Shennong Stream Rafting

Shennong Stream Rafting

In the middle section of the Yangtze River’s Three Gorges, there lies a scenic route where both the mountains and waters are stunning—this is Shennong Stream.

Shennong Stream originates from the vast green mountains of Shennongjia, with crystal-clear waters and steep, rugged peaks along its banks. A 20-kilometer stretch upstream from the mouth of the stream features Longchang Cave Gorge, Parrot Gorge, and Golden Bamboo Gorge, collectively known as the “Shennong Three Gorges.” Shennong Stream rafting uses a kind of flat boat shaped like a “pea pod.” Boarding this quaint, rustic little boat and gently drifting on the emerald waters offers a taste of pristine wildness. As Ouyang Xiu once wrote in a poem: “On windless water, the surface is smooth as glass; the boat moves unnoticed. Ripples barely stir. Startled sandbirds skim the shore in flight.” Drifting further into Golden Bamboo Gorge in the “pea pod,” you’ll find the gorge flanked by mountains covered in dense, lush golden bamboo, vividly green and glistening. The water reflects the shadows of green peaks and bamboo, making the stream even more azure. Surrounded by such verdant beauty, both people and boat feel enveloped in green, cleansing the mind entirely. With not a single motorboat in sight on Shennong Stream, the air is exceptionally fresh, and the gorge is especially tranquil—only the occasional birdcall or the shouts of boat trackers break the silence, giving one an even stronger sense of being worlds away from civilization. This is something you absolutely won’t find outside Shennong Stream. After passing through Golden Bamboo Gorge, you’ll enter Parrot Gorge. This gorge is full of unusual peaks and spectacular scenery—some peaks resemble roaring tigers, others playful monkeys. Inside the gorge lies Shennong Stream’s largest karst cave, “Swallow Cliff,” as well as ancient plank roads and other attractions. Before you know it, you’ll enter the third gorge—Longchang Gorge. This gorge mostly features sheer cliffs and numerous strange rocks and formations. Notable sights include “Fairy Sees Off the Elder,” “Crocodile Emerging from the Cave,” “Natural Swimming Area,” and “Panda Rock.” Exiting Longchang Gorge, you’ll arrive at Xirangkou, where Shennong Stream meets the Yangtze River, marking the end of the rafting trip. Visitors can take a boat back to Badong County to continue their Three Gorges journey.

Shennong Stream is 60 kilometers long and receives 17 tributaries and eight hundred-meter waterfalls along its course. The stream flows from south to north through deep mountain valleys before joining the mighty Yangtze River. Drifting downstream in an ancient “pea pod” boat, you’ll see cliffs rising at 80- to 90-degree angles on both sides, steep and continuous, connecting to mountain summits. The relative height difference between peaks reaches 300 to 1,200 meters, and the narrowest parts of the cliffs are only 7 meters wide. Two small villages divide the 20-kilometer stretch into three sections: Mianzhu, Parrot, and Longchang Cave gorges, each characterized by its own distinctive features—“treacherous, beautiful, and majestic.” The cliff walls are not only covered with abundant stalactites and peculiar rocks but also feature over 60 large and small karst caves, most of which have stone or earthen walls at their entrances, remnants of ancient wartime defenses. Among them, Longchang Cave and Swallow Cliff are particularly famous. Longchang Cave is not a rock cave but a 10-li-long water passage navigable by boat. Swallow Cliff Cave stands 80 meters high and 30 meters wide, with its rock ceiling home to thousands of short-beaked swifts that fly overhead in the valley, bringing a festive atmosphere to visitors. Inside the cave, there are “Thousand Hills of Fields” formed by lava deposits, crisscrossing in spectacular fashion. Shennong Stream winds and turns with significant elevation changes, creating over 60 rapids of varying lengths and intensities, giving rise to the saying “three bends in a li, three rapids in a bend.” Many shallow areas are less than 0.5 meters deep, where the water is sluggish and the boat’s bottom grates against pebbles, creating the sensation of rowing on land. Over thirty fast rapids have an average drop of 1.7 meters, with the highest reaching 3 meters. Rafting through these feels like an arrow released from a bow, offering an exhilarating yet safe thrill as you battle nature’s forces.

Drive to Shennong Stream's Yezi Dam to start today’s rafting adventure.