This attraction introduction is compiled from historical materials in the "Zhangjiajie Tour Guide Network" (33519.com · Scenic Spots section). Ticket prices, opening hours, transportation, and contact information mentioned in the text may be outdated. Please refer to the latest official announcements from the scenic area before traveling; some content consists of historical background/cultural introductions and is for reference only.
The Yan Emperor Shennong Shrine is located on the south side of Shiniu Peak. Legend says that when the Yan Emperor toured south to Hunan, he passed through Shiniu Peak while gathering medicinal herbs. It happened to rain heavily, so he took shelter in a cave, accidentally tasted a poisonous herb and died, and was buried within Ling County (the "Ling County" of the Han dynasty refers to present-day Hengnan County and the eastern district of Hengyang City). It is also said that since this mountain was favored by Shennong, in years of disaster, when the common people prayed, they could obtain favorable weather and abundant harvests, so the mountain was named Shennong Mountain and the shrine was called the Yan Emperor Shennong Shrine.
The Yan Emperor Shennong Shrine was first built in the 13th year of the Zhenguan reign of the Tang Dynasty and was restored twice in the Qianlong and Xianfeng years. During the Cultural Revolution, Shennong's historic sites were destroyed, and in 1993 the Yan Emperor Shennong Shrine was rebuilt, preserving the original appearance of the historic site while adding to its old scale.
The shrine faces southwest with its back to the northeast. The stage, front hall, second hall, third hall, and Guanyin Hall are all built along the central axis of Shennong Mountain. On both sides are side rooms such as the Guanyin Hall and the Great King Hall. The shrine buildings are majestic and the craftsmanship exquisite. In November 1996, the Yan Emperor Shennong Shrine was listed by the Hengnan County People's Government as a county-level cultural relic protection unit.
At the same time, the Yan Emperor Shennong Shrine has also established an exhibition hall displaying the history of the Yan Emperor and Mao Zedong's revolutionary history, and has been designated a Hengnan County patriotism education base.
At present, the overall development plan of the Yan Emperor Shennong Shrine is being gradually improved, and various supporting facilities are also increasingly complete. It will become a good place for the vast descendants of the Yan Emperor to worship their ancestors and for sightseeing.
