The Tianyan scenic area in the eastern part of the Shennongjia reserve has the most dramatic cliff scenery in the reserve — sheer limestone walls rising from forested gorges, with the characteristic cloud-filled valleys that create the atmosphere of classical Chinese landscape painting. The area is accessible from Muyu town and receives more visitors than the interior of the reserve, but the infrastructure is lighter than at comparable sites elsewhere in China.
The trails through Tianyan pass through mixed subtropical and temperate forest with good opportunities for birdwatching. The reserve's significant bird list includes species of pheasants, warblers, and raptors not easily found elsewhere in central China. The combination of cliff scenery and forest birding makes Tianyan a natural first stop for visitors arriving from Yichang before pressing deeper into the reserve.