shennong stream excursion

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Shennong Stream – Picture Scroll of Serene Nature

Shennong Stream Facts

Shennong Stream between Wu Gorge and Xiling Gorge on the Yangtze River is a popular shore excursion site, highlighted with the tranquil and primitive natural landscape, mysterious history, stories and folk customs about hanging cliff and trestle road in the past, and other interesting local culture.

Type: Bodies of Water, Nature & Parks

Best Time: May to October

Recommended Visiting Hours: 2-4 hours

Open Hours: 07:00-15:00

Tickets: 200¥/person

Address: Badong County, Hubei Province, China

Overview of Shennong Stream

Shennong Stream (神农溪), a 60 kilometers’ small tributary of the Yangtze River , is famous for its picturesque scenery and announced a “National AAAAA Tourist Attraction”. It originates from the south hill of Shennongjia that is regarded at the “No.1 Peak in Central China”, and located on the border between Wu Gorge and Xiling Gorge.

It is a mysterious place filled with history , culture and nature’s splendor . Visitors can board a traditional sampan, drifting to see cascading waterfalls, steep cliffs, karst caves, three-colored springs and an amazing array of fish, birds, and monkeys playing near the riverside.

Also historic and cultural wonders reminds here. Carved into the steep cliffs a plank road was built in ancient times to help travelers on foot navigate the gorges, and ancient hanging coffins are suspended high on the cliff faces. You could take some time guess about the mysteries of the handing coffins, local ancient trestle road along the cliff, and the trace of the ancient savages there. Moreover, sweet love songs of the local ethnic people can be heard.

Highlights of Shennong Stream

On both banks of Shennong Stream, emerald mountains rise continuously and windingly, with diverse features of magnificent, elegant, strange and precipitously, which forms four distinct gorges, namely Longchang Gorge, Parrot Gorge, Mianzhu Gorge and Shennong Gorge. Besides, drifting on the local sampan and appreciate the hanging wooden coffins are must-enjoy highlighting activities at Shennong Stream. Check the features of each one at below.

Longchang Gorge

Longchang Gorge (龙昌峡) with the total length of 5.7km winds deeply like multiple entrances in the valley, and the entire gorge is less than 20 meters wide and looks really magnificent. There’s no wonder that the famous poet Du Fu in ancient Tang Dynasty praised this gorge no primitive and idyllic when he visited this amazing place. Besides, nowadays, during your boating time here, you could enjoy the beautiful reflection of the lush mountains, blue sky and white clouds in the water, appreciate the passing sceneries on the banks while you are still, and spend every second in the “picture scroll”.

Mianzhu Gorge

Mianzhu Gorge (绵竹峡) of 5 kilometers long is famous for its precipitous feature. Since this gorge is so narrow, with the narrowest part of no more than 5m, you could find a view called “Yixiantian”, which is a thin strip of the sky. While you are marveling at the unbelievable skill of nature, you could enjoy the colorful lush vegetation and fragrant floras on banks. Every corner is a chance to treat your eyes. Take the sampan to stroll along such a nice wonderland on earth.

Parrot Gorge

Parrot Gorge (Yingwu Gorge, 鹦鹉峡) is 7.5m long totally and featured with elegance. In this gorgeous place, visitors could admire the green hills standing on both banks with full mountains of blooming flowers, rose in spring, cottonrose hibiscus in summer, wild chrysanthemum in autumn and wintersweets in the cold winter season. Every blossom and every plant decorate Parrot Gorge so well to make it seem from afar many different excellent landscape painting works hanging in the sky.

Suspended Coffins

The burial of hanging coffin is a burial ceremony of ancient Ba people who are the ancestors of local Tujia ethnic group at Shennong Stream, having a long history of over 2,000 years. It is said the higher the coffin is hung on the cliff, the better official position and prosperous live the children of the dead people would get, which is because the world “coffin” and “official position” share the same pronunciation of “Guan” with the in Chinese. At present, if you visit Shennong Stream, you could find some very old coffins hanging in the small cave on the steep cliff at the gorge. However, the mystery of how ancient people put and hung and so heavy coffins up there has not been solved yet.

Local Sampan Drifting

Taking a small local sampan (豆荚船, peapod boat by local) to drift along the Shennong Gorge would be the best and happiest thing to enjoy the charming primitive sceneries and feel the simple and nice of Mother Nature. Since the stream is very natural without pollution, the extremely clear water could be seen, in which colorful and diverse shaped cobblestones would make your drifting more interesting. Board on the so lovely boat to enjoy the really antique and historical means of transportation in China.

Transportation to Shennong Stream

Shennong Stream is located in Badong County in Hubei Province, about 3.5-4 hours’ driving distance from Yichang City. For visitors taking some specific Yangtze River cruise ships, you can visit the stream during your cruise since the ship would stop there for several hours for your discovery. Besides, there will be local guides to lead you to the tourist area, so you don’t need to worry about the transportation. Just focus to enjoy the sceneries and time with other visitors.

Check which Yangtze Cruise ships visit Shennong Stream.

Address of Yichang Coach Station: No.126 Dongshan Avenue, Xiling District, Yichang City, Hubei Province. (宜昌市西陵区东山大道126号)

Address of Dock in Badong County: No.191, Yanjiang Road, Xiinling Town, Badong County, Hubei Province. (巴东县信陵镇沿江路191号)

Best Time to Visit Shennong Stream

Among all months during a year, May to October is the best time to enjoy the eye-pleasing verdant forest, clear spring in Shennong Stream. Besides, weather during those months is the most suitable and stable for enjoying a holiday. You can appreciate the beauties of four seasons once during that period. No matter escaping from the summer heat, pursuing for some serenity, or discovering some mysteries.

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Shennong Stream - A Fun Excursion of Yangtze Cruise

• Shennong Stream

Shennong Stream is a special shore excursion for you while on your Yangtze River Cruise . You will disembark from your ship, and switch to a smaller ferry boat, which will sail for about 20 minutes and carry you to the Shennong Stream landing. Then, each group will don life jackets and switch again to several traditional sampans (small wooden boats that hold approximately 12 passengers and 6 boatmen). Local people call them "peapod boats" because of their appearance.

