One Man's Inspiring Story about China's Bigfoot

At age 62, Li Guohua, still looks for the Chinese Wildman.  

"Although I have seen the Wildman several times, I couldn't record it because it escaped too fast, and I didn't have a good camera to record faraway objects. Besides, it is too exhausting for a single man to search in such a large area." -- Li Guohua, Yeren Researcher

The Chinese version of Bigfoot is called YeRen (野人). It directly translates to Wild Man. Today at Chinese Daily you can read an article of a 62 year-old man who has been searching for the Wild Man for 30 years. This is a touching story unlike any Chinese-Yeren-Hubei Province-Shennongjia Region story we have shared with you so far. Its a little more personal.

In 2010 we shared the story about the Hubei Wild Man Research Association looking for 100 scientist and explorers. Later that year we shared the Yeti hair research by The Shennongjia Nature Reserve. More recently, earlier this year we announced China to Explore Virgin Forest Home of 'Bigfoot'. 

Now you can read a story about a man, not an institution, a man who's story is very similar to many Bigfooters here in the North America.

Cooking a meal in 1980. 

One man has made it his life mission to track down the mysterious 'Wildman' that is said to be roaming the mountains of Shennongjia. Wang Xiaodong reports in Shennongjia, Hubei province.

For the past three decades, Li Guohua has had just one mission in life: to find the legendary "Wildman" in the thick forests of Hubei province.

He can't recall how many times he almost lost his life to unexpected cold, falling into canyons or fighting bears. He was even mistaken by police for being an armed fugitive when trying to trace the ape-like Wildman in the mountains of Shennongjia, the scene of numerous witness reports of this elusive ape-man.

The retired 62-year-old firmly believes in the existence of Wildman and plans to organize an exploration team.

"Although I am not as vigorous as I used to be, I am still strong enough to climb mountains and with my experience I can guide young team members," he says. "I am sure I will find a Wildman and be able to provide solid evidence if I can get support from others."

Born in Yichang, Hubei province, Li says he has always been a curious person. "I was fascinated by the wilderness and forests when I was a child."

"When I was a boy, I would go to the woods near my home whenever I had a chance. I would roam there for hours, hunting birds and tasting different wild fruits, and hurried back home only when it began to get dark."

Li's first encounter with the Wildman was in 1972, when he found several "big footprints" while working in Muyu town as a logger.

"I had heard many stories about the Wildman. After I saw the big footprints my curiosity soared and I was convinced there must be such a creature in the forest."

Four years later he was working as an actor when he started his search.

"I heard five officials encountered a strange creature when driving on a mountain road. Locals talked about this for several days and I found it hard to calm down."

As his fellow performers in the troupe traveled to Wuhan for training, Li took off on his own up the mountain, with just some biscuits, a rope and steel bar.

He didn't find a Wildman but it was his first of many adventures.

"Whenever winter came, I just could not resist the temptation and would involuntarily find myself in forests. It was like I was enchanted," he says.

Li made his journeys of exploration mostly in winter as the light is better because the leaves have fallen, enabling him to find the creature's tracks. He spent days, even months, in the forest.

"To find a Wildman, you have to become a Wildman first. Like wild animals, the Wildman's senses are more acute than human beings and they can easily detect an approaching person."

Li pours scorn on the large-scale science exploration teams that are occasionally organized to search for the creature.

"These guys will never find anything new like a Wildman as they make too much noise, even if they are well equipped. To find a Wildman, you have to live in the mountains and merge with nature."

Spending time alone in harsh conditions comes easy to Li, who says he has been a loner since he was a child.

Speaking of being alone in the mountains, he says: "The solitude was so strong sometimes I became numb to the outside world. In addition, there was physical weakness caused by cold and fatigue. Sometimes, I was gripped by illusions and felt I could almost see Death."

Years of unrelenting effort, however, did bring some reward as Li saw the Wildman and its footprints on several occasions.

"It was the moment that I can never forget," he says of his first encounter with the beast, on Feb 28, 1980.

