Shennongjia
Shennongjia Overview
Shennongjia is located in the northwestern area of Hubei Province. It is next to the Three Gorges in the south, leans against Shaanxi Province and Chongqing Municipality in the west, and neighbors on Jingzhou and Xiangfan two cities in the east. With the approval of the State Council of China, Shennongjia region was official established in 1970. Since then, Shennongjia has been directly governed by Hubei Provincial Government. People living in this area consist of different ethnic nationalities including Han, Tujia, Zhuang, Miao, Hui, Yi, Man Chu, Korean, She, Mongolian and Bai.
History
In the distant past, Shennongjia forest area was covered with large bodies of water. Later, under the upward movement of both Yanshan Mountains and the Himalayas, the stratum of Shennongjia area gradually formed. Approximately 200,000 years ago, people appeared in this area. According to the legend from the ancient times, one of China's ancestors- Emperor Shennong, used to search herbs in the mountains. Usually he used a ladder to collect some of the most precious ones from the rocks. Hence the name Shennongjia means the 'Ladder of Shennong'. Historically, it has always been an important military position where troops stationed, due to its advantageous landform-deep valleys and dense forests.
Geography
Covering an area of 3,250 square kilometers (1,255 square acres), Shennongjia region has an average elevation of 1,700 meters (5,577 feet). With the forest coverage of 68.5 percent, Shennongjia is the only piece of green treasure of the same-latitude areas. The latitude of most peaks is above 1500 meters (4,921 feet) and the highest peak is 3105.4 meters (10188.3 feet) high. All the mountains are karstic, a kind of lime that turns into a gigantic spongelike form with cavities that range from the size of your finger to those of caves. The special terrain here creates a warm and humid climate, making it a paradise for plants and animals in central China. There are more than 2,000 species of wild plants, among which over 30 belong to world's rarity, and 500 species of wild animals, comprising over 20 rare and precious types listed under the state protection.
Tourist Attractions
The tourist resources provide an array of attractions: the primitive forests, mountains and valleys, brooks and waterfalls, rare animals and plants, as well as the mysterious 'wild men'. A trip to Shennongjia can be done with various focuses: scientific research and study, adventures, sightseeing and holidays, as well as skiing and snow fun. Generally, there are over 20 major scenic spots in Shennongjia, including Fengjingya, Hongping Valley, Shennong Top, Source of Fragrant Brook and Dajiu Lake, for visitors to appreciate the charm of nature.
What to see: Shennongjia Forest Zone