Ethnic Group

The sampan crew consists of the captain, who steers the boat, and three or four boat trackers, who sit on the bow. The boat trackers are Tujia ethnic minority group. It is their job to assist the boat over the shallow spots along the river. They get out of the sampan and drag it over the shallow area by pulling on ropes. There will be several times when they work hard to get you over the shallow parts.

You will also have a local Tujia minority guide with you, who will explain everything. During the tour, the guide will introduce interesting local ethnic traditions such as their crying marriage ceremony. If you would like, the guide will also sing some traditional folk songs or sweet love songs for you. The combination of no engine noise, narrow gorges, beautiful scenery, and traditional songs will give you memories that will last a lifetime.

Pristine Nature and Picturesque Scenery

Shennong Stream is a narrow tributary of the Yangtze River. It is 60 kilometers long and has a swift current for most of its length. The purpose of the excursion is to get a firsthand view of its pristine nature and picturesque scenery.

One of the first features of the Yangtze River that any visitor notices is its dark brown color. It definitely appears to be a dirty river. The Yangtze's brown color is, in fact, its life-giving force. The color comes from the silt that is being carried downstream from the mountains and valleys it passes through. When you take a sampan along the Shennong Stream, you will be surprised by the contrast in color. Its beautiful emerald green water flowing swiftly through deep gorges, are much different from the Yangtze's dark brown that you will have become accustomed to.

The Shennong Stream tour is exhilarating and fun. The scenery along this tributary of the Yangtze is spectacular. All along the river's shores are signs of ancient Chinese civilization. There is much to look at steep ridges and peaks, huge caves, thick vegetation, wildflowers, plank roads built along cliffs and the ancient hanging coffins which date back approximately 2,000 years. Ancient local inhabitants buried their dead in hanging coffins in little recesses on the sides of the cliffs. How they got the coffins to these remote areas baffles scholars to this day. Due to their high elevation, many of the coffins cannot be seen with the naked eye. Now you can get a better view than ever before because the Three Gorges Dam has been completed and the water level of the stream is now higher.

Along the stream, your local guide will point to the markers indicating the height that the stream has flooded in the past. Everything below these markers has been below water at some point.

You will not only the sheer vertical cliffs and jagged peaks but also will observe some of the spectacular wildlife that lives in the area. It is a real treat to see macaque monkeys, and tropical birds flying overhead.

Boat Trackers

One way people along the Yangtze River have made their living for centuries is by boat tracking. Even today with diesel engines, boat trackers are the only way for a boat to travel on the river. Originally boat trackers worked all over the Yangtze River, but now they are primarily located on the Shennong Stream.

When one of the small river boats gets stuck on a sandbar, it is time for the trackers to jump into action. Only a few feet above the ancient waterline a thin ledge runs for several miles. It is barely 60cm wide it was cut by hand from the solid rock walls. The trackers climb onto this ledge and, by using ropes connected to the boats, tow the boats off the sandbar. Then they jump back into the boats and the boat is now free to travel on until it gets stuck again. It is backbreaking work that has remained unchanged for centuries.

This is impressive but you may feel a bit guilty. These boat trackers, who keep the old tradition alive, are local farmers who do this to earn some extra money and supplement their income. In the summertime, because of the heat and to keep their clothes dry, the boat trackers used to do this naked. Now they wear shorts, shirts and also woven rope sandals to prevent slipping on the smooth rocks. The long ropes are made of braided bamboo strips, which are soaked in water making them very strong.

Sometimes they sing in unison as they pull. The singing, which, of course, you will not be able to understand, is not beautiful but loud. It contrasts sharply with the quiet stillness of the gorges. Maybe they are singing just to alleviate their tiredness. After traveling quite some distance up the Shennong Stream, and passing through many beautiful gorges, the boat trackers will run the sampan aground on the rocky shore. There you will leave the sampan to stretch your legs, and explore the beach in search of some beautiful weather-worn rocks. There are many in all shapes, sizes and beautiful colors. You will then return to the cruise line which is waiting for you and set sail for your next destination.

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Shennong Stream

On the border between Wu Gorge and Xiling Gorge is the Shennong Stream. Taking its rise from the main peak of Shennong Jia (the first peak in the center of China) and flowing through Badong County, it ultimately flows into the Yangtze River via the Wu Gorge. Cruising along the stream by boat, visitors will become immersed in the wonders of zigzagging watercourses, the primitive environment, the canzonet by the boat tracker, and the mysterious culture along the banks.  

Unique Scenery

Along with the grandeur, elegance and danger of the Yangtze River, the Shennong Stream has its own unique scenery. It has four natural gorges - Chengnong, Mianzhu, Yingwu  and Longchang  - and each has unique characteristics.  

Drifting along the Stream

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Shennong stream.

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Shennong Stream is located on the border between Wu Gorge and Xiling Gorge, and as a tributary of the Yangtze River, it joins the Yangtze at Xirankou in Badong County, Hubei Province. Originationg at Shennongjia in Hubei Province, the first peak in Central China, it enters the Yangtze River at the eastern mounth of the Wu Gorge.

The 60-kilometer tributary of the Yangtze River rises in the southern part of Shennongjia Natural Reserve, and runs out of the deep valley through the forest at a height of 3000m above sea level, rushing southward between rocky cliffs.

A section about 20 kilometers between Yinwu Gorge and Longchuan Gorge is for drifting.

The landscape on both banks of the river is unique and tranquil and the water is clear. By taking a small hand-rowing boat, you will begin to drift quickly and you will find it to be a thrilling and an exciting experience.

Shennong Stream cruise excursion will give you the opportunity to see cascading waterfalls, steep cliffs, karst caves, three-colored springs, and an amazing array of fish, birds, and monkeys as they play near the water's edge.

