Shennongjia Forest Nature Reserve
By admin on 2015-01-30

Located in the west part of Hubei Province, Shennongjia nature reserve is named after Shennongshi (Emperor Yan) who once tasted all kinds of plants here to look for cures for people’s diseases according to the legend. The reserve covers a total area of 76,950 hectares with its highest Shennong Peak of 3,105m above sea level. Now the reserve has been accepted by the International Man and Biosphere Reserve Network of UNESCO.

Shennongjia reserve is characterized by high mountains, steep slopes and deep valleys, which have formed its unique landscape. Here the ecological communities of animals and plants are well preserved, including the ancient rare plants, such as emmenoplerys, Katsura Trees, taxus tissue, and polar trees. Besides, there are thousands kinds of herbs, among which the rhizoma gastrodiae, goldthread root and seven-leaf one-flower are the precious or local herbs. Therefore Shennongjia is reputed as “Garden of Herbs” or “Natural Herb Garden”. It ranks the first in the Middle China in terms of species category and number. Here live 334 types of amniotes and several wild animals under national key protection including golden monkey, south China tiger, leopard, White-crowned Long-tailed Phea. At present, there are 800 to 900 golden monkeys in the area.

The wide forest sea, the intact ecological system, the rich species variety, the agreeable climate conditions and primitive inland high-mountain culture jointly compose the colorful landscape of Shennongjia reserve, which is reputed as the “green pearl”.