Park of China
Overview
| Designation | UNESCO World Heritage (natural, 2016) |
| Province | Hubei |
| Location | Western Hubei |
| Mountains | Daba Mountains |
| Latitude, longitude | 31.5, 110.4 Google Maps |
| Highlights | Rich wildlife; the “wild man” |
| Wildlife | Golden snub-nosed monkey |
| Elevation | 1,700 m |
| Highest point | 3,106 m |
| Nearby cities | Yichang |
| Nearby sites | Mount Wudang 115km, Tiankeng and Difeng (Sinkhole and Fissure) 124km, The Three Gorges of the Yangtze 144km, Danjiangkou Reservoir 160km, Longzhong 165km Search nearby |
| Themes | Forest, Plant, Wildlife, Stamp, Mystery, Mountain, Skiing |
Shennongjia
Shennongjia lies in western Hubei in the Shennongjia range, the eastern end of the Daba Mountains of the Qinling system: subalpine in the south-west, middle and low mountains in the north-east. It borders Baokang County to the east, Wushan County of Chongqing to the west, Xingshan and Badong and the Three Gorges to the south and Fang and Zhushan counties, near Mount Wudang, to the north, 3,253 km² in all. The average elevation is 1,700 m and the highest peak, Shennongding, 3,106.2 m. Wildlife is extraordinarily rich.
It is the only well-preserved oasis in the interior of China and the only such green treasure in the world’s middle latitudes, with the only intact subtropical forest ecosystem at that latitude, a world-class resource. Its flora and fauna are rich, ancient, endemic and rare: the firs, Fokienia, Reevesia, dove tree and Keteleeria (Keteleeria davidiana) among the rare plants.
The name comes from the Yan Emperor Shennong, who, legend says, built thirty-six ladders to heaven here to gather and taste the hundred herbs.
Six peaks top 3,000 m: Shennongding, Da Shennongjia, Xiao Shennongjia, Jinhouling, Shamujian and Dawokeng. Shennongjia is one of the main ranges of the golden snub-nosed monkey.
It was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2016, as a natural site.
Travel tips
Getting there: Shennongjia Airport is in the centre of the district near Hongping. The Shennongjia station on the Zhengzhou–Chongqing high-speed line is far from the main sights; for Muyu most people get off at Xingshan and change to a bus, and for Dajiuhu at Badong. The scenic areas are far apart, so a car or hired driver is the easiest way around.
Visiting: the main areas are Shennong Peak (with Shennong Valley), the Dajiuhu wetland, Guanmenshan and the Natural Bridge; each is reached separately.
Shennong Peak: the highest ground in central China; it is much colder than the valleys, so bring a jacket.
Dajiuhu: a high-mountain basin wetland in the west of the district; private cars cannot enter the lake area, so change to the park's own transport.
Time: usually two to three days for several of the main areas.
Season: summer is cool and popular; autumn has red leaves; there is skiing in winter, but high roads may close for snow and ice.
Where to stay: most visitors stay in Muyu town, near Shennong Peak and Guanmenshan; Dajiuhu and Songbai also have hotels.
Caution: mountain roads are winding and the weather changes quickly; landslides and road closures can occur in the rainy season.
Stamps
On 6 June 1998 China Post issued 1998-13 “Shennongjia”, four stamps: peaks, gorge, primeval forest and alpine meadow.
The “wild man”
For many years there have been stories of a “wild man” in Shennongjia, and many people claim to have seen one. Whether such an upright hominid exists remains unproven.
Map
Photo credits: Shennongjia: Evilbish (CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons)
Nearby
| World Heritage | Mount Wudang 115km, Xianling Tomb of the Ming 214km, Wulingyuan (Zhangjiajie) 239km, Tangya Tusi Chengzhi 241km |
| National parks | Tiankeng and Difeng (Sinkhole and Fissure) 124km, The Three Gorges of the Yangtze 144km, Danjiangkou Reservoir 160km, Longzhong 165km |
| AAAAA attractions | Shennong Stream Trackers' Culture Tourist Area 24km, Lesser Three Gorges and Mini Three Gorges 58km, Baidi City and Qutang Gorge Scenic Area 94km, Qu Yuan's Hometown 95km |
| AAAA attractions | Shennongjia Hongping Scenic Area 19km, Dajiu Lake 26km, Wu Gorge Mouth 54km, Wild Man Cave 56km |
| UNESCO Global Geoparks | Yunyang UNESCO Global Geopark 155km, Enshi Grand Canyon-Tenglongdong Cave UNESCO Global Geopark 159km |
| Historical sites | Li Laiheng Anti-Qing Site 30km |
| Nature reserves | Yintiaoling National Nature Reserve 45km, Dalaoling National Nature Reserve 69km, Saiwudang National Nature Reserve 109km, Hualongshan National Nature Reserve 114km |