A Shennong Stream excursion will take you through several gorges.

One is the Mian Zhu Gorge, which translates to "bamboo". If you look at the cliffs, you will be treated to a view of stalactites in every shape and size imaginable. This gorge is so narrow that the walls above almost touch, a place known as Yixiantian, which means a "Rift in the Sky".

Another gorge included in your trip down the Shennong Stream is called Yingwu, which means "parrot". This too is simply a gorgeous area that boasts sweet smelling flowers and dense green vegetation. From this vantage point, the three-colored springs spray the air. You will also discover the Swallow Cave, a unique place where virtually thousands of short-beaked golden swallows live.

The third gorge along your trip on the Shennong Stream is Longchuan. With a reputation for its magical beauty, this gorge is stunning with rocky cliffs, one in particular known as the Peak Baota, translating to "tower". This cliff reaches upwards, an incredible site where archaeologists have discovered a number of ancient battle tools. Each stop along the sampan tour of the Shennong Stream offers something special, making this a perfect experience.

For reservations contact our cruise specialist by e-mail or using Booking & Enquiry From online.

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• Shennong Stream – Picture Scroll of Serene Nature

Shennong Stream Facts

Shennong Stream between Wu Gorge and Xiling Gorge on the Yangtze River is a popular shore excursion site, highlighted with the tranquil and primitive natural landscape, mysterious history, stories and folk customs about hanging cliff and trestle road in the past, and other interesting local culture.

Type: Bodies of Water, Nature & Parks

Best Time: May to October

Recommended Visiting Hours: 2-4 hours

Open Hours: 07:00-15:00

Tickets: 200¥/person

Address: Badong County, Hubei Province, China

As a tributary of Yangtze River, Shennong Stream is located in the Badong County of Hubei Province. Geographically, it sits between Wu Gorge and Xiling Gorge. Floating along the stream on a wooden boat, discover caves, roads lined with planks built along cliff tops, and ancient hanging coffins. Visiting Shennong Stream is included with President Cruises. For more information about inclusions on tour, be sure to ask your TravelTourChina.com travel consultant.

Highlights of Shennong Stream

On both banks of Shennong Stream, emerald mountains rise continuously and windingly, with diverse features of magnificent, elegant, strange and precipitously, which forms four distinct gorges, namely Longchang Gorge, Parrot Gorge, Mianzhu Gorge and Shennong Gorge. Besides, drifting on the local sampan and appreciate the hanging wooden coffins are must-enjoy highlighting activities at Shennong Stream. Check the features of each one at below.

Longchang Gorge

Longchang Gorge (龙昌峡) with the total length of 5.7km winds deeply like multiple entrances in the valley, and the entire gorge is less than 20 meters wide and looks really magnificent. There’s no wonder that the famous poet Du Fu in ancient Tang Dynasty praised this gorge no primitive and idyllic when he visited this amazing place. Besides, nowadays, during your boating time here, you could enjoy the beautiful reflection of the lush mountains, blue sky and white clouds in the water, appreciate the passing sceneries on the banks while you are still, and spend every second in the “picture scroll”.

Mianzhu Gorge

Mianzhu Gorge (绵竹峡) of 5 kilometers long is famous for its precipitous feature. Since this gorge is so narrow, with the narrowest part of no more than 5m, you could find a view called “Yixiantian”, which is a thin strip of the sky. While you are marveling at the unbelievable skill of nature, you could enjoy the colorful lush vegetation and fragrant floras on banks. Every corner is a chance to treat your eyes. Take the sampan to stroll along such a nice wonderland on earth.

Parrot Gorge

Parrot Gorge (Yingwu Gorge, 鹦鹉峡) is 7.5m long totally and featured with elegance. In this gorgeous place, visitors could admire the green hills standing on both banks with full mountains of blooming flowers, rose in spring, cottonrose hibiscus in summer, wild chrysanthemum in autumn and wintersweets in the cold winter season. Every blossom and every plant decorate Parrot Gorge so well to make it seem from afar many different excellent landscape painting works hanging in the sky.

Suspended Coffins

The burial of hanging coffin is a burial ceremony of ancient Ba people who are the ancestors of local Tujia ethnic group at Shennong Stream, having a long history of over 2,000 years. It is said the higher the coffin is hung on the cliff, the better official position and prosperous live the children of the dead people would get, which is because the world “coffin” and “official position” share the same pronunciation of “Guan” with the in Chinese. At present, if you visit Shennong Stream, you could find some very old coffins hanging in the small cave on the steep cliff at the gorge. However, the mystery of how ancient people put and hung and so heavy coffins up there has not been solved yet.

Local Sampan Drifting

Taking a small local sampan (豆荚船, peapod boat by local) to drift along the Shennong Gorge would be the best and happiest thing to enjoy the charming primitive sceneries and feel the simple and nice of Mother Nature. Since the stream is very natural without pollution, the extremely clear water could be seen, in which colorful and diverse shaped cobblestones would make your drifting more interesting. Board on the so lovely boat to enjoy the really antique and historical means of transportation in China.

Transportation to Shennong Stream

Shennong Stream is located in Badong County in Hubei Province, about 3.5-4 hours’ driving distance from Yichang City. For visitors taking some specific Yangtze River cruise ships, you can visit the stream during your cruise since the ship would stop there for several hours for your discovery. Besides, there will be local guides to lead you to the tourist area, so you don’t need to worry about the transportation. Just focus to enjoy the sceneries and time with other visitors.

Address of Yichang Coach Station: No.126 Dongshan Avenue, Xiling District, Yichang City, Hubei Province. (宜昌市西陵区东山大道126号)

Address of Dock in Badong County: No.191, Yanjiang Road, Xiinling Town, Badong County, Hubei Province. (巴东县信陵镇沿江路191号)

Best Time to Visit Shennong Stream

Among all months during a year, May to October is the best time to enjoy the eye-pleasing verdant forest, clear spring in Shennong Stream. Besides, weather during those months is the most suitable and stable for enjoying a holiday. You can appreciate the beauties of four seasons once during that period. No matter escaping from the summer heat, pursuing for some serenity, or discovering some mysteries.

