On the evening of May 9, moonlight quietly filtered through the forest canopy, casting an almost mystical glow over the vast wilderness of Shennongjia. A four-member team—Kevin Messenger, an American professor at Nanjing Forestry University, along with Li Yecheng, Wang Qi and Benjamin Genter (or “Ben” for short)—set out from Yichang for a night survey along the Jiuchong-Songbai Road. Their eyes scanned every ditch and every pile of fallen leaves, like seasoned hunters in search of elusive prey.
Recently, a thrilling wildlife rescue took place at the Dajiuhu Scenic Area in Shennongjia, Hubei Province. A Chinese goral (Naemorhedus griseus)—a Class II nationally protected endangered wild animal—became stranded on a narrow ledge of a steep cliff near the Dajiuhu Tourist Service Center during its search for food. It was trapped for an entire day and night before being successfully rescued through a joint effort and safely returned to the wild.
A quick search on Baidu(often dubbed as the Google of China)will show you two towns named Muyu: one in Qingchuan County, Sichuan Province, and the other in Shennongjia Forestry District, Hubei Province. The latter is a familiar name for many, thanks to the popular tagline, "The world is vast, but I most want to visit Shennongjia." Muyu Town is the essential gateway and a must-stay destination for those visiting Shennongjia. This is because most of Shennongjia's breathtaking scenery is concentrated within Muyu’s 400-square-kilometer jurisdiction. Given the vast area and numerous attractions, it’s impossible to explore them all in a single day. As a result, tourists often use Muyu as a base to gradually discover the surrounding natural wonders.