Shennongjia is said to be
the place where the mythical
Emperor Yan once lived. Some
visitors hope that they may
encounter the legendary yeren
(wild man), China’s equiva-
lent of Bigfoot, in the remote
mountains and virgin forests.
They may not see any
such creature, but they are
attracted by Shennongjia’s
vibrant ecology, rich biodiver-
sity and karst landforms.
The nature of Shennongjia’s
beauty varies over the year as
time takes its course. Tourists
can enjoy flower blossoms in
spring, be shaded from the
summer heat, appreciate red
leaves in autumn and go ski-
ing in winter.
In 2016 China announced
that it would build 10 pilot
national parks for ecosystem
preservation, including in
Shennongjia Forestry District,
Hubei province.
Trips in such a mountainous
region depend very much on
the weather. An early rise by
visitors may be rewarded with
a stunning view of a sea of
clouds beneath.
The natural beauty of karst
landforms is ubiquitous.
There are waterfalls, pools
and a 56-ft.-high arch that
resembles a bridge crafted
by nature after centuries of
rain erosion.
Visitors can hike in a forest,
climb a mountain and explore a
large, dark cave to listen to the
sounds of swallows nestling.
Tourists may come across
an area in which golden snub-
nosed monkeys that are ill or
injured are treated before they
go back into the forest.
Additional information is on file with the Department of Justice, Washington, D.C.
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Exquisite scenerybrings in touristsall year roundGuanmenshan Scenic Area
showcases rich biodiversity, with a
natural ecology museum, a garden
with precious plants and areas that
animals such as deer and giant
salamanders inhabit.
On a zigzag wooden plank road
in the forest are small exhibition
boards that present information
about bird species, and there are
fish ponds. It is a perfect place to
discover natural science.
Being in Dajiuhu National
Wetland Park when the wetlands
are shrouded in mist early in the
morning is like being in a wonder-
land, with reflections in the waterand mountains and reed marshes
as the backdrop.
Chinese proclaim themselves
yan huang zi sun, the offspring of
mythical Emperor Yan (Shennong)
and the Yellow Emperor.
Shennongjia was so named
because it is said to be the place
where Shennong tasted various
herbs to figure out how to use them
to cure sickness.
Shennong, often depicted with
the horns of an ox, was a man of
all trades. He invented farm tools
and discovered tinder and tea,
and made cooking utensils out of
pottery.In Shennong Altar Scenic
Area, a long stone staircase
leads to a 69-ft.-high stone
sculpture of Shennong’s
head. With two ox horns,
his eyes are closed and his
chin raised as if he is lost in
thought.
Looking up, visitors will
gaze in awe at the stone
head as they ascend the
stairs. They can also appre-
ciate murals depicting Shen-
nong’s legend, with a row of
traditional Chinese sacrificial
vessels to the side.
Legends similar to that of
the wild man can be found
all over the globe, ranging
from Bigfoot in North Amer-
ica to Yeti in the Himalayan
mountains.
Between 1976 and 1981
the Chinese Academy of Sci-
ences organized three large-
scale scientific investigations
— and anthropologists, zoolo-
gists and botanists were sent
to the region’s thick forest.
Scientists have collected
hair, footprints and excre-
ment suspected of belonging
to the wild man, but some
experts argue that most
were left by bears, monkeys
or even human beings.
What they did discover
was the area’s rich biodi-
versity. During the second
mission in 1977, the golden
snub-nosed monkey was ob-
served in Shennongjia.
In 1999 Chinese authori-
ties announced that there is
no wild man in Shennongjia.
Nevertheless, in 2016 the
wild man legend was added
to Hubei’s intangible cultural
heritage list.
These days it is Shen-
nongjia’s flora and fauna
that are its biggest drawcard.Clockwise from top: In Shennong Altar Scenic Area of Shennongjia, a long stone
staircase leads to a 69-ft.-high stone sculpture of the head of Emperor Yan (Shennong).
XU LIN / CHINA DAILY Shennongjia is known for its stunning view of a sea of clouds and its
colorful autumn leaves. WAN ZHONGYI / FOR CHINA DAILY AND XU LIN / CHINA DAILYIn mists of Shennongjiathe legendary wild man remains elusiveShennongjia boasts rich
biodiversity. WAN ZHONGYI / FOR
CHINA DAILY