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Shennong Stream

Located in the Three Gorges of the Yangtze River in Hubei Province, Shennong Stream runs for 60 km in the regions north of the Yangtze River and enters the Yangtze at Xixiangkou in Badong County. The precipices on the sides are very high, most having an angle of 80-90 degrees and the relative height differences are 300-800 m. The narrowest section is less than 5 m wide. The daily volume of flow is 20 cu. m. per second. The drop in elevation at the (Monkey Cave Shoal is 3 m.

The scenery in the stream looks quite majestic, precipitous and secluded. The banks are binhabited by Tujia ethnic groups. Some 20 km has been opened to drifting enthusiasts: a small boat will take people drifting through the Bamboo Gorge, Parrot Gorge and Longchang Gorge with different features and charms. Tourist can see monkeys playing in the trees, deer and Mongolian gazelles running in the flourishing flowers and dense forests and bushes on the mountains, or swallows flying in the sky and fish swimming in the clear water. Travelers can also visit the 60-odd stalactite caves or some 30 shoats with various futures. On the rock-faces are dotted plank roadway, hanged coffins, simple Tujia villages. It is a natural tourist spot with unique folk customs but not yet any pollution

The natural beauty and local color of Shennong stream have attracted the interest of overseas tourists. The Shennong Stream Special Rafting Tour is a key program. The tour covers 20 kilometers from Mian Zhu (Bamboo) Gorge to Yingwu (Parrot) Gorge and Longchuan Gorge. During the rafting tour, you might see large and small karst caves, home of many swallows, a world of high cliffs, deep gorges, flying waterfalls, three-colored springs, the ancient trestle path the suspended coffin in the cliff, the groups of ancient tombs and marvelous karst formations.

The boats will raft to a Longchuanhe Village where the Tujia minority nationality people live. They are hardworking and hospitable people and are good at singing and dancing. You can catch a picture of Tujia’s local and traditional style of living.

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Shennong Stream - A Collection of Local Culture

Shennong Stream (神农溪) , a tributary of Yangtze River between Wu Gorge and Xiling Gorge , joins the Yangtze in Badong County, Hubei Province. Originating at Shennongjia Mountain in Hubei Province, the first peak in Central China, it enters the Yangtze River at the eastern mouth of the Wu Gorge.

With a distance of 60 km, Shennong Stream, Just like a dragon meandering through the forests at a height of 3000m above sea level, rushing southward between mountains and cliffs. Therefore, it fascinates the tourists with its special virtue of serenity , uniqueness , primitiveness and wilderness .

Tourists Experience in Shennong Stream:

• Appreciate the natural scenery all the way;
• Drift on a local peapod boat and immersed in the wonders of zigzagging watercourse;
• Enjoy the canzonet singing by the boat trackers ;
• Excited about the unique local ethnic minority Tujia flavor & culture ;
• Explore the historic relics - mysterious ancient coffins suspended high on the cliff and more.

Shennong Stream in Autumn

View Natural Scenery

Shennong Stream consists of three sections with their own features, that is, Mianzhu Gorge , Parrot Gorge , and Longchang Cave Gorge . A Shennong Stream excursion will take you to all of the three Gorges.

Mianzhu Gorge (棉竹峡)

If you look at the cliffs in Mianzhu Gorge , you will be treated to a view of stalactites in every shape and size imaginable. This gorge is so narrow that the walls above almost touch, a place known as Yixiantian, which means a "Rift in the Sky".

Parrot Gorge (鹦鹉峡)

Parrot Gorge too is simply a gorgeous area that boasts sweet smelling flowers and dense green vegetation. From this vantage point, the three-colored springs spray the air. You will also discover the Swallow Cave, a unique place where virtually thousands of short-beaked golden swallows live.

Longchang Cave Gorge (龙昌洞峡)

The third gorge along your trip on the Shennong Stream is Longchuan Cave Gorge . With a reputation for its magical beauty, this gorge is stunning with rocky cliffs, one in particular known as the Peak Baota, translating to "tower". This cliff reaches upwards, an incredible site where archaeologists have discovered a number of ancient battle tools.

Pristine Gorge Scenery

Longchang Cave Gorge Scene

Drift along the Stream

Drifting along the Shenong Stream in a small local sampan (called “peapod boats” by the locals) is the unique method for viewing the natural scenery, the ancient village and the flavor of Tujia (the local ethnic minority).

Before you take the peapod boat, an environmental protection boat will first take you to admire the gorgeous scenery. Then you will change to the peapod boat (14 yards long and two yards wide). Floating on a peapod boat, you can appreciate not only the natural scene all the way, but also the joys and excitement in fighting the winds and waves. It will be your lifetime thrilling and exciting experience.

Have fun while drifting along the stream

Authentic Experience from Our Guest:

"Certainly it is a Worthwhile Tour of a Magnificent Offshoot of the Yangtze."

A Shore excursion to Shennong Stream gave us the opportunity to see cascading waterfalls, steep cliffs, karst caves, three-colored springs, and an amazing array of fish, birds, and monkeys as they play near the water's edge. Probably the best excursion we did.

>> Check more photos of Shennong Stream .

In 2024, President Cruises , Yangtze 1 cruise and Yangtze Explorer offers both upstream and downstream shore excursion experience to Shennong Stream; Victoria Cruises and Yangtze 2 cruise only offer short trip to Shennong Stream for their upstream cruises.

Authentic Drifting Experience

To explore the serene natural beauty and the local culture in Shennong Stream, you can choose President Cruises and Yangtze Explorer for both upstream and downstream cruises. For a downstream tour, Victoria Cruises and New Century Cruises are your best choice.

