Explore the Wonderland at 31° North Latitude! Shennongjia 3-Day 2-Night Family Fun Travel Guide
Explore the Wonderland at 31° North Latitude! Shennongjia 3-Day 2-Night Family Fun Travel Guide 🌳
At the mysterious 31° North Latitude, lies a dreamlike wonderland on Earth – Shennongjia. With its vast forests, cascading waterfalls, and gushing springs, it exudes the raw charm of nature everywhere, making it an excellent destination for family trips. Pack your bags, bring your kids, and embark on an impromptu exploration journey to create unforgettable memories in this green kingdom!
Pre-trip Preparation
1. Documents: Bring your ID card. If your child has a student ID or household registration booklet, bring those too, as some attractions may offer discounts.
2. Clothing: Shennongjia is cool in summer with a large temperature difference between morning and evening. Prepare long-sleeved jackets and long pants for your child. For daytime activities, light and breathable short-sleeved shirts and shorts are suitable. If you plan to play in the stream, remember to bring swimsuits, swimming trunks, swimming caps, and river tracing shoes.
3. Other Items: Lightweight backpack, water bottle (there's potable water in the scenic area for refills), small snacks (to prevent children from getting hungry), tissues, power bank, common medicines (fever reducers, cold medicine, stomach medicine, motion sickness medicine, insect repellent, etc.), children's camera (to encourage kids to capture beautiful moments during the trip), sun protection (sunscreen, sun hat, sunglasses, sun protection clothing).
4. Transportation Guide:
- High-speed Rail: It is recommended to take the high-speed rail to Xingshan Station, which is closer to Shennongjia. Upon exiting Xingshan Station, there are direct shuttle buses to Muyu Town, taking about 1 hour, with a fare of 25 RMB/person.
- Flight: Shennongjia Hongping Airport has flights to and from several cities. There are tourist buses from the airport to Muyu Town, with a fare of 50 RMB/person.
- Self-driving: If you enjoy self-driving, you can enjoy beautiful scenery along the way, but mountain roads have many curves, so drive cautiously and check road conditions and weather in advance.
3-Day Itinerary
Day 1: Encounter the Beauty of Nature and Culture
- Morning: Arrive at Muyu Town, Shennongjia, check into your hotel, and rest for a while. We recommend staying at Shennongjia Kangdi Junlan Hotel, which offers a tranquil environment, comfortable rooms, and convenient access to the bus station.
- Noon: Have lunch at a restaurant in Muyu Town and try local specialties such as Cured Pork Hock Hotpot, Stir-fried Wild Mushrooms with Eggs, and Shennongjia Baby Potatoes, costing around 50-80 RMB per person.
- Afternoon: Head to Tianshengqiao Scenic Area, where towering waterfalls cascade and natural stone bridges are miraculously formed. Walk along the boardwalk with your children, feel the refreshing spray of the waterfalls, and even play in the stream (remember to bring an extra set of clothes for your child) to experience the magic of nature. Afterwards, visit Shennong Altar, climb the long steps to pay respects to the giant Shennong statue, learn about the story of Yan Emperor, the ancestor of China, and take photos in front of the thousand-year-old Cedar King, feeling the blend of history and nature.
- Evening: Return to Muyu Town, explore the town's night market, buy some small souvenirs for your children, and try local snacks like roasted corn and handmade ice jelly.
Day 2: Explore the Primeval Forest and Alpine Wetlands
- Morning: After breakfast, head to Shennongding Scenic Area. First, visit Xiaolongtan to observe the adorable golden snub-nosed monkeys up close and learn about their habits; then hike Jinhouling, traversing through the primeval forest, breathing in the fresh air, and feeling the tranquility and mystery of nature.
- Noon: Dine at a restaurant within the scenic area. We recommend trying specialty foods like wild vegetable pancakes and bamboo tube rice, costing around 40-60 RMB per person.
- Afternoon: Visit Dajiuhu National Wetland Park to admire the picturesque alpine wetland scenery. You can take your children on a small train tour or stroll along the lakeside boardwalk to enjoy the beauty of the nine lakes. You can also interact closely with sika deer at the deer park and feed them (be careful when feeding).
- Evening: Check into Pingqian Ancient Town, which is full of rustic charm. For dinner, you can try local Tujia dishes like Tuotuo Rou and Lan Tofu. After dinner, you can take a walk with your children in the ancient town and enjoy the peaceful night.
Day 3: Embark on a Journey of Science and Fun
- Morning: Head to Guanmenshan Scenic Area, a paradise for popular science. Take your children to visit the Natural Ecological Museum to learn about Shennongjia's geological evolution and its flora and fauna; see the adorable giant pandas "Aoyun" and "Yunyun" at the Panda Hall; observe the popular beehives on the cliff face and teach your children about bees.
- Noon: Have lunch at a farmhouse restaurant near the scenic area, tasting local farm dishes such as braised chicken with shiitake mushrooms and stir-fried seasonal vegetables, costing around 40-50 RMB per person.
- Afternoon: Depending on your return time, enjoy free time or stroll around the town to buy some local specialties like local honey, dried shiitake mushrooms, and wild black fungus as souvenirs to take home. Afterwards, pack your luggage, conclude your wonderful Shennongjia trip, and head home.
Helpful Tips
1. Parent-child Interaction: Interact more with your children during the trip. Feel the power of the waterfall together at Tianshengqiao, tell them the legend of Yan Emperor at Shennong Altar, and search for small animals in the wetlands at Dajiuhu to strengthen parent-child bonding.
2. Time Management: Reasonably plan the visiting time for each attraction, allowing ample rest and free activity time for your children to avoid an overly packed itinerary. For example, at Shennongding Scenic Area, you can allocate more time for children to observe the golden snub-nosed monkeys, and at Dajiuhu, you can stay longer to enjoy the lake and mountain scenery.
3. Safety First: When playing in the scenic area, always keep a close eye on your children, especially during water activities and hiking. Always pay attention to your child's safety. Do not let your child out of your sight to avoid accidents.
4. Environmental Awareness: Teach your children to protect the environment, not to litter, and to preserve the ecological environment of the scenic area. Tell them not to pick flowers or damage trees, helping them develop environmental awareness from a young age.