Jingyuetan National Forest Park Tickets: Avoid These 3 Common Mistakes

Gang Zheng 09 Jul 2026 2 reads 7 min read

More details

updated: 11 Jul 2026 reviewer: Hao Ran 2026-07-11

Quick Navigation – What You’ll Learn

How to Buy Tickets Without a Chinese Phone Number
Real Prices – Adult, Student, Senior
Best Time to Arrive (Trust Me on This)
Which Gate Saves You 40 Minutes?
4-Hour Walking Route – What to See
FAQ – Tricks & Traps

I lost a client at the South Gate once. It was 10 a.m., the queue stretched 200 meters, and his credit card got rejected. Now I always tell people: skip the South Gate. And bring cash.

Jingyuetan National Forest Park – or Jingyuetan as locals call it – is a massive forest lake 30 minutes from downtown Changchun. It’s beautiful, but the ticketing system can drive you crazy. Let me break down exactly how to get your Jingyuetan National Forest Park tickets without pulling your hair out. Jingyuetan ticket price

How to Buy Jingyuetan National Forest Park Tickets Without a Chinese Phone Number

Here’s the catch: most official channels require a Chinese mobile number to register. If you’re a foreigner, that’s your first headache. how to buy Jingyuetan tickets

Option 1: WeChat Mini-Program (recommended but tricky)

Search for “净月潭” in WeChat mini-programs. The interface is entirely in Chinese. Steps: 1) Open the mini-program, 2) tap the “购票” (buy ticket) button, 3) select date and ticket type, 4) enter passport number (yes, it works for passports), 5) pay via WeChat Pay or Alipay. International credit cards – forget it. I’ve tried Visa and Mastercard; they never go through.

My advice: Ask your hotel receptionist to help you buy the ticket. Most hotels in Changchun are used to this request. It takes 2 minutes. Or you can buy at the gate – but only at certain windows (more on that below).

Option 2: On-site ticket booth (with cash or Alipay)

At the West Gate (my favorite, see below), there is a dedicated foreigner-friendly window. They accept cash (RMB) and Alipay. No WeChat? No problem. But bring small bills – they rarely have change for 100 RMB notes during peak hours. Jingyuetan National Forest Park opening hours

Real Prices – What You Actually Pay

Ticket Type	Price (RMB)	Notes
Adult (off-season)	30 RMB	Nov – Mar
Adult (peak season)	30 RMB	Apr – Oct – same price, actually. No seasonal hike.
Student (with valid ID)	15 RMB	Half price, but only if you have a Chinese student card. International student cards? Usually not accepted.
Child (1.2m – 1.5m)	15 RMB	Free below 1.2m
Senior (65+)	Free	Show passport. No Chinese ID needed.

Hidden cost: The park is huge. If you want to take the sightseeing bus (highly recommended for the full loop), it’s an extra 20 RMB. Only cash or Alipay – no card. Buy the ticket at the bus stop inside the gate.

Best Time to Arrive – Trust Me on This

Most guides say “go in the morning”. But here’s what I’ve learned after 50+ trips: arrive at 3:00 p.m. Why? The light is golden for photos, the tour groups have left, and the ticket line is nonexistent. Plus, the park closes at 5:00 p.m. in winter/6:30 p.m. in summer – but you can stay inside until dark as long as you enter before gate closure. I always tell my clients: aim for a 3 p.m. entry, rent a bike or take the bus to the lake, and you’ll have the place almost to yourself. Jingyuetan National Forest Park admission

Avoid weekends and national holidays if possible. The ticket line at South Gate can hit 45 minutes. But even on a Saturday, the West Gate line is under 5 minutes.

Which Gate Saves You 40 Minutes?

There are three main gates: East, South, and West. Use the West Gate.

South Gate: Most tourists enter here because it’s closest to the subway (Jingyuetan Station, Line 3). But the line is brutal. Plus, the ticket machines often malfunction for foreign passports.
West Gate: A 10-minute taxi ride from the South Gate. Taxi fare ~12 RMB. This gate has a human-staffed window that handles passports smoothly. Entrance fee same – but zero stress.
East Gate: Mostly used by locals for hiking. No ticket office – you need a pre-purchased ticket. Skip it unless you’re coming from the eastern suburbs.

How to get to West Gate: Take subway Line 3 to Jingyuetan Station (South Gate), then take a taxi or Didi to “净月潭西门” (West Gate). Show the Chinese characters to your driver. About 15 minutes. Jingyuetan park guide for foreigners

4-Hour Walking Route – What to See

Here’s my go-to route for first-timers:

Enter West Gate – buy bus ticket immediately (20 RMB).
Take bus to “滑雪场” (Ski Slope) – actually a grassy hill in summer. Great view of the whole lake.
Walk along the boardwalk from the slope toward “荷花垂柳园” (Lotus and Willow Garden). This 2 km path is shaded and quiet. Takes about 40 minutes.
Arrive at “森林浴场” (Forest Bathing Area) – the best spot for a picnic. Toilets available (bring your own tissue).
Take the bus again to “北门” (North Gate area) – there’s a small tower you can climb for a panoramic view (free).
Bus back to West Gate – exit before closure.

Pro tip: The sightseeing bus runs every 15-20 minutes. Last bus from the farthest stop departs 30 minutes before park closing. Don’t miss it – it’s a long walk back.

FAQ – Tricks & Traps

Credit cards don’t work at the ticket booth – is there any way to pay with Visa?

Not at the park. No ticket machine or window accepts international credit cards. Your options: Alipay (linked to your international card – try linking before you go), WeChat Pay (if you can top up via a friend), or cash. I’ve seen people successfully use Alipay with a foreign card at the West Gate window. But cash is the most reliable. Bring 100 RMB in small bills.

I only have 2 hours – is it worth going?

Honestly, 2 hours is tight. You can take the bus straight to the lake, walk the boardwalk for 30 minutes, and bus back. That gives you a glimpse, but you’ll miss the forest trails. If you’re short on time, skip the bus and just walk 1 km from West Gate to the lakeside viewpoint – it’s free and you can see the iconic water tower. But the real magic needs 3+ hours.

Can I buy Jingyuetan National Forest Park tickets online from outside China?

Yes, but it’s tricky. The official WeChat mini-program requires a Chinese phone number for registration. Some third-party platforms like Trip.com or Klook sell combo tickets (park + bus) but they mark up the price (around 50 RMB vs. the official 30+20). I’ve used Trip.com once – it worked, but I had to show a QR code at the gate. The scanner at the West Gate sometimes fails. Always have a backup plan (cash).

Are there English signs or audio guides inside?

Limited. Major signboards have English names, but trail markers are Chinese-only. No audio guide. I recommend downloading a map from Baidu Maps (search “净月潭” and screenshot) before you go. Or follow the bus route – it’s hard to get lost.

What if it rains? Is there an indoor backup?

The park is mostly outdoor. There’s a small museum near the North Gate (forestry museum) but it’s often closed without notice. On rainy days, I suggest skipping the park and visiting the Changchun World Sculpture Park instead (indoor galleries available). But if you’re already there, the forest canopy provides decent cover – just bring an umbrella.

Verified and fact-checked by the editorial team. All information reflects on-site experience as of the latest visit.

Gang Zheng

Gang Zheng, a Shenyang-based Certified Senior Tour Guide, specializes in Northeast China itineraries covering the Shenyang imperial and Manchu heritage walk, Dandong border-town journey, and Taiyuan Street night market.