More Yangtze River Cruise Shore Excursions

• Three Gorges
• Three Gorges Dam Site
• Fengdu Ghost City
• Shibaozhai Pagoda
• White Emperor City
• Tribe of Three Gorges
• Lesser Three Gorges
• Shennv Stream
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• War Fire of Three Kingdoms
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Shennong Stream – Ticket, Opening Hours, Location, and Highlights

Shennong Stream (神农溪), originating from the main peak of Shennongjia, flows eastward to join the Yangtze River at Wuxia Gorge . This picturesque watercourse is a quintessential canyon stream, characterized by towering peaks tightly embracing its path. The stream, formerly known as Yangdu River, earned its current name, Shennong Stream, due to a legend that traces back to the mythical figure Shennong, a legendary emperor and herbalist, who is said to have descended the stream after constructing a framework for medicinal herbs. The entire stream comprises three main gorges – Longchang Gorge, Yingwu Gorge, and Shennong Gorge – along with a tributary called Mianzhu Gorge.

Shennong Stream weaves through a dramatic landscape, with steep cliffs and turbulent waters cascading through a series of more than sixty rapids, including perilous shoals, lengthy sandbanks, winding bends, and shallow stretches. Despite its narrow and swift watercourse, the stream maintains a remarkable clarity.

To embark on an exploration of Shennong Stream, visitors typically board boats at the riverside pier in Badong County along the Yangtze River. The round trip takes approximately four hours, allowing travelers to marvel at the breathtaking scenery of the three gorges and the enchanting Mianzhu Gorge. Shennong Stream stands as a testament to nature’s raw beauty, inviting adventurers to immerse themselves in its rich cultural and geological tapestry.

Table of Contents

Basic information, location and transportation, mianzhu gorge, yingwu gorge, longchang gorge, tujia village, vlog about shennong stream, other attractions in enshi suburbs.

Shennong Stream originates from the main peak of Shennongjia, flowing through the mountainous terrain within the boundaries of Badong County in Hubei Province , China. It courses from north to south, weaving through deep mountain gorges, and ultimately converges with the Yangtze River to the east of Wuxia Gorge. The entrance to explore Shennong Stream is located within Badong County, part of the Enshi Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture in Hubei.

Travelers can reach Shennong Stream by first taking a flight or train to Enshi. From there, they can transfer to a tourist shuttle bus that directly leads to Shennong Stream, providing a convenient and direct route to this natural wonder.

Highlights of Shennong Stream

Mianzhu Gorge, nestled within the enchanting landscape of Shennong Stream, stands out for its peculiar and treacherous beauty. Renowned for its challenging terrain, the gorge boasts a lush and profound scenery, representing a rare relic of ancient geological movements. The canyon is characterized by the juxtaposition of towering peaks and rocks, with distinct layers forming sheer cliffs that reach a staggering thousand meters in height. At the mountain summits, numerous caves dot the landscape, believed to be remnants of dwellings used by the early Tujia people. Many of these caves bear traces of collapsed walls or small stone constructions on the exterior.

The peculiar formations within the gorge include stalactites and stone curtains, some appearing as if they descended from the heavens, displaying a myriad of bizarre shapes. The width of the stream narrows to less than 5 meters at its narrowest point, with a steep slope reaching 5%. Along the 4-kilometer waterway, there are over 30 perilous shoals, adding an element of excitement to the journey.

To navigate Mianzhu Gorge, visitors transfer to raft-like wooden boats provided by the scenic area, locally known as “pea pods” due to their pod-like shape. Each boat typically includes a boatman and a Tujia ethnic guide, who may serenade passengers with local folk songs. Drifting along the water, the experience relies entirely on the skill of the boatman, creating an exhilarating and heart-pounding adventure for those seeking an unforgettable journey through this unique and challenging gorge.

Yingwu Gorge, among the three gorges along Shennong Stream, stands out as the most picturesque, adorned with lush vegetation that cascades down the cliffs, maintaining its verdant beauty throughout the four seasons. The gorge is a spectacle of perennial greenery, where rock formations allow water to seep through, creating dripping springs and cascading waterfalls.

A unique feature of Yingwu Gorge is the “Year Flower Beach,” a stretch of the canyon where blossoming flowers can be admired in every season, defying even the harsh winter and snowy conditions. This spot earns its name from the continuous blooming of flowers throughout the year.

Another notable attraction is the “Nine Springs,” where multiple springs of different colors – clear, turbid, and mixed – converge along the stream. One particular spring, known as the “Three-color Spring,” maintains its distinct hues regardless of the season or weather conditions. Even during periods of flooding or drought, the water from the Three-color Spring remains unchanged, forming a vibrant ribbon of colors that extends for hundreds of meters, creating a mesmerizing spectacle in Shennong Stream.

Within this gorge, visitors may encounter playful monkey troops, soaring rock eagles, frolicking water birds, and a captivating spectacle of golden swifts that darken the sky. Additionally, the gorge is home to the rare one-meter-tall owl, adding to the diverse and fascinating wildlife that thrives in the natural beauty of Yingwu Gorge.

The final gorge along the Shennong Stream is the Longchang Gorge, a majestic canyon characterized by its narrow width of less than twenty meters. With steep cliffs on both sides, the gorge extends for over 5,000 meters, creating a continuous and winding spectacle reminiscent of the grandeur of Kuimen Gate in Qutang Gorge . Along this scenic route, visitors encounter cultural landmarks, including the fascinating Rock Coffin Group and an ancient stone-paved path.

On the eastern bank of the gorge, about 150 meters above the water surface, numerous small caves dot the cliffs. These caves serve as resting places for rock coffins, easily visible to the naked eye. According to local beliefs, the positioning of these rock coffins is tied to the concept of “high coffins for filial piety,” signifying that the higher the coffin, the more filial the children. This burial custom, originating from the ancient Ba people and embraced by the Tujia ethnic group, has persisted for thousands of years, offering a captivating glimpse into the cultural heritage of the region.