The Wildman appeared to be chasing him, Li says, possibly because it thought he was prey.

"I hid behind some trees and tried hard to contain my violently beating heart, closing my eyes for a while hoping I could see it more clearly later," he says.

As the creature came nearer, he could see clearly it resembled both a man and an ape. It was about 2.6 meters tall, with red hair all over its body, no tail, two arms waving as it walked like a man.

He was horrified but even so aimed his gun and pulled the trigger. But it failed to fire, as the charge was damp. He did not have a camera.

The creature turned around and ran swiftly toward a bamboo forest.

"Seeing the creature disappear, I collapsed on the snowy ground."

"When I returned haggard to the art troupe and saw my colleagues, I tried to say hello but could not remember their names, as I had been cut off from society for too long."

Since retiring a few years ago, Li's family of three has been relying on his monthly pension of about 2,000 yuan ($313). However, Li still continues the search.

"Once I receive a witness report from the villagers, I immediately go to the scene with them to check it out."

He blames lack of equipment and manpower on his inability to provide evidence of the creature's existence.

"Although I have seen the Wildman several times, I couldn't record it because it escaped too fast, and I didn't have a good camera to record faraway objects. Besides, it is too exhausting for a single man to search in such a large area."

He has published a book about his travails, with the help of Beijing Book House Technology & Culture Co.

"Li is a little obstinate and not very sociable," says Wang Wei, a marketing manager of the company. "But he is very focused on his pursuit. It is not easy in modern society, when many people just follow the trends and frequently shift focus."

"I hope I can find a sponsor and some volunteers so that I can continue with the search," Li says. "I have devoted all my life to the search and I hope I can put an end to this mystery so that I can be relieved before the end of my life."

Contact the writer at wangxiaodong@chinadaily.com.cn.

Zhou Lihua in Wuhan contributed to this story.

(China Daily 08/16/2012 page20)

CORRECTION: Initially we have stated that (野人) was translated as YaJin. We got this from Google translate (http://translate.google.com/#en/zh-CN/wild%20man). If you click the audio is is undeniably "Ya Jin". A fluent speaker has commented that this is incorrect. However, for what it is worth, YaJin is the Japanese word for the Yeti spelled in katakana as (やじん)..

China to Explore Virgin Forest Home of 'Bigfoot'

The Yeren, literally translated as "wild man". AKA The Chinese Bigfoot

The Chinese Wild Mand a/k/a Yeren, a/k/a Bigfoot is said to be living in the forests of the Shennongjia region. You can click on the following link to learn more about the Yeren, the Chinese Bigfoot.

Below is an article from China.org.cn: and of course at the end of the article is our entry on our international Bigfoot variants map

Researchers will start exploring large areas of primitive forest this month in the Shennongjia region of central China's Hubei province, local authorities said Sunday.

Located deep in the remote mountains of Hubei, the Shennongjia Nature Reserve has long been rumored to be the home of an elusive creature known in China as the "Yeren," or "Wild Man" in English. [File Photo]

A group of 38 experts from several universities and research institutions will begin the expedition on July 8, according to a statement from the Shennongjia Nature Reserve's management bureau.

The trip is scheduled to last through August, the statement said.

The group will focus on studying the region's animals, plants and land features and will publish its research results later, it said.

Located deep in the remote mountains of Hubei, the Shennongjia Nature Reserve has long been rumored to be the home of an elusive creature known in China as the "Yeren," or "Wild Man" in English. It is also referred to as "Bigfoot" after the legendary North American ape-man.

More than 400 people have claimed to have seen the Yeren in the Shennongjia area over the past century, but no hard evidence has been found to prove the creature's existence.

With abundant rain and water resources, Shennongjia is home to more than 3,700 species of plants and at least 1,050 kinds of animals. At least 40 of its plant species and 70 of its animal species are under state protection.

The region is also home to the rare golden monkey, which is on the verge of extinction and was first spotted in Shennongjia in the 1960s.

