National Parks and Nature Reserves of China

China created its first five official national parks in 2021: Sanjiangyuan, Giant Panda, Northeast China Tiger and Leopard, Hainan Tropical Rainforest and Wuyishan. The plan is to have 49 by 2035. There are also around 2,700 nature reserves, including 475 at national level. I’ve made a list of some of the most important and most visited places. Many places in China share a name across provinces, so if you find the same name in two locations, double check it. It isn’t easy to make a list like this without getting crazy.

In the list, you’re able to find the official website (if the park/reserve has one) clicking on the name. The most popular ones have a star. Also, there are links to the Tripadvisor reviews; links to the necessary information about how to get there and more; and links to the Unesco web page if the park or reserve belongs to the organization. At the end, there is a map with the locations of each park/reserve (the numbering of the list matches the numbering on the map).

National Parks and Nature Reserves of China

1. Nanling National Forest Park: Opinions – Information
2. Yanoda Rainforest: Opinions – Information
3. ⭐️ Changbai Shan Natural Reserve: Opinions – Information
4. ⭐️Jiuzhai Valley National Park (Jiuzhaigou): Opinions – Information – Unesco. All three valleys reopened after the 2017 earthquake. Tickets are online only, with a daily cap: entrance plus bus costs 190 plus 90 yuan in high season (1 April to 15 November), or 80 plus 80 yuan in low season.
5. Chongzuo/Nongguan Ecological Park: Opinions – Information
6. Yadan/Yardang National Park: Opinions – Information
7. ⭐️ Zhangjiajie National Forest Park o Wulingyuan Scenic Area: Opinions – Information – More information – Unesco
8. Daming Mountain Reserve: Information
9. Jinshagou Nature Reserve, Northern Guizhou: Some information. It’s home to a bamboo forest known as the Bamboo Sea (there is another Bamboo Sea close to Shanghai).
10. Dinghu National Nature Reserve: Opinions – Information
11. Liupan Shan National Nature Reserve / Longshan Mountain: Information
12. Shunan Bamboo Sea (Sichuan): Opinions – Information
13. ⭐️ Huanglong National Scenic Reserve: Opinions – Information – More Information – Unesco
14. Mengda National Nature Reserve: Opinions – Information
15. Sanchahe Nature Reserve. It’s located 48 km north of Jinghong (Yunnan province). The most visited placeis The valley of the wild Elephants of Banna (版納野象谷).
16. Tianzi Mountain Nature Reserve: Opinions – Information.
17. ⭐️ Wolong National Nature Reserve: Opinions – Information
18. Zhalong Nature Reserve: Opinions – Information
19. Kanas Nature Reserve: Opinions – Information
20. Mai Po Nature Reserve: Opinions – Information. You need an entry permit for Mai Po, and the usual way in is a guided visit with WWF Hong Kong, which arranges the permit.
21. Suoxi Valley Nature Reserve: Information
22. Horqin (Keerqin) National Nature Reserve and Momoge National Nature Reserve. They’re a wetland and a bird breeding area, respectively. Horqin is located on the border with Xianghai, at Inner Mongolia. Momoge is located northwest of Jilin. More information on International Crane Foundation and Siberian Crane Wetland Project – China.
23. Xianghai Nature Reserve: Opinions – Some information
24. ⭐️ Shennongjia Nature Reserve: Opinions – Information – Unesco
25. Wudalianchi Global Geopark: Opinions – Information
26. Five Finger Mountain (Wuzhi Shan): Opinions – Information
27. ⭐️ Tiger Leaping Gorge / Hutiao Gorge (Yangtze River): Opinions – Information – Included in Unesco – Three Parallel Rivers of Yunnan Protected Area.
28. Stone Forest, Kunming: Opinions – Information

Others areas protected by the Unesco:

• Silk Roads: the Routes Network of Chang’an-Tianshan Corridor: Information silk road – Chang’an-Tianshan Corridor (Wikipedia) – Unesco
• South China Karst: Information – More information – Unesco
• Three Parallel Rivers of Yunnan Protected Areas: Information – More Information – Unesco
• Some Sacred Mountains are also protected by Unesco. More information on The Sacred Mountains of China.

➽ Maybe some of the official pages are only in Chinese, but don’t worry, Chrome helps you to translate.

Maps of National Parks and Nature Reserves

On the next map, you can easily check where are the parks and reserves, so you can choose the one that is closest to your route.

Show interactive map

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Don’t you find the park or reserve that you’re looking for?

If you think I should add one, tell me! Help me to complete and improve the list for others travelers to consult it. Thanks!

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