To experience the mystical world of pristine forests, spectacular sea of clouds, and adorable wildlife, visit Shennongjia, which will leave you mesmerized. Before heading to Shennongjia, make sure to check out this travel guide I've composed to help you avoid pitfalls.
🚄Transportation
If you are traveling by high-speed train, make sure not to get off at Shennongjia Station. Instead, get off at Xingshan Station for Shennongjia Forest District and Badong Station for Dajiuhu.
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🏠Accommodation
Stay at Muyuping for Shennongjia Forest District.
If you want to witness the morning mist at Dajiuhu, make sure to stay inside the scenic area. It is crucial.
For Shenonggu, consider staying at Pingqian Ancient Town.
🎫Tickets
Shennongjia 6-scenic-spot combo ticket costs ¥299 and is valid for 5 days.
Dajiuhu entrance fee is ¥100, and it does not include the scenic bus ticket. The bus ticket is ¥70 per person, and there is a free small train ride around the scenic area.
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🍛Cuisine
Recommended restaurants are Yecaiyuan and Shiwai Taoyuan. For breakfast, try the small restaurant opposite the Muyuping Police Station (loved by locals).
🗺️Itinerary
Day 1: TianSheng Bridge-GuanMenShan-ShenLongTan-XiangYueYuCun-ShenNongTianChi
Day 2: ShenNongTianChi-TianYanJingQu-ShenNongDing
Day 3: Dajiuhu (to witness the morning mist)
You can also compress this itinerary into two days, including one day for ShenNongDing and one day for Dajiuhu.
Self-driving is not exhausting, and some scenic spots allow for self-driving. Most of them do not require too much walking to see the highlights (except for Shenonggu, where the total walking time is over 3 hours, and it is recommended to walk one-third of the distance).
📒Scenic Spotlight:
Dajiuhu: Wetland lake with beautiful morning mist.
ShenLongDing: Core scenic spot with multiple small attractions.
ShenNongGu: Hidden U-shaped valley with a 3-hour+ walking route. We recommend walking one-third of the distance.
JinHouLing: Original forest and waterfall surprises.
TianJiLing: Spectacular sea of clouds.
BanBiYan: A 1-hour walk that provides a simple view of odd rocks.
TaiZiLing: A 1-hour walk on a forest plank road.
GuanMenShan: Suitable for parents to view cultural and beekeeping areas (get an opportunity to learn about fish species such as giant salamanders).
TianShengQiao: The waterfall is awe-inspiring. The blue stream is beautiful, but we do not recommend walking the entire route because it becomes dull later on.
TianYanJingQu: You can drive there with a broad view. If you only have two days, this attraction is not on the way. There are swallows in the cave.
ShenLongTan: The only national public mourning place. The stairs downstairs can be a bit difficult, and we advise wearing comfortable shoes.
🔸Lesser-known Attractions:
XiangXiYuan: A small and refined scenic area with a forest waterfall that is full of surprises.
ShenNongTianChi: For TianYan, we recommend staying in a Nordic-style cabin and basking in a relaxed vacation atmosphere.
XiangYueYuCun: Drive directly to a safe water-playing campground.