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) added Shennongjia to its World Network of Biosphere Reserves in 1990.

View AKA Bigfoot World Map in a larger map

Shennongjia isn't just gorgeous, it's China's most popular destination for Bigfoot believers

View from the high peaks of Shennongjia Nature Reserve. More than 400 people claim to have seen a Bigfoot-like creature called "yeren" in the forest below.

"More than 400 people have claimed to have seen the Bigfoot-like creature in the past century" Xinhua News Agency

This is not the first instance of a Bigfoot-like creature to be used to lure tourists to a destination, Bigfoot is the "go-to" magnet for international tourism.  You can read about other Bigfoot tourism destinations, such as,  India, skiing in Russia, oh yeah, and even China's Taibai Mountains.

The Yeren, literally translated as "wild man". AKA The Chinese Bigfoot

 As the alleged home of the legendary Bigfoot-like ape-man known as "yeren," Shennongjia (神农架) has been the go-to place for adventurous Chinese travelers for decades.

But its mystery and solitude might soon fall victim to the colorful flags of tour guides.

The west Hubei attraction is the latest addition to China’s list of 5A-class scenic spots (国家级5A旅游区). Shennongjia was presented the title last week in Beijing by the National Tourism Administration, reported Xinhua News Agency. 

The 5A-class is China's top classification for scenic spots. Attractions in this category are said to represent the nation’s best tourist spots for receiving excellent ratings in eight categories, ranging from transportation and tourist services to hygiene conditions.

As of September 2011, there were 119 5A-class scenic spots throughout China, including Hangzhou's West Lake, Huangshan and Badaling Great Wall.

Yeren and golden monkeys

Located in northwest Hubei Province, 570 kilometers from provincial capital Wuhan (武汉), Shennongjia is best known to Chinese as the rumored home of the legenedary "yeren," or literally “wild man.”

More than 400 people have claimed to have seen the Bigfoot-like creature in the past century, according to Xinhua, yet no hard evidence has been found to prove yeren’s existence.

Rather then spying a yeren in the forest, Shennongjia travelers will more likely find themselves being peeped at by snub-nosed or golden monkeys (金丝猴), a rare and protected animal in China.

The 3,200-square-kilometer nature reserve is also reported to be “the only well-preserved sub-tropical forest ecosystem in the world's mid-latitudes,” with more than 5,000 species of animals and plants.

Getting there

Wuhan is the nearest major city and traffic hub to Shennongjia.

From Wuhan's long-distance bus station at Xinhua Lu, take the daily coach to Xingshan County (兴山县). The bus departs at 8 p.m. and arrives at Xingshan at 6 a.m. the following day. Ticket costs RMB 90 per person. Then transfer to a mini-bus from Xingshan to Shennongjia. Mini-buses leave every 30 minutes and costs RMB 10.

Or, take a train from Wuhan to Shiyan (十堰) at 10 p.m. The train arrives at Shiyan around 6 a.m. the following day. Buses for Shennongjia depart at 7:30 p.m. from Shiyan. The bus journey takes about five hours.

The China Scientific Expedition Association investigated the scene in Shennongjia where a sighting of wild men was reported in 2003. Chinese media reported that the association collected evidence, including hair and footprints.

Shennongjia is also famous for its wild snub-nosed or golden monkeys (金丝猴), a rare and protected animal in China.

Chinese think hair of unidentified creature is from Hubei "Wild Man"

SRC: Global Times: November, 23 Hubei province (China), The Shennongjia Nature Reserve in Hubei province has examined a strand of hair which it has not managed to identify, prompting local people to speculate that it may belong to the "Wild Man" – China's own Bigfoot.

Piao Jinlan, a researcher at the reserve, said that scientists need to continue their tests before they can identify the species.

The hair is said to be thicker than human hair and thinner than horsetail hair, and the reserve posted a photo on its website on November 22.

More than 400 people have claimed to have seen the half-man, half-ape "Wild Man" in the area in the last 100 years.

