China Guide
The Yangzi basin
Shennongjia Forest Reserve
Shennongjia Forest Reserve encloses a rugged chain of mountains, culminating in the 3053-metre-high Da Shennongjia, the tallest peak in central China. Botanically, this is one of the country's richest corners, famed for its rare and diverse plantlife. Intriguingly, Shennongjia has also hosted sightings of the Chinese wild man, whose existence seems far from impossible in this stronghold of ancient plants – but even if he eludes you, there's a good chance of seeing endangered golden monkeys here.
Excluded from many tourist agendas, Shennongjia is easy to reach from Yichang, 200km to the southeast – three days is sufficient for a quick return trip – though most of the region is actually off limits to foreigners. Chinese maps highlight the central Shennongjia town (known locally as Songbai or Songbo) as an access point: arrive here and you will be arrested, fined and booted out by the PSB police. But if you stick to the open area around the village of Muyu Zhen – the service centre for the reserve, with hotels and transport links – you'll have a trouble-free trip; just remember that its altitude makes the region very cold in winter, and the reserve can be snowbound between November and May.
Minibuses from outside Yichang's bus station leave every thirty minutes between dawn and mid-afternoon for the four-hour run to XINGSHAN (¥45), where minibuses continue to Muyu Zhen (2hr).
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