Fun Places to Visit in Shiyan

Wudang Mountain is a holy land of martial arts for kung fu fans, a revered Taoist mountain for devout believers, and reputed as "the foremost immortal mountain under heaven" among poets and literati. Legends of immortality, clusters of ancient palaces and curling incense make it endlessly attractive. Sharp, arrow-shaped peaks and rushing mountain streams showcase the miraculous craftsmanship of nature. Grand ancient architectural complexes and profound internal boxing embody the mountain’s profound cultural heritage. Pristine natural scenery blends seamlessly with age-old human landscapes, creating unparalleled beauty. The line "Peerless scenic wonder through the ages, the No.1 immortal mountain under heaven" perfectly defines Wudang Mountain.

Editor’s Tip: While touring the mountain, do not miss an authentic Taoist ritual at the temples. Major Taoist palaces hold ceremonies for birthdays and celebrations on the first and fifteenth days of each lunar month, major festivals and the birthdays of patriarchs. The morning and evening scripture ceremonies at Zixiao Palace are the daily regular rituals for resident Taoist priests.

The Yunxian Man fossil is a national treasure and a landmark find for research on the evolution of ancient humans. Twenty years ago, two intact human skull fossils were unearthed at the Xuetangliangzi Site beside the Han River in Yunxian County, shocking the global academic circle. The discovery filled a critical gap in the evolution of Homo erectus dating back one million years.

The site sits on the fourth terrace of the Han River, a major tributary of the Yangtze River, 50 metres above the water level. This terrace consists of basement bedrock of Sinian metamorphic rocks, covered from top to bottom with brown clay, greyish-yellow clay, off-white clay and brown sand gravel. Geological evidence confirms the Yunxian Man fauna dates back to the late Early Pleistocene epoch.

Misty vapours blur the boundary between water and sky. Sails drift across the vast lake, waterbirds soar overhead, and fish leap out of the waves. Around Green Mountain Harbour, sunlight, lake water, mountain shadows, cloud shapes and sailboats form stunning scroll paintings. When boats reach Dragon Mountain, you will see the Writing Brush Pagoda atop the peak, one of the Eight Scenes of Junzhou known as "Dragon Mountain Amid Misty Rain". Across the reservoir stands the ruins of Canglang Pavilion. When the water level drops, cliff carvings such as "The Song of the Young Shepherd" and "Joy on the Canglang Water", as well as Buddha statues in grottoes, become visible. Ancient records state this is where Confucius heard the shepherd’s ballad and where Qu Yuan encountered a fisherman.

Shennongjia preserves the only intact subtropical forest ecosystem in the mid-latitudes of the northern hemisphere. It is the sole well-preserved inland oasis in China and a precious green treasure zone worldwide. The region boasts abundant flora and fauna: sturdy fir trees, aromatic cypresses, elegant cyatheaceae, graceful dove trees and robust Chinese firs form a dense canopy blocking sunlight. Golden monkeys, white bears, serows, giant salamanders, white storks, white cranes and golden eagles roam the woods. Everything remains peaceful and harmonious.

The mysterious 30th parallel north runs through this land. Legends of the Wildman, the story of Shennong tasting hundreds of herbs, the Han ethnic epic Biography of Darkness, the ancient Sichuan-Hubei salt road, Tujia wedding customs and rural folk traditions make Shennongjia endlessly fascinating. With magnificent peaks, sweet mountain springs and breathtaking views, it is hailed as an irreplaceable world-class tourist resort and an ideal destination for eco-tourism.