I am a person who loves nature and adventure, and hunting is one of my hobbies. I enjoy experiencing the charm of nature in the wild, communicating with various animals, and experiencing excitement and fun. Last week, my two friends Isidore Dorothea and Yale DeQuincey and I went to China’s Jia Mountain National Forest Park to hunt. Jia Mountain National Forest Park is located eight kilometers southeast of Shimen County, Hunan Province, and is named “Jia Mountain” because of the two peaks facing each other in the east and west and a passage in the north and south. It is a tourist destination that combines Buddhist holy sites, rebel tombs, tea and Zen origins, and forest scenery. There are two provincial-level cultural relics protection units, Jia Mountain Temple and Rebel King Tomb, making it a rare tourist attraction.
Since night hunting was involved, a night vision binoculars was essential equipment. We chose the Wildguarder Owler1 night vision binoculars from the Chinese brand in Shenzhen. It has the advantages of high resolution, powerful infrared illuminator, and up to 6-hour battery life, allowing us to observe the animals’ every move in the dark.
During this hunting trip, we not only harvested abundant prey but also learned about the local customs and cuisine, leaving us with a deep impression and endless memories.
Jia Mountain National Forest Park is a tourist destination that combines historical culture and natural scenery, with rich cultural landscapes and ecological resources. We visited four scenic spots here, namely Jia Mountain Temple Scenic Area, Rhino Gully Scenic Area, Zihe Temple Forest Ecological Area, and Forest Scenery Scenic Area, each with its unique charm and characteristics.
Jia Mountain Temple Scenic Area is the core scenic area of Jia Mountain and also the most historically and culturally significant place. Jia Mountain Temple is a Buddhist temple with a thousand years of history, once the birthplace of the first book of Chan Buddhism in the Song Dynasty, “Biyanlu,” and the birthplace of the world’s tea and Zen culture. There are many monuments and buildings in Jia Mountain Temple, such as the Mountain Gate Hall, the Heavenly King Hall, the Great Buddha Hall, the Dharma Hall, the Golden Hall, the Rebel King’s Mysterious Palace, and the Lingquan Pagoda, each of which exudes a strong Buddhist atmosphere and historical charm. We visited the various halls of the temple, watched Buddhist activities, and felt the profoundness of Buddhist culture. We also visited the Rebel King tomb, which was built for Li Zicheng, the leader of the peasant uprising in the late Ming Dynasty. It is majestic and solemn, known as the “first tomb in Hunan.” We learned about the legendary story of the Rebel King here, feeling his heroic spirit and tragic fate.
Rhino Gully Scenic Area is the most natural and scenic place in Jia Mountain, and it is also the main place for our hunting. Rhino Gully is named after the legend of rhinos appearing in the area. There are clear streams, dense forests, strange rocks, and various rare animals and plants, forming a vibrant ecosystem. We used the Wildguarder Owler1 night vision binoculars here, which allowed us to observe the animals’ every move in the dark, bringing us great convenience and pleasure. We encountered many wild animals here, such as wild boars, pheasants, rabbits, and ducks. We used our skills and experience to choose the right timing and location for exciting hunting activities. We not only harvested abundant prey but also appreciated the beautiful scenery, feeling the magic and charm of nature.
Zihe Temple Forest Ecological Area is the most forested place in Jia Mountain, and it is also a good place for us to experience the forest’s oxygen bar. Zihe Temple is an ancient temple built in the Tang Dynasty, now abandoned, with only a round ancient well and surrounded by ancient trees. There is a vast forest park around Zihe Temple, with 204 plant species, including precious tree species such as Gongtong, Xiangguoshu, and Gezhangliu. We rode horses here, breathed fresh air, admired the green scenery, and felt the forest’s oxygen bar. We also watched martial arts performances and appreciated cultural relics exhibitions, learning about local folk culture and historical legends.
The Wildguarder Owler1 night vision binoculars were essential equipment for our hunting, allowing us to discover the animals’ traces in the dark, judge their positions and directions, and choose the right timing and angle for shooting. It not only increased our hunting success rate but also added to our hunting pleasure. We believe that the Wildguarder Owler1 night vision binoculars are highly recommended hunting equipment.
