Shennong Valley
神农谷
A giant gorge viewpoint within the Shennong Peak scenic area. The platform above 2,000 m overlooks a stone forest and a valley floor where clouds roll, nicknamed 'the Grand Canyon of Shennongjia'.
Shennong Valley lies in the middle section of the Shennong Peak scenic area, just before the Lookout Tower. It was originally called Fengjing Pass. It sits at about 2,600 m and is a karst canyon hundreds of meters deep. The viewing platform is built on the cliff edge, and the valley is lined with stone pillars and sheer cliffs. On clear days you can see primeval forest on the valley floor. On foggy days the whole canyon fills with cloud, with only the stone-spire peaks poking through, making it the most photographed spot in the scenic area. A downhill trail along the valley edge (about 1–2 km, 1.5 hours round trip) leads to a lower platform for close views of the stone forest and firs. Visitors with moderate fitness can turn back at the first platform. Entry is included in the Shennong Peak ticket at no extra charge. Shuttle buses and private cars stop at the Shennong Valley parking lot. Getting there: it is about 30 km from the Jiuhu Ping ticket station, the third stop after entering Shennong Peak from the Muyu Town direction. Notes: the platform is windy and cold, so bring a light down jacket or windbreaker even in summer. Clouds in the canyon change quickly, so once the cloud sea appears, wait 10–20 minutes for the clouds to part for a photo. The trail has many steps and is slippery in the rain.
Opening hours
07:30–17:30 (follows Shennongding scenic area)
Nearby sights
- Shennong Peak
- Dalongtan Golden Snub-nosed Monkey Base
- Source of Xiangxi River
- Muyu Town
- Guanmenshan Scenic Area
- Pingqian Ancient Town
- Shennongjia International Ski Resort
- Tiansheng Bridge