Deep in the mist-shrouded forests of Shennongjia National Park in central China's Hubei Province, live the golden snub-nosed monkeys, the real-life inspiration for China's mythical "Monkey King" from mythological tale "Journey to the West".
Gold-furred, blue-faced, with upturned nostrils and startlingly human-like expressions, the golden snub-nosed monkey is a rare and endangered species unique to China and is under the first-class state protection.
Over 1,600 monkeys of 11 families now inhabit in the primeval forests of Shennongjia National Park.
Observing the wild golden monkeys evokes a sense of awe as they gaze at humans with intelligent, almost familiar eyes.
"They're gentle creatures. This is one family unit - just one adult male with his mates and offspring. Come here, little one!" said Yang Jingyuan, dean of Shennongjia National Park Scientific Research Institute.
Yang has studied these animals for 30 years. The monkeys know him - even a one-month-old infant fearlessly crawls toward his hand.
The interaction with the monkeys is simple: hold peanuts in the palm, and they'll gently pry your fingers open. Their touch is unforgettable - not just for their clever, tender manner, but their uncanny resemblance to us: dexterous fingers, expressive faces, and skin that feels almost like human.
Fed on leaves, twigs, wild grasses, these monkeys demand pristine habitats. Air quality, plant diversity - everything matters. All these can be provided by Shennongjia, which scores 92.7/100 on environmental health. It shelters over 700 vertebrate species, more than 4,000 plants, and over 5,000 insects.
As its flagship species, these golden monkeys have been rigorously protected since Shennongjia's wild monkey base opened in 2005.
Rare golden snub-nosed monkeys thrive in Hubei's ancient forest thanks to conservation efforts
