China’s National Parks: A Guide to Nature’s Wonders

China is vast and beautiful. The third-largest country on Earth, it encompasses just about every type of landscape and wildlife species imaginable, from tropical jungle to Himalayan plateau. These massive ecosystems are home to an incredible wealth of biodiversity, including rare plant life and popular species like the beloved giant panda.

China has had a form of scenic-parks system since 1994, with 244 National Scenic and Historic Interest Areas. However, in 2016 the country began a pilot project to bring several large ecosystems under unified national management, leading to the creation of China’s first five national parks in 2021. This guide highlights these five national parks along with top picks of China’s best national scenic areas.

China’s New National Parks System

Five pilot parks, which have variously been operating since 2016, were officially incorporated into China’s new national parks system in October 2021. Previously, these wildlife areas extended into multiple counties or provinces and were managed as a series of separate reserves. The new system brings them all under unified national management. The aim of the new national parks system is for the holistic protection of large habitats that extend into multiple regions. The full national parks system is marked for completion by 2035.

Three-River-Source National Park – Qinghai & Tibet

The first national park to be trialed as part of the new system was Sanjiangyuan, or ‘Source of the Three Rivers’ National Park – the source of the Yangtze, Yellow, and Mekong (Lancang) rivers. Situated in Qinghai province in far northwest China, the park covers 123,000 sq km (47,490 sq mi) of high-altitude wilderness on the Tibetan Plateau.

Protected species include snow leopards, wild yaks, and Tibetan gazelles and antelope. There are few tourist facilities yet; however, travelers can arrange treks to the source of the Yellow River at Zhaling Lake – the town of Maduo is the jumping-off point.

Wuyi Mountain National Park – Fujian

Both a Biosphere Reserve and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Wuyi Shan is one of the world’s largest subtropical primordial forest systems. Its dramatic gorges and rivers are home to thousands of types of protected wildlife like migratory birds and rare amphibians.

Bamboo rafting along the Jiuqiu (Nine Bends) River is a popular activity. Moreover, many visitors come to explore the 1st-century archaeological remains of Han City as well as numerous 11th-century Daoist temples and shrines.

Giant Panda National Park, Sichuan – Shaanxi & Gansu

China has been diligently working to reestablish the endangered giant panda, creating 67 panda reserves across Sichuan, Shaanxi, and Gansu provinces. The new Giant Panda National Park encompasses these reserves and serves as home to 1631 wild pandas. In addition, numerous other protected species like the snub-nosed monkey also reside within the park.

The park incorporates several existing panda breeding and research centers, including the Wolong Giant Panda Garden (rebuilt after a 2008 earthquake) and Ya’an Bifengxia Panda Base, both of which are open to visitors and offer the best chances to spot the elusive bears.

Northeast China Tiger and Leopard National Park – Heilongjiang & Jilin

Situated in the Changbai Mountains along China’s border with Russia, this park covers the wild habitats of endemic big cats and has seen success in encouraging leopards and tigers to repopulate.

Since 2017, 12 Siberian tiger cubs and 11 Amur leopard cubs have been born here. Nearby is Jingpo Lake National Geopark near Mudanjiang in Heilongjiang province, with lakes, volcanic craters, and ancient lava flows, alongside the Diaoshuilou Waterfall, which freezes into an otherworldly ice curtain during the winter.

Hainan Tropical Rainforest National Park – Hainan

Preserving the tropical ecosystem of Hainan Island, China’s southernmost province, this national park is home to 20% of the country’s amphibians and 39% of its birds, as well as the world’s rarest primate, the critically endangered Hainan gibbon.

The national park encompasses a number of existing reserves, including Jianfengling National Forest Park, where hiking trails lead around lakes and up peaks, offering visitors the chance to be immersed in the rainforest.

Explore Existing Parks & Scenic Areas

Beyond the new unified national parks system, China boasts numerous scenic sites and nature reserves, sometimes confusingly titled ‘national parks’. These areas often have well-developed tourism infrastructures, providing the easiest access to some of the country’s most splendid landscapes.

Zhangjiajie National Forest Park – Hunan

As part of the larger Wulingyuan Scenic Area, Zhangjiajie is one of the most iconic national parks in China, primarily because its pillar-like sandstone peaks were used as inspiration for the film Avatar. The park is expansive and crisscrossed by walking trails, serviced by shuttle buses and various bridges and lifts.

The most Avatar-esque views can be found at the very popular Yuanjiajie (Hallelujah Mountains), accessible via a glass elevator. Alternatively, for a more tranquil experience, head for the caves and cliffs of Binglang Valley.

