Shennongjia
Shennongjia or Shennongjia Nature Reserve Area is a wildest scenery, combining rolling, majestic mountains and vast expanses of thick forest which is situated in Fangxian County, in western Hubei Province, covering an area of 3,250 square kilometres. Over 1000 meters above sea level on an average, it has six peaks measuring 3,000 meters above sea level, known as "The Roof Of Central China". There, virgin forest, one of famous China's Green Treasure Houses, is located. Here discovered are more than 2000 species of wild plants, out of which over 30 belong to world's rarity or China's specialty, and 500 species of wild animals, comprising over 20 rare and precious types listed under the state protection. No.1 Peak in Central China.
It's the main peak of Shennongjia, 3053 meters above sea level, towering face to face with the nearby Minfen Peak, of 3105 meters above sea level. Lofty and majestic, it glistens with the sun in one moment, but another moment gets lost in clouds and mist. From the top down, the Peak is covered, in three circumscribing tiers, with forests of firs, bamboo and cypresses. Stretching far and wide, the firs, with a trunk as tall as 40 meters, and of a circumference as long as four men's arms extended and linked, stand straight and upright with dense branches and foliage the sun light can hardly penetrate. The ground inside the forest, is dotted with azaleas of various colors-pink, dark violet, crystal etc. The primeval forest looks fantastic. Climbing to the top of the lofty Peak, one enjoys a very pleasant view of the surrounding luxuriantly green mountains and ridges.
The 30 miles long valley is flanked by numerous craggy and perilous peaks, and gifted with 3 waterfalls, 5 pools, 6 caves, 7 springs and streams, 8 cliffs, 9 boulders, plus 4 bridges. In spring, all flowers burst into bloom. The waters are gurgling all the year round. "Every step is a picture", as some one acclaims. The Tianjing Cave (The Cave Of Skylight) is endowed with a light shaft, through which the blue sky and drifting clouds over-head, can be glimpsed. Within the Cave, there's another karats cave with a spring splashing down.
Reflections upon the Valley Lake The lake, 15 km. long and 200 meters wide, is embraced at its two banks by the craggy cliffs overgrown with lush woods. Its smooth surface mirrors the peaks, trees and clouds, with the reflections merging into one with the waters, and looking as though fish swam among the trees in the lake, while birds flew amidst billowy water clouds.
Area of Concentration of white animals In the area close to the summit of the Mountain, exist a great variety of white animals such as white bears, white deers, white rats, white snakes, white monkeys. Places like this are few and far between in China as well as in the rest of the world.
Shennongjia Nature Reserve Area has the wildest scenery in Hubei, combining rolling, majestic mountains and vast expanses of thick forest.Shennongding, 3105 meters above sea level, is the highest peak in central China. But among the mountains there are many beautiful valleys, including the so-called Hongping Gallery, with its "natural" art displays. Caves, waterfalls and trickling streams add to the charm of the region.Of the more than 2000 species of wild plants, around 30 are rare. The area is also home to 500 species of wild animals, including 20 that are officially protected by the state.
A state-level nature reserve and the biggest virgin forest in east China, it covers an area of 350 square kilometers. Legend has it that Shennongshi, the "Holy Peasant", came to this place and experimented with all kinds of herbs growing on the mountain, with the purpose of finding cures for diseases. Because the mountain was so high and so difficult to reach, he had to build scaffolds in order to collect the medicinal herbs. This is why the mountain is now called Shennonjia, meaning Shennong's Scaffold. In the forest are one thousand species of rare trees and animals. It is said that mysterious "wild men" haunted the site. All these attract large numbers of tourists, investigators and adventurists.