 Thus, the lakes and forests along the Xiaoxiang ridgeline form a significant contiguous ecological habitat dominated by indigenous rhododendron species.This ecosystem has been classified by the WWF as part of the Qionglai-Minshan conifer forests and Yunnan Plateau subtropical evergreen forests ecoregions.Administratively, the Xiaoxiang Range falls within Mianning County to the west, Yuexi County and Ganluo County to the east, and Shimian County to the north.