The Shennong Stream meanders through two Tujia ethnic villages, nestled amidst a picturesque landscape of phoenix-tail bamboo, banana leaves, citrus orchards, and Chinese wuji trees. These villages resemble idyllic paradises, where the tranquil stream flows gently, adorned with colorful pebbles along its banks. Visitors can find respite in traditional Tujia stilted houses, engage in activities like swimming or stone collecting, and explore the ancient water mills and stone mills. The villages offer a glimpse into the rich cultural heritage of the Tujia people, with opportunities to witness the robust Ba Shan dance and hear traditional mountain songs. Additionally, visitors can savor local delicacies, including sorghum wine and authentic Tujia cuisine, creating an immersive experience in the heart of these ancient and charming Tujia villages.

Pingbaying National Forest Park

Daqing River Scenic Area

Suobuya Stone Forest

Pingshan Grand Canyon

Enshi Dixin Valley

• Shennong Stream
• Yangtze Cruise

The crystal clear steam flows from north to south through deep gorges and finally it merges with the Yangtze at the east of the mouth of Wu Gorge. One relaxing ride of ferryboat passes along the Mianzhu, Yingwu and Longchang Gorges.

Yingwu Gorge is famous for its natural beauty. Here, you can find flowers in full blossoms on all sides against the background of green hills; you can hear birds singing in the bushes and woods; you can walk through the dinging streams and take a drink in the clear springs; here, you can watch the "three color spring" shooting out of the cliff to forma 100" odd meter colored belt in the mid-air. The Swallow Cave is even more curious and marveling. This cave, home of thousands of short beaked golden swallows, is about 80 m in height and 30 m in breadth. About 50 m further into the cave, you can see tier upon tier of lava like terraced fields extending before your eyes. This spot is called the Thousand Fallow-Fields.

Longchang Gorge is noted for its magnificence. Here, the river cuts through the sheering up rocky cliffs and winds its way down the deep gully. Peak Baota (Tower) thrusts abruptly into the sky, and traces of ancient battles can still be found.

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Shennong Stream & Shennv Stream-Hidden Gams along Yangtze River

Thanks to the world largest Three Gorges Dam, Yangtze River is known to public. But there are some hidden treasures willing to welcome tourists and explore inside- Shennong Stream & Shennv Stream .

Apart from the natural stream view what else you can experience:

Stream Drifting The drifting can be a high feature in Shennong Stream, no one visit here without trying it. Sitting in a small peapod boat with about 10 people and crossing on the clear water, you will feel a primitive charm. Without engine driven, this small boat moves on only by hand, attracting many tourists to join in. Sometimes if you have a good ear, you may hear birds twitting, making a more quietness.

Suspending Coffins It’s said that this kind of funeral was quite famous among nobility in ancient times, and people believed some kinds of religions, therefore the suspending coffins came out. How these coffins were suspended is still a mystery. Maybe you can find the answer in the site.

Recommended Cruises itineraries included Shennong Stream:

• Yangtze Explorer, Century Paragon , Century Legend , All President Cruises;
• Yichang-Chongqing (5-day & 4-night) Upstream: Victoria Jenna, Victoria Grace, Victoria Selina, Victoria Katarina, Victoria Lianna and Victoria Anna.

Recommended Cruises itineraries included Shennv Stream:

• Victoria Sophia , some Century Cruises : Century Sun, Century Sky, Century Star, Century Emerald and Century Diamond;
• Chongqing-Yichang (4-day & 3-night) Downstream: Victoria Jenna, Victoria Grace, Victoria Selina, Victoria Katarina, Victoria Lianna and Victoria Anna.

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Yangtze River Shore Excursions

Content preview, 1. fengdu (the ghost city), 2. shibaozhai, 3. fengjie (white emperor city), 4. shennü stream, 5. shennong stream, 6. the lesser three gorges, 7. tribes of the three gorges, 8. war fires of the three kingdoms (night show), 9. the three gorges dam, how to join yangtze cruise shore excursions.

The section of the Yangtze between Chongqing and Yichang (The Three Gorges) is the most classic Yangtze cruise route , which has abundant historical sites as well as beautiful natural scenery. Besides cruising on the river, you should not miss the shore excursions that interest you. We have listed the most popular ones below :

• Historical sites: Fengdu Ghost City (Jade Emperor Scenic Area), Shibaozhai ('Stone Treasure Stronghold'), Fengjie (White Emperor City)
• Nature sites: Shennü Stream, Shennong Stream, the Lesser Three Gorges
• Culture sites: The Three Gorges Tribe, War Fires of the Three Kingdoms
• Engineering marvel: The Three Gorges Dam

These nine shore excursions (covered in Chongqing to Yichang order) will provide you chances to experience the heart of China's longest river more fully, enjoying its incredible natural beauty, experiencing its splendid culture, and relishing its authentic local flavor.

Fengdu (a.k.a. Jade Emperor Scenic Area) is a very popular shore excursion site on Yangtze River cruises. Colloquially known as the 'Ghost City' , many of its historical sites are linked with China's ghost culture, which attracts a large number of tourists.

In this ancient town are 75 Buddhist and Taoist temples that were built during the Tang Dynasty (618–907) and that house many demon and god statues. In Chinese legends, Fengdu is where the devil lives, and it is also a place for punishing the evil and rewarding the good. Check out more about Fengdu .

Fengdu is built in a mountainous area, which may not be conducive for seniors or other travelers who don't want to climb lots of steps. It is suggested that you choose/skip Fengdu according to your physical condition. Even included excursions can be skipped by staying onboard the cruise ship. See more at the page foot.

• It is an included excursion on Century Cruises and Gold Cruises.
• It is an optional excursion on Victoria Cruises, President Cruises, and Yangtze 1.

Shibaozhai ('Stone Treasure Stronghold') is a 12-story wooden pagoda in Zhong County on the south bank of the Yangtze River. It is a magnificent structure built against the side of a sheer rectangular cliff. Its architectural style and surroundings make it look like " a heavenly building ". First built during the Qing Dynasty in 1750, Shibaozhai's every floor contains interesting artifacts. The pagoda has been named "the Pearl of the Yangtze". See more on Shibaozhai .

