The entry of the Shennong Stream scenic area

Shennong Stream (神农溪) originates from Shennong Ridges, flows through Badong County (巴东县) in Hubei Province and links to Yangtze River in the east of Wu Gorge. Shennong is actually a valley stream to which the water is as if a silvery belt embedded among the mountains. The 60-kilometer-long stream is also known the Jade Passage of Yangtze River.

Living along the Shennong Stream is a luxurious dream or desire to many urban people. It is another world, an idyllic and beautiful place. There is no the anxiety and worries of urban life and no distorted values to money, society and life. It is a virgin land with China’s ancient and traditional custom, mysterious and charming local culture, beautiful flowery, purified smile, the open-minded and impassioned folk songs as well as the comfortable lifestyles in the countryside.

The misty morning scene

On the way to Shennong Stream, its charming mountains and greens on both sides will intoxicate you. It is the virgin forests and original mountains without any human affects and reconstructions. It totally belongs to the nature and wild animals. Wherever the human is, the pollution and natural disasters will be there. Hence, Shennong Stream is one most valued place for human to visit quietly and seriously. The steep mountains and the silvery water from the heaven make you forget this earthly world. Shennong Stream is clearer than the table-water that can directly use for human drinking.

Local wedding and funeral ceremonies diversify the local custom. Sitting on the boats free drift and listening carefully to the local pretty guides’ introduction. It is really a dreamland full of smile, sunshine, and comfort. You do not want to return. If you find there are some cottages separately surrounded by many trees on both sides of mountains. Please do not surprise. It means there is a beautiful and unmarried girl in this family and tells you that you will have opportunities to marry this beauty. The folk songs are also as charming as the local girls are. You may like to join in a wedding ceremony or bridegroom-selection performance, you will be probably lucky to be selected by those performers as her bridegroom in the performance, and then you could learn more from it! Perhaps you will be willing to be a real bridegroom here!

Boat ride

If you are the lucky enough you may see some wild animals suddenly revealing in the trees on both sides of stream, even you could hear the ape’s sound far from the mountain. It is said that some visitors in the past have once met wild men somewhere around Shennong Stream. The mysterious hanging coffins on both sides of cliffs may broaden your eyes. It is an enigma so far that what kind of measures the ancient people took to raise these coffins up to those high cliffs.