Shennongjia is named after the Chinese ancestor, Emperor Yan Shennong, who built a wooden ladder here to collect and taste herbs, save the people from disease and premature death, and teach them farming techniques.
In May 1970, the State Council approved the designation of 24 communes, two medicinal herb farms, and one farm in Fang County, Xingshan County, and Badong County as the administrative division of the Shennongjia Forest District. This makes it the only provincially administered administrative district in China named "Forest District."
As of June 2023, Shennongjia Forest District has jurisdiction over 6 towns and 2 townships: Songbai Town, Yangri Town, Muyu Town, Hongping Town, Xinhua Town, Jiuhu Town, Songluo Township, and Xiaguping Tujia Township.
Local Customs
This book, "The Legend of Darkness," which appeared in Shennongjia 42 years ago, is surprisingly a complete epic poem of the Han ethnic group.
Shennongjia is a place where the cultures of the Shang, Qin, and Han dynasties, as well as those of Bashu and Jingchu, converge, boasting a rich and diverse array of regional folk cultural resources. The precious Han mythological epic "The Legend of Darkness," along with its beautiful and lyrical folk songs and colorful legends, constitutes a treasure trove of Shennongjia folk literature and a powerful testament to the preservation of ancient culture from the last century. Due to its long period of pristine isolation and unique natural ecology and geographical environment, the people have been deeply influenced by traditional concepts, beliefs, production methods, and lifestyles. This has resulted in the formation and preservation of a variety of ancient, simple folk customs, including those for New Year's Eve, weddings, funerals, drinking, and dining, with distinct local characteristics. Tang opera, shadow puppetry, funeral drums, hunting, weeding gongs and drums, artillery fire, and hanging pots are among the main forms of expression. It is distributed in many towns and villages, including Songbai, Hongping, Xiagu, Jiuhu, Xinhua, and Songluo, covering the ten major categories and more than forty subcategories divided by the country.