Due to the steep stairs, travelers who would experience physical difficulties are suggested not to climb to the top of the pagoda.

• It is an optional excursion on Gold Cruises, Yangtze 1, and Yangtze 2.

Fengjie is an ancient and cultural county with a history of about 2,400 years located not far east of Chongqing. White Emperor City lies in the eastern part of Fengjie Ancient Town. Fengjie is also known as 'Poem City', as many prestigious poets such as Wang Wei, Li Bai, Du Fu, Su Shi, and Su Zhe stayed there and wrote many classic poems that reflect the beauty of this county on the Yangtze River. This mini city rests on top of Baidi Hill and is filled with scattered temples and ancient gateways. See more on Fengjie .

The main attractions are located on the top of a hill, where a significant amount of walking and climbing steps is needed. Please wear a pair of comfortable shoes.

• It is an optional excursion on Century Cruises, Victoria Cruises, Gold Cruises, President Cruises, Yangtze 1, and Yangtze 2.

Shennü ('Goddess') Stream is on the south bank of the Yangtze River in Guandu District of Wushan County, Chongqing.  It is also known as "Beauty Stream". With an overall length of 15 km (10 miles), because of the turbulent water and narrow valleys, Shennü Stream has nearly 10 km (6 miles) of primordial gorges untraversed by modern development. Beautiful landscapes and traditional dwellings are hidden in the valley.

Since the stream is narrow, cruise ships can't navigate it. Travelers need to transfer to a small wooden boat to tour Shennü Stream.

• It is an included excursion on Century Cruises, Victoria Cruises, President Cruises, Yangtze 1, and Yangtze 2.

Shennong Stream, also called Yandu River, is the first tributary that feeds the Yangtze River after it comes out of Wu Gorge and flows into Xiling Gorge at Wang Zhaojun's birthplace, Zigui County Town. It is known as the 'Jade Waterway' of the Three Gorges .

It passes through three mini gorges with different landscapes: Mianzhu Gorge, Parrot Gorge, and Longchangdong Gorge.

A shore excursion to Shennong Stream would give you the opportunity to see verdant peaks, limpid water, and rare virgin vegetation near the water's edge. See more on Shennong Stream.

• It is an included excursion on the Yangtze Explorer, Gold Cruises, Yangtze 1, and Yangtze 2.

The Lesser Three Gorges are three valleys of the Daning River in Wushan County. They are called Longmen (Dragon Gate) Gorge, Bawu (Misty) Gorge, and Dicui (Emerald) Gorge. They stretch for 25 kilometers (16 miles) in the lower reaches of the Daning River.

The mist–wreathed mountains along the Daning River are covered with lush green flourishing vegetation. Often troops of monkeys appear at the riverbank and on the trees of the mountains . Besides the natural beauty, there are many historical sites along the Lesser Three Gorges, among which the most notable ones are the Hanging Coffins and a plank road built on the face of a cliff. See more on The Lesser Three Gorges .

Especially in the rainy season (July and August), please take your umbrella when visiting as it often rains there.

• It is an included excursion on Gold cruises.

Tribes of the Three Gorges is located in the hinterland of Xiling Gorge, between the Three Gorges Dam and Gezhouba Dam. This scenic area consists of the three attractions: Village on the Water, the Brookside Tribe, and the Mountaintop Tribe.

In this mysterious, idyllic land with abundant Ba Culture and Chu Culture, you can enjoy the original natural scenery of the Three Gorges through a combination of boat tours and walking. In the villages, there are colorful folk performances every day. Travelers can participate in them to feel the traditional local culture more deeply .

Climbing of steps is needed for the Mountaintop Tribe visit. You could choose to skip that part according to your physical condition.

War Fires of the Three Kingdoms is a large-scale show with a real landscape backdrop about the culture and history of the Three Kingdoms Period (220–265 AD). This shows uses the Yangtze River as its background, and the magnificent Three Gorges landscape as its performing stage.

The legend of Guan Yu is the main theme of the performance. It revolves around the spirit of loyalty and reenacts some of the major events of the Three Kingdoms Period. With amazing light, sound, and electric effects, the show's historical scenes are vividly portrayed in front of you.

This show starts at about 7pm from November to April and about 8pm from May to October and lasts about 70 minutes.

• It is an optional excursion on Victoria Cruises, Gold Cruises, President Cruises, Yangtze 1, and Yangtze 2.

The Three Gorges Dam Project was completed in 2009. Situated in Sandouping County in Yichang Prefecture, Hubei Province, the Three Gorges Dam is the largest hydropower station in the world . It is 185 meters (607 ft) tall. See the gem of the nation with your own eyes and immerse yourself in the magnificence and awesomeness of the architecture. See more on The Three Gorges Dam .

In the Three Gorges Dam Scenic Area, Tanzi Ling Park is the best place to have a panoramic view of the Three Gorges Dam and overlook the Yangtze River. During the rainy season (July and August), 185 Park Zone is the best position to have a view of the marvelous spectacle of the flood discharge.

The Three Gorges Dam Ship Lift is the largest and most sophisticated ship lift in the world. Travelers can choose to pay an additional charge (CN¥290/person) to tour it (an optional experience on the included Dam tour).

• The Three Gorges Dam Scenic Area tour is an included excursion on Century Cruises, the Yangtze Explorer, Victoria Cruises, Gold Cruises, President Cruises, Yangtze 1, and Yangtze 2.

Included Excursions:

Normally one shore excursion is arranged per day. But different cruises may have different itineraries. You can check our ship information for each ship's cruise route and excursions. The scheduled shore excursions are included in your cruise fees .

Travelers will be given an itinerary of all scheduled shore excursions when boarding the ship. Excursion information will also be broadcasted 30 minutes before the shore excursion. Then passengers are requested to assemble in the lobby if joining the excursion.

There will be signboards with room numbers at the assembly point. Travelers will be divided into several groups (around 20–30 people in a group) according to their room numbers. Each group will be accompanied by a professional bilingual guide! 