Witnesses describe the creature as walking upright, more than 2 meters tall and with grey, red or black hair all over its body.

An investigative team was set up in 2009 and started a large-scale search for the mysterious creature in Shennongjia this year.

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EXTERNAL LINKS
Original Article at Global Times

Scientists to look for China's Bigfoot

As with many great Sasquatch announcements, everything is in place for this endeavor-- as soon as they get some money.

There has been a string of news sources reacting to the initial Reuters Article about a group of 100 Chinese Scientist looking for assistance in manpower and money in search of the Yeren (The Chinese Bigfoot). Craig Woolheater of Cryptomundo and TBRC has announced it as, "the new dawn of hominid research in China". We have posted every unique article on the subject including news sources like the initial Reuters article, China's Xinua, USA This Week, And even CNN.

Chinese Researchers Prepare To Relaunch 'Bigfoot' Search

(USA This Week; 10/10/2010) Scientists in China's Hubei Province have announced that they would soon launch a new research to track down the elusive creature named Bigfoot. The Hubei Wild Man Research Association (HWMRA) has asked researchers from outside to join the group's search in the Shennongjia forest region, reported Xinhua.

Talking to Xinhua, Luo Baosheng, vice president of the HWMRA, said that the organization is comprised of more than 100 scientists and explorers, who are looking for the Bigfoot, an ape-like animal, for years. "Most importantly, we want the team members to be devoted, as there will be a lot of hard work in the process," Luo told Xinhua. Team members are also expected to be in good physical health and preferably 25 to 40 years of age, he added.

The Bigfoot is also known as "Yeren" or "Wild Man" in China and its search will cost at least USD 1.5 million, said Wang Shancai, a member of the the group and an archaeologist with the Hubei Provincial Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology. The group has approached various companies and institutions to seek funding for their research, Wang added.

"Unlike expeditions three decades ago, the better technological support will help us get closer to solving the mystery. We are now working together with the China Three Gorges University to develop long-time energy-supply devices to support cameras that will be installed in the ape man's possible habitat," noted Wang.

Chinese researchers have been searching for the Bigfoot since the 1970s and the search for Yeti, another name for the creature, is not restricted to China only. People in the United States have been looking for Yeti, also known as Sasquatch.

SOURCE : USA This Week

Chinese researchers to relaunch 'Bigfoot' search

(CNN 10/09/2010) -- Wanted: Patient person. Physically fit, with basic knowledge of biology. Able to take pictures.
Job: Find Bigfoot.
Scientists in China's Hubei Province have announced they are looking for additional members for its special team tasked with tracking down the creature.
The Hubei Wild Man Research Association (HWMRA) is recruiting researchers internationally to join the group's search in the Shennongjia forest region, according to state-run news agency Xinhua.

Luo Baosheng, vice president of the HWMRA, told Xinhua that the organization is comprised of more than 100 scientists and explorers who have been chasing the ape-like animal for years. The last time a organized search took place was in the early 1980s, Xinhua reported Saturday.

"Most importantly, we want the team members to be devoted, as there will be a lot of hard work in the process," Luo told Xinhua. Team members are also expected to be in good physical health and preferably 25 to 40 years of age, he added.
The search for the phantom, known as the "Yeren" or "Wild Man" in China, will cost at least $1.5 million U.S. dollars, according to Wang Shancai, a member of the the group and an archaeologist with the Hubei Provincial Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology. The group is seeking funding from various companies and institutions, Wang said.

Chinese researchers have been searching since the 1970s. There have been more than 400 reported sightings of the half-man, half-ape in the Shennongjia area. In the past, explorers have found inconclusive evidence that researchers claimed to be proof of Bigfoot's existence, including hair, footprints, excrement and a sleeping nest, Xinhua reported.

Witnesses say the creature walks upright like a human but is much taller, and is covered in hair head-to-toe.

The search for Yeti is not restricted to China.

