Shennongjia's golden snub-nosed monkeys are among the most spectacular wildlife encounters available in China. The animals — large, golden-furred, with flattened blue faces and upturned noses — live at altitude in the reserve's old-growth forests and can be seen at designated feeding and observation stations where habituated troops congregate on a predictable schedule. The stations are open to visitors and allow observation from close range without disturbing the animals unduly.
The wild population requires more patience. Troop movements through the forest canopy — crashing branches, distant whooping — are an exciting indication of proximity, but clear sightings of wild individuals require time and some luck. The best strategy is to spend two nights at Muyu or in the reserve itself, which allows early morning visits to the observation stations before day visitors arrive and afternoon treks through the forest. The monkeys are active year-round but most visible from spring through autumn when the forest is in leaf.