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Shennongjia or Shennongjia Nature Reserve Area is a wildest scenery,
combining rolling, majestic mountains and vast expanses of thick forest
which is situated in Fangxian County, in western Hubei Province, covering
an area of 3,250 square kilometres. Over 1000 meters above sea level
on an average, it has six peaks measuring 3,000 meters above sea level,
known as "The Roof Of Central China". Where virgin forest,
one of famous China's Green Treasure Houses, is located. Here discovered
are more than 2000 species of wild plants, out of which over 30 belong
to world's rarity or China's specialty, and 500 species of wild animals,
comprising over 20 rare and precious types listed under the state
protection. No.1 Peak in Central China.
It's the main
peak of Shennongjia, 3053 meters above sea level, towering face
to face with the nearby Minfen Peak, of 3105 meters above sea level.
Lofty and majestic, it glistens with the sun in one moment, but
another moment gets lost in clouds and mist. From the top down,
the Peak is covered, in three circumscribing tiers, with forests
of firs, bamboo and cypresses. Stretching far and wide, the firs,
with a trunk as tall as 40 meters, and of a circumference as long
as four men's arms extended and linked, stand straight and upright
with dense branches and foliage the sun light can hardly penetrate.
The ground inside the forest, is dotted with azaleas of various
colors-pink, dark violet, crystal etc. The primeval forest looks
fantastic. Climbing to the top of the lofty Peak, one enjoys a very
pleasant view of the surrounding luxuriantly green mountains and
ridges.
Hongpin "Picture
Gallery"
The 30 miles
long valley is flanked by numerous craggy and perilous peaks, and
gifted with 3 waterfalls, 5 pools, 6 caves, 7 springs and streams,
8 cliffs, 9 boulders, plus 4 bridges. In spring, all flowers burst
into bloom. The waters are gurgling all the year round. "Every
step is a picture", as some one acclaims. The Tianjing Cave
(The Cave Of Skylight) is endowed with a light shaft, through which
the blue sky and drifting clouds over-head, can be glimpsed. Within
the Cave, there's another karats cave with a spring splashing down.
Reflections
upon the Valley Lake The lake, 15 km. long and 200 meters wide,
is embraced at its two banks by the craggy cliffs overgrown with
lush woods. Its smooth surface mirrors the peaks, trees and clouds,
with the reflections merging into one with the waters, and looking
as though fish swam among the trees in the lake, while birds flew
amidst billowy water clouds.
Area of Concentration
of white animals In the area close to the summit of the Mountain,
exist a great variety of white animals such as white bears, white
deers, white rats, white snakes, white monkeys. Places like this
are few and far between in China as well as in the rest of the world.
Shennongjia
Nature Reserve Area has the wildest scenery in Hubei, combining
rolling, majestic mountains and vast expanses of thick forest.Shennongding,
3105 meters above sea level, is the highest peak in central China.
But among the mountains there are many beautiful valleys, including
the so-called Hongping Gallery, with its "natural" art
displays. Caves, waterfalls and trickling streams add to the charm
of the region.Of the more than 2000 species of wild plants, around
30 are rare. The area is also home to 500 species of wild animals,
including 20 that are officially protected by the state.
A state-level
nature reserve and the biggest virgin forest in east China, it covers
an area of 350 square kilometers. Legend has it that Shennongshi,
the "Holy Peasant", came to this place and experimented
with all kinds of herbs growing on the mountain, with the purpose
of finding cures for diseases. Because the mountain was so high
and so difficult to reach, he had to build scaffolds in order to
collect the medicinal herbs. This is why the mountain is now called
Shennonjia, meaning Shennong's Scaffold. In the forest are one thousand
species of rare trees and animals. It is said that mysterious "wild
men" haunted the site. All these attract large numbers of tourists,
investigators and adventurists.
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