At the north side of the Yangtze River in Badong, Hubei, there is a small tributary known as Shennong Stream. It orignates from Shimen Cave at Xiangping and runs 60 kilometers to the Yangtze River at Xirangkou. The stream bed is steep and current swift. In stromy seasons, torrents of water rushed down the mountains into the stream with so violent a force that all the trees, sand and stones on the way are carried forward, forming a mighty water body shooting ahead. In the other seasons, the clear stream water gurgles down, it sometimes drops down a section of stair-like bed, forming waterfalls and splashing breakers, and sometimes runs through deep pools at the corners, stirring up a cold air. The stream water is as clear as crystal, through which the shining pebbles are seen. On both sides of the stream are rolling mountains, astounding precipices and exotic flowers and herbs in brilliant Technicolor. All this makes one linger on. The fast moving Shennong Stream, 60 kilometers long, has been a good place for rafting for years. Shennong Stream Scenic Zone at Badong is steep, quiet and very beautiful. The scenery along the side of the river changes and there are ancient suspended coffins and plank roads.
Tourists get on a bus at the stream's entrance to the Yangtze River, and then travel along the road by the stream bank to Yeziba, the start point of the drifting at the middle reaches of the stream, where tourists get aboard special wooden boats. A large boat holds about 10 tourists together with a crew of 5 or 6 people and a tourist guide. Smaller boats and even rafts are also offered for tourists to drift on. Down the stream with the current, the drifting is full of amusement of nature. At the point of a shoal, the crew members jump into the water and push the boat throgh; and in the place of a drop or a small waterfall the crew are more vigilant and cautious to ensure the tourists' safety. In the meantime the tourists guide tells the tourists all about the hills and waters they are passing through so as to give them a good knowlwdge of the drifting course. When the boat enters the Yangtze River, tourists get ashore and the boat is pulled back to the start point by the crew.
