杂志汇中国与非洲

Listed as a World Natural Heritage Site in 2016 Location:  Hubei Province, central China Best Time to Visit: Between June and October

LOCATED in central China’s Hubei Province, the site consists of two components: Shennong Top/Badong to the west and Laojunshan Mountain to the east. It protects the largest primary forests remaining in central China and provides habitat for many rare animal species, such as the Chinese giant salamander, the golden snub-nosed monkey, the clouded leopard, the common leopard and the Asian black bear. Hubei Shennongjia is one of three centers of biodiversity in China. The site features prominently in the history of botanical research and was the object of international plant collecting expeditions in the 19th and 20th centuries. 

Shennongjia was named after Shennong, the Yan Emperor, one of the two legendary ancestors of the Chinese nation along with the Yellow Emperor. He built wooden ladders (jia in Chinese) to collect herbal medicines in the region, hence the name Shennongjia. In 1970, it became China’s only administrative area which was named after a forest district under the administration of Hubei Province. 

The landform in Shennongjia is quite complex due to crustal and glacier movement in ancient times. Verdant forests cover 85 percent of the area, with steep peaks, deep valleys and rivers. Many geological mysteries can be found in Shennongjia. There is a Tide Water River in Honghua County, where tide rises three times a day. More interesting is that the water is clear in rainy seasons, but muddy in dry seasons. Another mystery is the Ice Cave in Songluo County. The water in the cave turns to ice in hot summers, when the temperature outside reaches 28 degree Celsius, but the ice melts from late autumn; in winter, temperature inside the cave is much higher than that outside. 

Shennongjia is a perfect travel destination to embrace nature. In Shennongjia Forest Zone, you will see primitive forests, steep peaks of all kinds of shapes, limpid rivers and various plant species. Major scenic spots include: Shennong Top, Tianyan Primitive Ecologic Tourist Zone, Hongping, Yanziya and the Source of Fragrance Stream. Moreover, the legendary Shennong herbal medicines, unique customs of Tujia people and the mythical “wild man” make Shennongjia more attractive and charming.

Travel Tips

• Shennongjia has no airports or railway stations, and so the best way to get there is by bus via the G209 National Highway.

• Fried small potatoes are a local delicacy.

• It is a perfect place for escaping the summer heat.