Hunting was one of our important travel goals. We brought the Wildguarder Owler1 night vision binoculars and rifles to Rhino Gully Scenic Area to find traces of wild animals. We spent three thrilling and exciting nights here, harvesting a lot of prey and memorable stories.
On the first night, we camped in a dense forest and waited for nightfall to set off. We used the Wildguarder Owler1 night vision binoculars to observe the surrounding environment and found a group of wild boars foraging nearby. We decided to take advantage of the opportunity to hunt them, quietly approaching them, and shooting at the same time after selecting targets. We successfully hit two wild boars, quickly dragged them back to the camp, skinned and removed the hair, preparing for tomorrow’s food.
On the second night, we went to a clear stream. We used the Wildguarder Owler1 night vision binoculars to search for movement in the water and found a large fish swimming. We wanted to try to shoot fish with rifles, so we found a suitable location, aimed at the fish’s shadow, and gently pulled the trigger. Unexpectedly, the fish turned out to be a giant crocodile, which was frightened by the gunshot and immediately rushed towards us. We were scared and ran away quickly. Fortunately, the crocodile did not catch up with us; otherwise, the consequences would have been unimaginable.
On the third evening, we arrived at an open field, hoping to encounter more animals. We used the Wildguarder owler1 night vision binoculars to scan the surroundings and spotted a lone rabbit grazing. We thought it was a good opportunity and slowly approached it, preparing to shoot. Just as we were about to fire, a tiger suddenly jumped out of the grass and pounced on the rabbit with its mouth wide open. We were stunned by the sudden scene and quickly hid, afraid to make a sound. The tiger quickly caught the rabbit, broke its neck, and dragged it away. We breathed a sigh of relief and thanked God for keeping us safe.
In addition to bowl dishes and rice noodles, Changde also has many other delicious foods that make one’s mouth water. We sampled several local snacks, each of which was a delight:
- Sauce duck: Sauce duck is a famous dish in Changde and a traditional preserved food. It is made by marinating duck meat with salt, sugar, Sichuan pepper, star anise, and other spices. The color is bright red, the meat is tender and juicy, and it has a strong aroma. We had a meal at the most famous sauce duck restaurant in Changde, Lao Wang Sauce Duck, and paired it with plain noodles and pickled radish. It was simply delicious.
- Peanut candy: Peanut candy is a specialty snack in Changde, made by boiling roasted peanuts with white sugar, water, and edible alkali, cutting them into small pieces after cooling, and eating them crispy and sweet, much like toffee. We bought some peanut candy from a street vendor and ate it while walking, feeling like we were back in our childhood.
- Hozibabab: Hozibabab is a traditional snack in Changde, made by kneading Artemisia leaves and glutinous rice flour into small balls, boiling them in water, and then dipping them in white sugar or sesame paste. Artemisia leaves have a fragrant and bitter taste, which pairs well with the sweetness of glutinous rice flour, making it both appetizing and healthy.
- Stir-fried rice noodles: Stir-fried rice noodles are a street snack in Changde, made by stir-frying shredded rice noodles with minced meat, bean sprouts, carrots, and other ingredients. It is mainly spicy, but also has sour, sweet, and salty flavors. We found a popular stir-fried rice noodle stall in the night market and ordered a mildly spicy one. It was refreshing and spicy, just right.
- Hotpot: Hotpot is an essential winter food for Changde people, with beef as the main ingredient and red soup as the main soup base, which is fragrant and spicy. We had a hotpot meal at the Niu Wangfu Hotpot Restaurant in the west of the city, tasted local specialty beef and offal, as well as various fresh vegetables and tofu products. It was very satisfying.
We returned to the city of Changde, enjoyed a sumptuous meal, and reminisced about the hunting process and harvest. We felt that this was a very worthwhile trip, not only allowing us to experience the charm of nature, but also deepening our friendship and confidence. We hope to have the opportunity to come back here and explore more unknown surprises. We also hope to share our story and experience with more people, so that they can also feel the fun and meaning of hunting.