You could stay onboard the cruise ship if you do not want to join an excursion, but the excursion cost is not refundable .

Optional Excursions:

The whole participation procedure for optional excursions is almost the same as for the scheduled (pre-included) excursions: check the schedule info, listen for broadcasts, and assemble on time in your room number group in the lobby.

Prices of optional excursions vary by ship. If you would like to join optional excursions, please sign up at the reception desk when you check in.

No Independent Excursions:

If you are not going to join these excursions, you must stay onboard the ship , where you can enjoy a wide range of onboard activities and lectures (which you may also need to sign up for at check-in or book in advance).

To ensure your personal safety, you are not allowed to leave the ship during the cruise on your own (without guide accompaniment) or separate from your group during the excursion times (without prior arrangement with the guide).

If you leave the ship on your own or arrive late for the ship's departure due to separating from your group, you may miss the rest of your cruise and there will be no compensation.

Enrich Your Yangtze River Cruise

Thanks to the increasingly convenient transportation infrastructure in China, no matter whether you join an upstream or downstream cruise, it is easy to transfer to other popular tourist cities from Chongqing or Yichang, such as Beijing, Shanghai, Chengdu, Guilin, and Zhangjiajie.

Here are some recommended Yangtze cruise tours for 2021:

• The Majestic Yangtze : The essence of China (8 days of ancient culture and modern miracles) is there to be discovered alongside a majestic 4-day Yangtze River cruise. Discover more of discover the "New China" with your expert guide and driver.
• A Close Experience with Pandas : With comfortable accommodation and transportation, this 13-day tour features a close experience with giant pandas in Chengdu as well as the famous Golden Triangle and the Yangtze River cruise per The Majestic Yangtze.
• Nature of China : This 15-day tour brings the natural wonders of the Yangtze River and Zhangjiajie closer to you and shows you the essence of China in Beijing, Xi'an and Shanghai. Enjoy the beauty of China with stunning natural views.

Our tours can be tailor-made according to your group size, travel time, interests, budget, and other requirements, please contact us for a bespoke tour.

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Shennong Stream

Shennong stream – brief introduction.

Shennong Stream is a constant flowing stream of the north shore on Yangtze River, in Badong County, originated from the south slope of Shengnongjia. Shennong Stream stretches over 60 kilometers, relative elevation is about 2,900 meters. The narrowest river course is much less than 5 meters. The angles of the cliffs are about 80 to 90 degrees. Shennong Stream joins Yangtze River at the mouth of Wu Gorge in the east. It is a national AAAA grade scenic area.

Shennong Stream – Beautiful Landscape

The landscape of Shennong Stream has its own features: magnificent, elegant and arduous. Shennong Stream Scenic Area is about 32 kilometers, including 4 natural gorges with distinguishing features: Shennong Gorge, Mianzhu Gorge, Parrot Gorge, and Longchang Gorge. The total area is 57.5 square kilometers. What a pleasure to watch lush plants, myriads of flowers, the monkeys playing under the azure. There are more than 60 caves, and more than 30 rapids, long beaches, shallows. The stream is deep and green. Pervaded waterfalls, suspending coffins, plank road, original sailboats, ancient villages and Tujia custom make a natural and rustic charming attraction. Tourists can enjoy the beautiful sceneries by taking the sailboat or environment- friendly cruise.

Shennong Stream – Unique Themes

The themes of Shennong Stream attraction are: the canyon scenery, boat trackers culture, Tujia dance and dragon boat racing. Among them, the work songs of the boat trackers and the towing have been extinct for many years in the whole Yangtze River area. But in Shennong Stream, the towing has been preserved because of the request of the development of tourism. The boat trackers of Shennong Stream is the best in Three Gorges, they have gain their fame at home and abroad with the prevalence of a folk song "Boat Trackers' Love". Even though the water level reached 135 meters, the towing still remains as a unique, irreplaceable tourism feature.

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Shennong Stream

Shennong Stream is one of the most important ports of call for Yangtze Three Gorges tour. It is a 60-kilometer tributary of the Yangtze River, originates in the southern part of Shennongjia Natural Reserve and joins the Yangtze at Xirangkou in Hubei's Badong County. The crystal clear and unpolluted water flows swiftly. A tour by sampan is just like a shooting arrow. 

One exciting sport played here is "Gliding in Water". The section of the river earmarked for this game is twenty kilometers long and passes along the Mianzhu, Yingwu and Longchang Gorges. One rides a boat starting in a branch of the Shennong Stream and glides past the four-kilometer-long Mianzhu Gorge and then enters the main stream of the Shennong. The boat glides over the cobble-strewn river bed, its bottom often banging against the stones. It is not without risk yet exhilarating. It is thrilling to battle with the nature.

Drifting on the local "peapod", you'll be able to enjoy not only the beautiful scenery along the River, but also see cliff-wallows swishing in the air, groups of monkeys sporting among the trees, shoals of fish swimming in the clear water, as well as ancient coffins in the rocky crevices left by the Ba people, Shennong colorful pebbles.

It is newly opened to the outside world, and it has been considered as the highlight of the entire trip. Like the neighboring Lesser Three Gorges in WushanCounty, the ancient plank path runs along the river, mysterious ancient coffins suspended high on the cliff, wild monkeys running under the primitive trees and bushes. Dark green clear water, dark green trees, dark green mountains along the stream stretch and disappear into faraway.

The Shennong Stream fascinates the tourists with its special virtues of serenity, uniqueness, primitiveness and wilderness. Floating on a peapod boat, you can appreciate not only the natural scenes all the way, but also the joys and excitement in fighting the winds and waves.

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Elektrostal

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Century Legend

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Century Legend , the sister cruise ship of Century Paragon , is …

Come aboard the Sanctuary Yangzi Explorer cruise ship for a voyage of discovery and tranquility along China’s magnificent Yangzi River (also known as Yangtze River)…

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