Dongxi Valley is a must-see, in Niumulin. [Photo: China Daily]

Walking along a stone lined path, snaking its way in the shadows of Niumulin, you can see warning signs everywhere. One of them reads: "Do not tease the monkeys, they are not interested in flirting, they only believe in the law of the jungle."

But of the group of monkeys we encountered, only one jumped down and grabbed the cookie in my hand, the others simply ignored us.

"The monkeys here are much more polite and civilized than those I have encountered in Emei Mountain in Sichuan province," our guide said.