Altar of Shennong

Altar of Shennong

The Altar of Shennong was built to commemorate Emperor Yan, the legendary ancestor of the Chinese people. As the southern gateway to Shennongjia, it is also the first stop for most visitors exploring the area. The altar square is majestic, with its main structure being a massive 21-meter-high, 35-meter-wide statue of Shennong in the form of a human body with an ox head. Emperor Yan of Shennong stands amidst the lush green mountains, with the earth as his body, his eyes slightly closed as if pondering the mysteries of the universe. The scenic area is divided into five main sections: the main sacrificial area, ancient botanical garden, thousand-year-old fir tree, butterfly specimen museum, and chime bell performance hall. In the sacrificial area, the patterns on the ground represent heaven and earth — a circular shape for heaven and a square for earth. The five-colored stones on the “earth” symbolize the five elements of metal, wood, water, fire, and earth in traditional Chinese philosophy. The entire scenic area is embraced by green mountains and boasts beautiful scenery.

In the evening, the Altar of Shennong hosts bonfire parties where locals perform programs such as ancient hunting scenes, wedding ceremonies, and double-flower stick dances. Young men and women from the area also sing love songs to each other and exchange shoes as tokens of affection. Every year, many compatriots from Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan, and overseas Chinese visit to seek their roots and pay homage to Emperor Shennong.

Special Notes

Smoking and open fires are prohibited within the scenic area.

Address: Muyu Town, Shennongjia Forestry District

Type: Botanical Garden

Recommended Visiting Time: About 1 hour

Opening Hours:

8:00 AM – 5:30 PM.