Jiuzhaigou National Park – Sichuan

A UNESCO World Heritage Site and Biosphere Reserve, Jiuzhaigou’s sparkling turquoise lakes and craggy mountains make it one of the most photogenic parks in China. Though it suffered damage from an earthquake in 2017, it reopened in 2019 with new hiking trails leading through breathtaking panoramas of waterfalls, snow-capped peaks, and teal lakes.

Five Color Lake is one popular photo op (the clue is in the name) as is the park’s namesake, Jiuzhaigou Waterfall. ‘Jiuzhai’ translates to ‘nine villages’, referring to the surrounding Tibetan villages, and within the park, visitors will find the intricate Zharu Temple, a Tibetan Bon monastery.

Zhangye Danxia National Geopark – Gansu

One of China’s most visually striking landscapes is the rainbow-colored hills near the city of Zhangye. Stripes of rust-red, ochre, brown, and purple sandstone form the danxia (red cloud) landform.

It offers a stunning collection of streaked hills and uniquely shaped rocky outcroppings that are incredibly photogenic. Boardwalks and viewing platforms allow close access to the hills without damaging their fragile ecosystem.

Li River National Park – Guangxi

A bucket-listed activity is floating down the Li River on a bamboo raft. The view of the river winding through sharp karst peaks is so iconic that it features on the back of the Chinese ¥20 banknote. The best option is to combine transport and sightseeing on a river cruise between Yangshuo and Guilin.

The journey takes half a day, passing craggily jade mountains and stone arches with imaginative names like Elephant Trunk Hill and Dragons Playing in the Water. Alternatively, rent a bike in Guilin to cycle along the riverside at your own pace, visiting small fishing villages and rice farms.

Hong Kong Global Geopark – Hong Kong

Comprising dozens of rocky islands, outcroppings, and volcanic rock formations, this UNESCO-listed geopark is dotted along Hong Kong’s northeast coast. Made up of eight named sites, the most visually impactful are the 140-million-year-old hexagonal columns at High Island and the Ung Kong Islands, featuring sandy beaches, rocky coves, and a tidal spit to explore.

The best way to see it all is to embark on a kayaking tour around the park.

Huangshan National Park – Anhui

Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) is one of China’s most renowned and heavily visited mountains and a top stop for any visitor to the country. Its granite peaks, often shrouded in fog, have inspired countless poets, writers, and painters over the centuries.

Today, the park attracts a significant number of visitors, enticing them with astonishing natural scenery, especially if one makes the effort to arrive at sunrise. A maze of trails leads up and around the mountainside, and several hotels at the summit make overnight stays possible.

The best sunrise views are at Refreshing Terrace, where the morning rays illuminate layers of rocky columns interlaced with clouds.

Ziyun Getu National Park – Guizhou

This river-cave system features deep underground streams and the largest cave chamber in the world: Miao Room, a cavern so expansive it could hold four pyramids of Giza. The Gebihe cave system in remote Guizhou province was first discovered in 1989 and formed 600 million years ago from limestone and dolomite.

Although non-professional spelunkers cannot enter Miao Room, visitors can explore other parts of the cave system and peaks, including Swallow Cave (home to many nesting swallows) and the underground river through Chuangshang Cave.

Lijiang Yulong National Park – Yunnan

This national park is home to the spectacular Jade Dragon Snow Mountain and the perennially popular hiking destination, Tiger Leaping Gorge. Topping out at 5596m (18,360ft), Jade Dragon Snow Mountain towers over the city of Lijiang.

Nevertheless, the lack of an extensive hiking trail network has made overcrowding a problem on the few existing paths. Although it’s a favored spot for backpackers, nearby Tiger Leaping Gorge offers a less trafficked hiking option, with a multi-day trekking trail leading along the canyon’s rim and opportunities for overnight stays with impressive gorge views.

Huashan – Shaanxi

As one of the five sacred Daoist mountains of China, Huashan is an exhilarating mountain to climb, both for its views and steep ascents. The mountain features five peaks, with the highest being the 2145-meter (7067-foot) Luoyan Feng on the south mountain.

Trails can be incredibly challenging, consisting of steep rocky stair climbs and particularly vertiginous cliffside plank walks. Despite the risk, the stunning views from the top make the journey worthwhile.

Qomolangma National Park – Tibet

Taking its indigenous Tibetan name, this national park in the Tibet Autonomous Region is home to Mount Everest and neighboring Himalayan peaks such as Lhotse, Qowowuyag, and Mayalu. As the highest national park in the world, Qomolangma serves as a nature preserve designed to protect the delicate ecology of the high Tibetan plateau.

Although free hiking or wild camping is restricted here, visitors can stay overnight near Everest Base Camp at the Rongbuk Monastery guesthouse to wake up to breathtaking views of Qomolangma. Additionally, multi-day treks can be arranged through a travel agency.