International Club Trip : Shennongjia National Park, China

The Wild Bird Club Malaysia (WBCM) birdwatching tour to Shennongjia National Park took place from 25 June to 2 July 2026, marking WBCM’s first-ever birding trip to China. Led by Andy Lee and Low Kok Hen, the 12-member group was accompanied throughout the journey by two local birding guides, including our main guide, Wayne Pan—a hardworking, knowledgeable young guide whose sharp spotting skills made finding targets much easier. In the evening, after dinner, Tang Tuck Hong led the team in going over the bird list and submitting our sightings to eBird.

Date and Time	25th Jun until 2nd Jul 2026
Locations	Shennongjia National Park, China
No. of Participants	12
No. of Species Observed	122

Location Overview

Located in northwestern Hubei Province, Shennongjia National Park spans 1,170 km² with an impressive 96% forest coverage. Over eight days, we covered a wide array of habitats across key birding sites.

Key Sites Visited

Shuaguo Farm Homestay, Chuandongzi, Jinhouling Primitive Forest, Shennonggu Loop, Shennongding Viewing Tower, Xingyuan Farmhouse, Jiuhuping, Guanmenshan, Mirenchong Bamboo Forest, Taiziya Trail, and the Great Nine Lakes Scenic Area.

Although the elusive Golden Snub-nosed Monkey remained unseen, the birdlife was good. The cold highland temperatures and misty atmosphere only heightened the sense of adventure, while an excursion to the massive Three Gorges Dam proved both fascinating and educational. Shennongjia National Park itself was utterly captivating—a true mountain paradise for birders.

Trip Highlights & Stats

Species Recorded: 122 species logged across 17 eBird checklists, yielding more than 36 personal lifers.

Key Avian Highlights: Golden Pheasant, Temminck’s Tragopan, Great Parrotbill, Spectacled Parrotbill, Golden Eagle, various Bush Warblers, Chinese Babax, Brown Bullfinch, Grey-headed Bullfinch, Oriental Greenfinch, as well as the Chestnut-eared, Slaty, and Black-faced Buntings.

Logistics ran seamlessly. We travelled comfortably across well-maintained roads in two 9-seater luxury vans. Accommodations were clean and cozy, and the meals were consistently satisfying.

Above all, the trust, friendship, and togetherness among teammates made the entire trip fun, supportive, and thoroughly enjoyable.

All photos are credited to Mr Andy Lee