# Shennongjia travel guide (神农架) Hubei Province · Central China, China · 5 places Canonical: https://cnatrip.com/en/destinations/hubei/shennongjia ## Quick itinerary - **Day 1:** Shennongding Scenic Area (Xiaolongtan → Jinhouling → Shennongying Summit → Shennong Valley → Banbiyan → Taiziya) → Dajiuhu Pingqian Ancient Town (accommodation) - **Day 2:** Dajiuhu Scenic Area → Xiangxiyuan Scenic Area → Muyu Town (accommodation) - **Day 3:** Tianshengqiao Scenic Area → Tianyan Scenic Area → Yuquan River Scenic Area ## The feel of the place - **Flower Sea and Herbal Kingdom:** Legend has it that the ancient Shennong (Divine Farmer) once tasted hundreds of herbs here to heal people. Shennongjia's plant life is extraordinarily diverse, and from Shizhu River to Shennongding the air is scented with flowers. The area has more than 2,000 types of Chinese medicinal herbs, making it a world-renowned giant herb garden. Its rich traditional medicinal resources are one of the region's unique tourism assets. - **World Natural Heritage:** On 17 July 2016, at the 40th session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee, Hubei's Shennongjia was inscribed on the World Heritage List. ## The feel of the place ### Best Time to Visit Late September to April of the following year is the frost season. June through October is the best time to visit Shennongjia. ### Travel Tips 1. Shennongjia's primeval forest is vast, transport is limited, and many areas are closed to visitors. To avoid getting lost, it is best to hire a guide, which costs about ¥150 per day. 2. When hiking in the forest, wear a hat, long sleeves and long trousers, and tuck in your cuffs and trouser legs. Wear high boots to protect yourself against venomous insects and snakes. 3. If you are caught in a thunderstorm in the mountains, first identify your direction, then find a relatively open flat area. This keeps you from getting lost and away from lightning strikes. 4. Essentials to bring: a sealed container (for matches and a raincoat), UV-protection sunglasses, a penknife, rope, and a compass. ## Getting there & around ### Getting There ### By Air Shennongjia Hongping Airport opened in October 2013. It currently has direct flights to Wuhan, Chongqing and Shanghai; other destinations require a connection. Shuttle buses run to Muyu Town and Songbai Town, departing according to the arrival times of flights. ### By High-Speed Rail Since the high-speed rail line opened, reaching Shennongjia has become much easier. High-speed trains run to Shennongjia from Beijing, Shanghai, Chengdu, Chongqing, Zhengzhou, Guangzhou, Guiyang, Kunming and other cities. ### “Gaoxia Pinghu” Sightseeing Boat The Yichang–Shennongjia route takes 2 hours 40 minutes by boat to Xingshan Tourist Wharf. From there, it is a 1.5-hour bus ride to the Muyu Provincial Tourist Resort in Shennongjia. ### By Road The main roads within the forest area are National Highway 209 and the Baiguoshu and Honghuaduo provincial roads, while Jiuhuping and the Jiuhu district road link up with them. Roads in the area total more than 1,300 km, running north–south and east–west across the region, and connect with the road networks of Xiangyang, Shiyan, Yichang, Xingshan, Badong and other cities and counties. Most visitors arrive from Shiyan or Yichang. From Shiyan, you first reach Songbai Town; from Yichang, you first reach Muyu Town. ### Yichang → Shennongjia Take an express bus from Yichang to Xingshan County (¥25, one bus every 30 minutes, about 3.5 hours). Then change in Xingshan for Muyu in Shennongjia (¥25, only 40 minutes). Alternatively, take a direct bus from Yichang to Shennongjia: 6 buses daily, ¥76. - phone: Yichang Central Station 0717-6910888 ### Shiyan → Shennongjia Shiyan is about 202 km from Shennongjia, a journey of around 7 hours. There is one bus a day, departing at 9:00 am, for ¥90. ### Wuhan → Shennongjia From Wuhan Xinhua Road Long-Distance Bus Station, one bus departs daily at 8:00 pm for Xingshan County, arriving at 6:00 am the next day. In Xingshan, minibuses run to Muyu Town in Shennongjia every half hour. You can also take a train from Wuhan to Shiyan, then catch the 9:00 am bus from the bus station to Songbai Town in Shennongjia. ### Chongqing → Shennongjia You can take a boat and disembark at Badong Port, where buses to Shennongjia leave daily at 5:30 am. A direct Chongqing–Shennongjia bus is also now available, with a round-trip fare including admission of ¥498. The Shennongjia Bus Station runs daily buses to the following cities: Wuhan (1 bus), Shiyan (1), Fang County (2), Yichang (1), Laohekou (1), Xingshan (1), Zigui (1) and Badong (1). You can also take a bus to Xingshan County and transfer to a minibus to Muyu, a 1.5-hour trip costing ¥30 per person. ### Getting Around Internal sightseeing shuttles departing before 7:30 am all stop at the main scenic spots. If you hire a car: a non-air-conditioned 7-seat minivan costs ¥200–300 per day; a 10-seat air-conditioned minibus costs ¥500 per day. ## Eat & drink The Shennongjia area has a local rhyme: “Potatoes to eat, fire-baked dough lumps to bite, rice liquor with cured pork — beyond the immortals, there's only me.” It describes everyday local food. When you visit Shennongjia, be sure to try the local cured pork, potatoes and tender tofu. Wild vegetables are also a local specialty. Shennong Tujia feasts and Shennongjia wild vegetable dishes will give you plenty to enjoy. ## Shopping Local specialties include Shennong tea, shiitake mushrooms, Chinese herbal medicines, wooden chopping boards, Gynostemma (jiaogulan), wild honey, red birch sap, root carvings, crystal stones, wild walnuts and chestnuts. They are sold on the streets of Muyu Town and Songbai Town. ## Where to stay Most visitors to Shennongjia stay in Muyu Town, where hotels are concentrated. The local two-star hotels, Shennong Mountain Villa and Tianlu Resort, offer good accommodation and facilities. Other options include Hepingt Hotel, Shenbao Hotel, Big Forest Villa and Shennong Resort. Muyu Tourism Development Zone also has guesthouses in local-style houses. ## Things to see - **Tianyan Primeval Ecological Tourism Area** (★★★★★): Admission ¥60; joint ticket ¥480 (includes Shennong Peak, Shennong Altar, Tiansheng Bridge, Guanmen Mountain, Tianyan, and Dajiuhu); Opening hours 7:00–17:30 (June 26–October 31); 8:30–17:30 (November 1–June 25) Yanzi Pass and Yanzi Cave are said to be where Yandi Shennong and Taishang Laojun once met. At an altitude of 2,200 m, the pass faces Tianmen Pass across a north–south axis, overlooks the Zizhu River valley, and is surrounded by extensive primeval forest. About 1,000 m northeast of Yanzi Pass, on a cliffside, lies the renowned Yanzi Cave. The cave is 14 m high and 16 m wide, with a main passage of about 3,700 m. It is home to large numbers of short-billed swiftlets (短嘴金丝燕). Shennongjia's favourable natural environment has caused them to lose the migratory habits typical of their kind, so they no longer fly south or north. From the stone-stepped pavilion northwest of Yanzi Pass, looking back toward the cave mouth, you can see the spectacular sight of swarms of swiftlets wheeling through the air. Hongping Gallery, also known as Shennong Ladder, is a large gorge within the primeval forest. The peaks and streams of the gallery each have their own charm through the four seasons. North of Hongping Gallery is the Tianmen Pass scenic area; if you have ample time, visit both. — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/tianyan-primeval-ecological-tourism-area - **Xiangxiyuan Scenic Area** (★★★★★): Admission ¥30; bonfire party ¥120; Opening hours 8：00—18：00; Time needed 2–3 hours — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/xiangxiyuan-scenic-area - **Shennongding Scenic Area** (★★★★★): Admission ¥130; Time needed 0.5–1 day — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/shennongding-scenic-area - **Yuquan River Scenic Area** (★★★★): — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/yuquan-river-scenic-area - **Dajiuhu National Wetland Park** (★★★★): Admission ¥100; Time needed 3–5 hours — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/dajiuhu-national-wetland-park --- Source: China Self-Guided Travel 2025 (《中国自助游》, Tianjin Science & Technology Press, Aug 2024), pp. 2039–2049. Prices, hours and transport details are as printed in the August 2024 edition and may have changed. Always confirm with the venue before you travel.