Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2016, the Shennongjia Forestry District is covered by vast forest,     1     (nurture) countless species of plants and animals, as well as legends and stories     2     (pass) down through the ages.

Tourism development in the area takes a back seat to the wonders of nature. The natural environment has been largely left untouched,     3     allows visitors the opportunity to appreciate unique beauty. Visitors     4     Shennongjia can base themselves in the town of Muyu, which is the     5     (near) to all the scenic areas in the district.

The name of the district is adapted from the legendary father of Chinese herbal medicine, Shennong, who is said     6     (try) hundreds of types of herbs to heal     7     sick. The Shennongjia Museum of Natural History in Muyu provides a memorial to Shennong and     8     (display) more than 2,000 breeds of plant species.

What if you are not interested in medicinal herbs and just want some sightseeing delights? Shennongjia provides a variety of     9     (option). For example, hikers who love challenges climb the Shennong Top, a pyramid-shaped peak that is considered as the “Roof of Central China.” The climb can never be     10     (bore) with different views along the stairway: a sea of bamboo, a stone forest, and a plateau meadow(高原牧场) filled with flowers and greenery.

Carved from mountains in Yunnan province, the Hong-he Hani Rice Terraces reach over more than 160 square kilometers to create a most spectacular landscape.

Since ancient times, the local Hani people have channeled spring water from mountains and forests     1     (water) the terraced fields. Some terraces are as big as football fields, and others no larger than a bed sheet. They climb     2     riverbank locations at less than 500 meters above sea level to heights of more than 1,800 meters. The     3     (common) used description “stairways to heaven” is most suitable here.

However, the wonder remained largely unknown to the rest of the world for     4     (century). Nobody paid much attention to these terraces until     5     2000s. New roads arrived and the local government was determined to get the terraces     6     (place) on UNESCO’s World Heritage List. This     7     (achieve) in 2013. Over the past decade, it has become impossible to keep such a wonder under wraps. Photography fans have crowded in, taking postcard-perfect pictures and then     8     (post) them on social media.

Although the terraces shine with bright green during the summer growing season, the landscape is most     9     (appeal) from November to late April. During this period, the water-filled terraces turn into natural mirrors     10     reflect every sunrise and sunset.