou)澤泉、都督(du)門的(de)(de)楊(yang)泗將(jiang)軍(jun)泉、青龍寨(zhai)的(de)(de)“小水(shui)簾(lian)”則(ze)形成(cheng)優美的(de)(de)山泉景(jing)觀(guan)(guan)。
清(qing)道光(guang)四年(1824 年)曾(ceng)在(zai)(zai)此(ci)設佛(fo)坪廳(ting)城(cheng)(cheng),當時此(ci)處(chu)是(shi)佛(fo)坪縣(xian)(xian)政治、文化(hua)、經(jing)濟的(de)中心,也是(shi)長安至漢(han)中的(de)交通樞紐,南北(bei)物(wu)資的(de)交流(liu)中心。民國(guo)十四年(1925 年)縣(xian)(xian)城(cheng)(cheng)遷往袁家莊,從此(ci)這一百年歷史的(de)縣(xian)(xian)城(cheng)(cheng)開始荒蕪,繁華不在(zai)(zai),湮(yin)沒在(zai)(zai)深山密(mi)林(lin)中,至今給其(qi)留(liu)下一個永(yong)久雅號—老(lao)縣(xian)(xian)城(cheng)(cheng)。老(lao)縣(xian)(xian)城(cheng)(cheng)有很(hen)多處(chu)遺址(zhi),其(qi)中有古城(cheng)(cheng)墻(qiang)、廳(ting)署、司獄署、文廟、城(cheng)(cheng)皇廟、三(san)圣祠、靈(ling)泉(quan)、接官亭、石刻(ke)碑志(zhi)等。
老縣(xian)(xian)城(cheng)自(zi)然保護區(qu)自(zi)1993 年(nian)(nian)成立后,1995 年(nian)(nian)開(kai)通(tong)(tong)了老縣(xian)(xian)城(cheng)至厚畛子22 公里道路,結束了老縣(xian)(xian)城(cheng)不通(tong)(tong)汽車的(de)(de)歷(li)史(shi),每年(nian)(nian)游(you)人到此絡繹(yi)不絕,逐年(nian)(nian)遞增。截(jie)止到2014年(nian)(nian),尚未開(kai)通(tong)(tong)通(tong)(tong)往保護區(qu)的(de)(de)公交汽車,來(lai)保護區(qu)的(de)(de)游(you)客(ke)大多自(zi)己(ji)帶車或由厚畛子步行,保護區(qu)也(ye)未開(kai)始征收(shou)旅游(you)門票(piao),旅游(you)接待設(she)施(shi)有(you)老縣(xian)(xian)城(cheng)保護站及老縣(xian)(xian)城(cheng)村(cun)民(min)開(kai)辦(ban)的(de)(de)13 家“農家樂”,共25 個房間,107 張床(chuang)位可(ke)供住宿,職工食堂可(ke)供40 人就餐。
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