Shennong Stream

Shennong Stream is a tributary of the Yangtze River, located in the Hubei Province of central China. Originally the Shennong Stream watercourse consisted of a wild river traversing a tortuous alignment flanked by almost vertical limestone cliffs

 

The banks of the Shennong Stream have been inhabited since at least the Han Dynasty; the primary ethnic group of the river valley has been the Thuja people. Early history of settlement in the Shennong Gorge is evinced by the hanging coffins stowed in clefts on the high vertical limestone clefts; it is a puzzle to modern man as to how the heavy coffins were stowed on such steep, ostensibly inaccessible places. The coffins themselves were typically carved from a single layer section of a tree trunk, which was approximately 90 centimeters in diameter; although the lid section was split off to be separate. Some of these coffins can be seen presently from canoes traveling along the Shen Nong Stream. The coffins are typically 30 to 150 meters from the bluff top above and 25 to 70 meters above the river surface. Most commonly a coffin rests on two sturdy hewn poles that have been wedged within limestone cleft or cave to form generally level platform. Many of these coffins have been lost or destroyed due to the three Gorges Dam construction, which has led to inundation of many of these river reaches; some coffins, however, have been retrieved for cultural presentation and archeological study. For example, one such coffin was retrieved about 10 kilometers west along the Yangtze River mainstem and is preserved on display at the White Emperor’s Palace, within an historical Daoist Temple situated high above the inundation level along the Yangtze. The Shennong Stream Valley is also the site of a number of historical battles in Chinese history. In an early battle, Liu Bei, an emperor of the three kingdom dynasty, incinerated the fleet of Lu Xum, Marshall of the Wu Kingdom, effectively cutting off the pursuit of the latter general. This naval battle took place in the lower reaches of Shennong Stream in the Longchang Gorge at the Rang Kou Xi tributary. Parrot Gully within Yingwu Gorge along the Shennong Xi exhibits numerous large horizontal incisions carved high on the limestone, which are vestiges of an earlier aerial plank road; moreover, this trace of earlier civilization may be a clue as to how the coffin sites were accessed via an intricate network of aerial planks. At Parrot Gully Liu Chunjum, a general of the Taiping Dynasty fought a number of battles.

 

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 Gorge, Mianzhu Gorge, Yingwu Gorge and Longchang Gorge - and each has unique characteristics. Among the four gorges, Mianzhu Gorge is renowned for its danger. The riverbed is not only narrow, but also falls steeply. Over 30 dangerous shoals will challenge everyone along the 2.5-mile route. As you drift along this section, your heart will beat heavily, even as you feel reassured as to your safety by the skilled boatmen. Stalactites hang on both sides of the bank; be sure not to miss this scenery. Yingwu Gorge is noted for its elegance. The evergreen vegetation along the banks remains beautiful during the whole year. Here, a gorge with flowers that blossom in all seasons and a fountain of three colors can be admired. The largest karst cave of Shennong Stream also lies within this section; The Longchang Gorge is one with a unique human landscape. The ancient and mysterious suspended wooden coffins and plank road are the highlight of the section.

 

Drifting along the Stream

Drifting along the Shennong Stream in small open sampans (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 sampan, an environmental protection boat will first take you to admire the marvelous scenery. Then you will change to the sampan (14 yards long and two yards wide), which holds ten visitors at a time, to experience another kind of feeling.

One sampan is usually steered by six boatmen who are local peasants. While appreciating the natural beauty and historic sights along the two banks, you can hear the songs from the rowers as they row the boat. When reaching the shallow-stream places, they will paddle in the swift-flowing stream to tow the boat upstream by the rope. This scene has made the drift a unique one compared to other stream drifts. It is sure that the serene natural beauty, the local Tujia flavor, the brave boat trackers, and historic relics will make the trip a memorable one.