People in the United States have been looking for years. The Bigfoot Field Researchers Organization (BFRO) claims it's the oldest and largest organization with the goal of finding Bigfoot, also known as Sasquatch. The organization relies heavily on eyewitness reports from residents.

According to BFRO's website, the animal began to be referred to as Bigfoot by journalists in the 1950s after a spat of sightings reported in northern California.

SOURCE: CNN

Chinese association to hunt for "Bigfoot" search team members

WUHAN, Oct. 9 (Xinhua) -- A "Bigfoot" research association in central China's Hubei Province said Saturday it plans to launch a global recruitment drive seeking members of a high-profile search team for the ape-like creature in the Shennongjia Forest Region.

The association, made up of more than 100 scientists and explorers, is hoping the expedition could end the long-running debate on the existence of the legendary half-human, half-ape figure, nearly 30 years after the last organized expedition to seek the mysterious beast in the early 1980s, said Luo Baosheng, vice president of the Hubei Wild Man Research Association.

Altogether more than 400 people have claimed to have seen Bigfoot in the Shennongjia area, but no hard evidence has been found to prove its existence.

According to witnesses, the creature walks upright, is more than 2 meters tall as an adult and has a gray, red or black hairy body.

The team members should be between 25 and 40 years old. With good physical health, they should also have a basic knowledge of biology and know how to use a camera, said Luo.

Preference would be given to those who have outdoor experience.

"Most importantly, we want the team members to be devoted, as there will be a lot a hard work in the process," he said.

However, there is no specific timetable yet for the expedition as the association is still in talks with several companies and institutions about the funding of the expedition which will cost at least 10 million yuan (about 1.5 million U.S. dollars), said Wang Shancai, an archaeologist with the Hubei Provincial Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology, who is also a member of the association.

Located deep in the remote mountains in Hubei, Shennongjia Nature Reserve has long been rumored to be the home of the elusive creature known in China as the "Yeren," or "Wild Man."

China organized three high-profile scientific expeditions for Bigfoot through the 1970s and 1980s. Researchers found hair, a footprint, excrement and a sleeping nest that were said to be Bigfoot's, but none of which could conclusively prove its existence.

Source: news.xinhuanet.com

Scientists to look for China's Bigfoot

(Reuters) - A group of Chinese scientists and explorers is looking for international help to mount a new search for the country's answer to Bigfoot, known locally as the "Yeren," or "wild man."

Over the years, more than 400 people have claimed sightings of the half-man, half-ape Yeren in a remote, mountainous area of the central province of Hubei, state news agency Xinhua said on Saturday.

Expeditions in the 1970s and 1980s yielded hair, a footprint, excrement and a sleeping nest suspected of belonging to the Yeren, but there has been no conclusive proof, the report added.

Witnesses describe a creature that walks upright, is more than 2 metres (6 ft 7 in) tall and with grey, red or black hair all over its body, Xinhua said.

Now the Hubei Wild Man Research Association is looking for volunteers from around the world to join them on another expedition to look for the Yeren.

"We want the team members to be devoted, as there will be a lot a hard work in the process," Luo Baosheng, vice president of the group, told Xinhua.

But the team will have to come up with about 10 million yuan ($1.50 million) first, and is talking to companies and other bodies to secure the funding, so there is no timetable yet for when they may start, the report added.

China is no stranger to cryptozoology. Tales abound of mysterious, Loch Ness monster-like creatures living in lakes in remote parts of the country.

Tibetans have also long talked about the existence of the Yeti, or "Abominable Snowman," in the high mountains of their snowy homeland.

($1=6.671 Yuan)

(Reporting by Ben Blanchard; Editing by Ron Popeski)

Source: Reuters

If you're new and have not checked out our groovy AKA Bigfoot World Map. Below are our pinpoints for the Yeren


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EXTERNAL LINKS BY NEWS SOURCE
USA This Week 10/10/10
CNN 10/09/2010
Xinhua 10/09/10
Reuters 10/09/10