Shennongjia Tianqiao Scenic Area

　　The Tianqiao Scenic Area is situated in Caiqi Village in the southern part of Shennongjia, next to National Highway 209, and is a newly developed eco-tourism zone that officially opened to the public in April 2003. Located at an altitude of 1,200 meters and covering an area of 60 square kilometers, it is a leisure, adventure, and sightseeing destination known for its extraordinary caves, bridges, waterfalls, and pools. Here, you’ll find cascading waterfalls full of charm, a naturally formed stone bridge of breathtaking craftsmanship, the fragrant Orchid Mountain, and thrilling cliffside plank walks—all coming together to create a vibrant and colorful landscape painting.

　　The Tianqiao area features overlapping mountain rocks covered with wildflowers and lush trees. Abundant with orchids, the area exudes a subtle fragrance, hence the name Orchid Mountain. The orchid is one of the Four Gentlemen among flowers and belongs to the Orchidaceae family. According to statistics, there are over 60 species of orchids in Shennongjia, including wild orchids, Dendrobium, Gastrodia elata, and Allium macrostemon. These orchids are categorized by climate type into subtropical, humid tropical, and tropical varieties. As Shennongjia has a subtropical monsoon climate, the most common types are the Cymbidium and Spring Orchid, which feature delicate colors and a refreshing fragrance, making them highly valuable for ornamental purposes. Where there are fragrant flowers, there are also birdsongs. Have you noticed the bamboo tubes hanging from some of the trees around the scenic area? They serve as bird feeders. Shennongjia is a kingdom of birds, home to over 200 species, including commonly seen ones such as sunbirds, cuckoos, magpies (known as the “auspicious bird”), lovebirds (also called “My Brother Returns”), romantic birds (symbolizing Liang Shanbo and Zhu Yingtai), and woodpeckers. Woodpeckers are known as the “forest doctors”—a single woodpecker can eat over a hundred pests a day and protect more than 30 acres of forest. Shennongjia has not experienced major forest pest issues for years, thanks in large part to these woodpeckers. The waterfalls cascading down from the rocks rush forth like flying petals, drumbeats, or bamboo shoots, blending harmoniously with the birdsongs on both banks, creating a symphony of the valley.

　　Address: Muyu Town, Shennongjia Forestry District

　　Type: Forest, Geological Landform, Mountain, Waterfall, River

　　Recommended Visiting Time: 1–2 hours

　　Opening Hours:

　　8:00–17:30