Go On a Chinese Bigfoot Expedition for Less Than $500

Shennongjia Savage (a/k/a Yeren, Chinese Bigfoot) Model at Shennongjia Natural Museum

"Shennongjia has its very own Bigfoot! Keep your cameras ready and your eyes peeled—capture this giant creature on film and you could earn a reward!" --CTrip.com

Ctrip is China's leading online travel agency. Plan your China itinerary, book hotels and cheap flights in China, book China tours, activities and vacation packages—and save money every step of the way! Starting September 5th they are offering guided tours into Shennongjia Nature Preserve where over 400 sightings of the Yeren have been recorded. Click the following links to learn more about the Yeren and the Shennongolia Nature Preserve

Below is the two-day itinerary for a trip that cost about 3,000.00 CNY ($472 US Dollars). The price goes down to $320/each if you bring a friend :

Day 1 Yichang-Shennongjia (includes lunch & dinner)
7:30-8:00 a.m. Pick-up 

Your English-speaking guide will meet you at your Yichang hotel and you will drive to Shennongjia.

12:30 p.m. Shennongjia: Muyu Town

Muyu is the main town in the renowned Shennongjia Forestry District and is the gateway to the Shennongjia Nature Reserve, a remarkable forest of metasequoias and Chinese tulip trees.

1:00 p.m. Lunch

Break for lunch in a local restaurant.

2:00 p.m. Shennongjia Nature Reserve

A region of stunning natural beauty, Shennongjia National Nature Reserve is listed on UNESCO's World Network of Biosphere Reserves for its high density of rare and remarkable flora and fauna. Foreigners are only permitted to enter the south of the Yazikou Junction area, an area that offers an abundance of trekking and hiking with caves, waterfalls and picturesque forests just waiting to be explored.

Shennongjia's mountain tops boast some of central China's most beautiful views and its well preserved forests are a haven for animals including the endangered Golden Monkey, and an unusual number of albino creatures including white bears, snakes and deer. It's also said to be home to a creature even more remarkable, and elusive—Shennongjia has its very own Bigfoot! This Ye Ren or "Wild Man" is said to stalk the woods with over 400 claimed sightings, large footprints and supposed lairs having been found. Keep your cameras ready and your eyes peeled—capture this giant creature on film and you could earn a reward!

6:00 p.m. Dinner

You’ll enjoy dinner in a local restaurant. After dinner, dependent on the weather, you can opt to join a campfire and watch traditional song and dance performances by the local Tujia minority (additional CNY 40).

7:00 p.m. Arrive at hotel

Overnight at a 3-star Shennongjia hotel.

Day 2 Shennongjia-Yichang (includes breakfast & lunch)

8:00 a.m. Depart hotel

Check out from hotel after breakfast and head to Shennong Altar.

8:30 a.m. Arrive at Shennong Altar

Shennong Altar is named for the worship of Emperor Shennong who ruled southern China 4,000 years ago. Shennong is said to be the first person to discover tea in China. The story goes that a tea leaf fell, quite by accident, into his cup of hot water and after drinking it he felt refreshed. After this great cultural discovery, he went on to contribute a great deal to the development of Chinese herbal restoratives.

Be sure to check out the 1,000 year old cedar tree on the east side of the Altar.

10:00 a.m. Arrive at Tiansheng Bridge National Geological Park

The next stop is Tiansheng Bridge National Geological Park. The highlight of this scenic area is, of course, Tiansheng Bridge, an amazing natural bridge formed by centuries of fast flowing mountain streams rushing against the rocks.  Explore the pine tree-covered hillsides, caves and thundering waterfalls of the area and keep an eye out for the groups of wild monkeys that like to come and play by the water.

11:00 a.m. Depart for Yichang

12:00 p.m. Lunch

On the way to Yichang, break for lunch in a local restaurant in Gufu. This town was relocated to make way for the Three Gorges Dam project and after lunch you will have some time to take a look around.

4:30 p.m. Arrive in Yichang

Back in Yichang you can choose to return to you hotel or join an optional tour to a traditional embroidery gallery.

At the embroidery gallery you'll have about 30-60 minutes to watch this exquisite art practiced by local minority people and pick up some souvenirs, returning to your hotel by 5:30 p.m.