National park · China
Jingyuetan National Forest Park净月潭国家森林公园
Visit Jingyuetan for a day: take a taxi from Changchun (30 min), buy the entry ticket (check current price), walk the easy lakefront path in the morning, then visit the sand‑beach or ski field depending on season; avoid weekends and public holidays for fewer crowds.
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Map to the park
Add your hotel to get directions from it. · stays in this browser; shared with the pocket card.
Area
200 km² (77 sq mi)77 sq mi (200 km²)
approximate
Established
1988
Best months
Apr–May
UNESCO
None
Rules in force · 7
- East Asia ↗Every border in East Asia is a full international border, Hong Kong and Macau included: an entry permission for one never covers the next.
- East Asia ↗Ferries between Korea, Japan and China cancel in rough seas and typhoons; keep a flight or a spare day behind every sea leg.
- China ↗Most nationalities need a visa, a unilateral visa-free entry (the list and end dates change) or the transit exemption below. Confirm your route on the official sites before you buy a ticket.
- China ↗Transit stay without a visa: up to 240 hours (10 days) for citizens of about 55 listed countries who pass through China to a third country or region, with a confirmed onward ticket and a stay inside the permitted area (Beijing, Tianjin and Hebei count as one area). It replaced the 144-hour rule in December 2024, which some older pages still quote. Use the transit lane at immigration, show the onward ticket, and check the current nationality list. Hong Kong and Macau count as separate regions; check whether your ticket qualifies.
- China ↗Foreign visitors must register their address with the police within 24 hours; hotels do it at check-in with your passport. Carry the original passport at all times: hotels, trains, museums, Tiananmen Square and police checks ask for it.
- China ↗Set up Alipay or WeChat Pay with a foreign card before you fly. QR payment is the default in shops, taxis and many stalls, and some places refuse cash or a foreign card. Carry cash as a backup.
- China ↗Google, WhatsApp, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube and many news sites are blocked. Use an eSIM with roaming (it routes through your home network) or install and test a VPN before you fly; VPN sites and app stores are hard to reach inside China, and only government-approved VPNs are officially permitted.
At a glance
- Country
- China
- Area
- 200 km² (77 sq mi)77 sq mi (200 km²)
- Park covers about 200 km², including 4.3 km² of lake surface and 80 km² of planted forest.
- Established
- 1988
- Best months
- Apr–May
- Permits
- For some areas
- Base
- Jilin City
Jingyuetan National Forest Park offers lake scenery, forest trails, a summer sand‑beach and a winter ski field, all within a 200 km² protected area in Jilin province.
Decide
Why go, which months, and what lives here when
At a glance
Status
- No UNESCO listing; national park since 1988.
Size and age
200 km² (77 sq mi)77 sq mi (200 km²) · national park since 1988
Park covers about 200 km², including 4.3 km² of lake surface and 80 km² of planted forest.
This page covers the park itself. Nearest base: Jilin City.
Why go
- Lake scenery with forested hills and over 30 tree species.
- Winter snow creates a natural ski field, plus a large sand‑beach for summer water play.
When to go
- JanGo
- FebGo
- MarGo
- AprBest
- MayBest
- JunGo
- JulCaution
- AugCaution
- SepGo
- OctGo
- NovGo
- DecCaution
Wildlife and nature calendar
| What | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Local forest birdsApr–Sep | no | no | no | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | no | no | no |
Arrive & move
Getting in, how the park is divided, and where things are
Show 3 sectionsHideHow to get there, Zones and sectors, Sketch map
How to get there
From Changchun
Taxi or bus to the park gate, about 20 km (12 mi) southeast of the city centre.Taxi or bus to the park gate, about 12 mi (20 km) southeast of the city centre.
30 min
Open the page →
From Jilin City
High‑speed rail to Changchun (40 min), then taxi or bus to the park.
1.5 h
Open the page →
From Harbin
Train to Changchun (1 h), then local transport to the park.
2 h
Open the page →
Zones and sectors
| Zone | What is there | Access |
|---|---|---|
| Lakefront area | Main visitor centre, boat launch, sand‑beach. | Open with entry ticket. |
| Forest trails | Loop walks around the lake and up Stone Sheep Mountain. | Open, easy to moderate. |
| Ski field | Winter ski area on the lake’s frozen surface. | Open in snow season, equipment rental on site. |
Sketch map
Take the points offline
3 points as a GPX waypoint file, plus a plain-text list of coordinates. Save it while you have signal: maps apps show the points without a connection.
Coordinates are approximate centre of Changchun and park entrance.
See & do
Caves, trails and wildlife, with how hard each is and whether it needs booking
Show Top experiencesHide
Top experiences
Practical
Fees, permits, rules, where to sleep and what can go wrong
Show 8 sectionsHideEntry fees and permits, Park rules, Where to stay, Safety, Accessibility, Visiting lightly, Questions people ask, Related
Entry fees and permits
| Item | Range | Per | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Park entry | Free | person | check — 2026 estimate not confirmed |
Ranges, not quotes: fees change without notice. Check with the park or your operator · checked Sep 2026.
Park entry permit or guide
Park rules
- Litter
- Carry out all rubbish; bins at the visitor centre.
- Fires
- Open fires prohibited outside designated areas.
- Pets
- Leashed dogs allowed on trails only.
Where to stay
Near the park
Changchun hotels
Range of budget to mid‑range hotels, 20 km (12 mi) from the park.Range of budget to mid‑range hotels, 12 mi (20 km) from the park.
Near the park
Jilin City hotels
Range of budget to mid‑range hotels, 30 km (19 mi) from the park.Range of budget to mid‑range hotels, 19 mi (30 km) from the park.
Safety
Snow and ice medium
Heat in summer low
How much daylight do you have?
Time out
Finding the local time zone…
Times are local to the spot (zone loading). The half-hour margin is our rule of thumb, not an official figure; light fades earlier in forest or under cloud. Carry a headlamp on any route that could run late.
Accessibility
- Lake loop trail is flat and wheelchair‑friendly.
- Steeper mountain sections not suitable for limited mobility.
Visiting lightly
- Use refillable water bottles; avoid single‑use plastics.
- Stay on marked trails to protect forest floor.
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to enter Jingyuetan National Forest Park?
The entry ticket is about 30 CNY per adult (2026 estimate).
What are the best hikes in Jingyuetan National Forest Park?
The easy lake‑loop trail (2 km) and the moderate Stone Sheep Mountain hike (3–4 h) are the most popular.
When is the best time to visit Jingyuetan National Forest Park?
Spring (Apr–May) and early autumn (Sep–Oct) offer mild weather and clear views; winter provides snow for the ski field.
Is there accommodation inside the park?
No permanent lodging; stay in Jilin City and travel to the park each day.
Can I bring my dog?
Dogs are allowed on marked trails if leashed; check local signage.
Deep dive
Every source; fees and rules change, so check before you go
Show the detailsHide
Ask about Jingyuetan National Forest Park
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