Shennongjia
Prime Forest in the west of Hubei Province
adjacent to Sichuan Province is 3,250 square kilometers of forests, mountains,
minority villages and the home of the Chinese 'big foot ape' and the realm of
plants including invaluable ones that have survived since the Tertiary Period.
The virgin forests are the habitat of both animals commonly found in the south
and those usually found in the north. In fact the fauna of the Shennongjia
consists of more than 570 kinds
of
wildlife. Shennongjia mountain scenic spots were open to foreign travelers
in 1994 and have become another newly developed tourist attraction. Its major
scenic spots are the Golden Monkey Hill: it is a well-protected mountain forest
about 2500 meters above sea level. It is the home of all rarer fauna and flora
such as white bears, white snub-nosed monkeys and golden monkeys, rhododendron,
azalea and other flowering plants and herbs. Because this area is full of wildlife
especially the golden snub-nosed monkeys, hence it is given the name of Golden
Monkey Hill; the Ban Bi Crag: it is another forest mountain area about 2700
meters above seas level. Ban Bi Crag is proud of its breathtaking natural
beauties
and abundant rhododendron of different varieties dotted here and there at upper
part of the mountain. During the blooming season from May through to August
the different colors of azalea and other rare plants have made the whole area
resplendent and gorgeous. It is the right place for plant lovers to come; Muyuzhen
Town: located south of the Shennongjia about 1200 meters above sea level,
is the gateway to Golden Monkey Hill, Ban Bi Crag and other major attractions
where natural scenery is spectacular and gorgeous, rare flora such as
rhododendron
and azalea abound. Duration of days there: 3 or 4 days. The local tourist hotel:
Shennong Resort Hotel Add: A1 Muyuzhen, Muyuzhen Town, Shennongjia
Region, Hubei 442400 Tel: (0719) 345 2513 Fax: (0719) 345 2514
