Shennongjia is said to be the place where the Emperor Yan once lived. Some visitors hope that they may even encounter the legendary yeren (“wild man”), China”s equivalent of Bigfoot, in the remote mountains and virgin forests.
They do not actually see any “wild man”, but they’re attracted by Shennongjia’s vibrant ecology, rich biodiversity and karst landforms.
Shennongjia’s beauty varies over the year as nature takes its course. Tourists can enjoy flower blossoms in spring, be shaded from the summer heat, appreciate red leaves in autumn and go skiing in winter.
In 2016, China announced its ambitious plan of building 10 pilot national parks for ecosystem preservation, including in Shennongjia Forestry District, Central China’s Hubei province.
Official data showed that tourist visits to Shennongjia Forestry District reached more than 15.5 million last year. By 2025, the…