“Monkey”ing around in Zhangjiajie

One of the best elements of a Zhangjiajie trip is the encounters with these mischief makers. Some tips to keep in mind: - Don’t feed the monkeys! A lot of locals will be throwing food at the monkeys, but the moment you do, they’ll start following you and becoming more aggressive. Plus, it’s just a crappy thing to do. These animals can eat grass and they tend to rummage through the trash cans too. They are not lacking in food at all. - Be mindful of your bags. I saw some monkeys steal a woman’s tote bag and take the items out. They also got very territorial when she tried to take her stuff back. So when you visit the park, try to keep your items in a zippable bag. Eventually the monkeys got bored and left, but not before stealing some feminine pads from her. - Keep your distance. For the most part, these monkeys are used to tourists. However, mama monkeys with their babies, mating pairs, and solitary males can react negatively if you get too close. My friend got a little too close to a monkey who took aim at her with its claws. Thankfully she was unharmed, but the same can’t be said for her jacket. Just use common sense (i.e. don’t try to touch or feed the animals) and you’ll be just fine. #china #chinatrip #zhangjiajie #animalencounters