Tangwanghe National Park

Located in the Tangwang River District of Yichun City, Heilongjiang Province, Tangwanghe National Park is the first national park in China. It is well-known for its dense Korean pine forests, pristine streams and lakes, and its peaks and grotesque stones. There are more than twenty rivers in the park, the longest one being the Tangwang River. It’s about 316 miles (509 kilometers) in length and is regarded as the mother river of Yichun City. As a nature reserve, only a small section of the park has been developed for tourism.

Roaming about the birch and pine forests, you can hear birds chirping, smell the scent of flowers, appreciate various lifelike stones, and fully relax in this natural oxygen bar.

Two must-sees in Tangwanghe National Park are the Stone Forest Scenic Area and the Remains of Korean Pines.
 The Stone Forest Scenic Area is the core of Tangwanghe National Park. It’s just a 10-minute drive from the Tangwang River District. This scenic area is famous for its immense forest and unusually-shaped rocks.

The Stone Forest Scenic Area is covered with luxuriant vegetation including some rare species such as Korean pine, spruce, fir, white birch and lime trees. Some medicinal herbs and wild vegetables can also be found in this area. Therefore, it is known as ‘The Kingdom of Trees’ and ‘Vegetation Paradise’.

Hundreds of granite shapes form a spectacular geological landscape here. The most magnificent ones are ‘Yi Xi'an Tian’, ‘Majestic Peaks’, ‘Buddha Summit’, ‘Eagle Mouth Rock’, ‘Lion in the Northland’, ‘Manjusri Bodhisattva Chanting Buddhist Sutras’ and ‘Tuolong Cave’.

Yi Xi'an Tian refers to a natural scenic spot formed by two stone peaks. One peak is 85.72 feet (26.13 meters) high, and the other is 58.95 feet (17.97 meters) high. They are just 14 to 18 inches (35 to 45 centimeters) apart, forming a long narrow crack that only allows one person to pass through at a time.

Thanks to its natural splendor and improved tourist facilities, the Stone Forest Scenic Area was designated the Lesser Khingan Range National Forest Park in 2003. In the following year, it was approved to be the National Geopark of Yichun Granite Stone Forest as well as the Scientific Expedition Base for Chinese Teenagers.
 Originally large stretches of Korean pines grew in this area. On August 5, 2008, a strong wind destroyed all the Korean pines in the middle section, including the oldest one that was a few hundred years old. Later, the remains of the Korean Pines were protected and became a scenic area. As Korean Pine is a precious building material, the number of this pine tree species has declined dramatically due to excessive logging. What remains of the Korean Pines here warns us to pay more attention to eco-system protection.

The Korean Pine Virgin Forest, the Bilberry Garden, the Strawberry Garden, the Lesser Khingan Range Botanical Garden and the Wetland Park in the park are also worth a visit.
  From Harbin to Yichun:
By Bus:
Take a regular bus from Nangang Passenger Transport Station to Yichun. It departs at 06:40, 07:30, 08:30, 09:30, 10:00, 11:00, 11:40, 12:20, 13:00, 13:30, 13:55, 14:20, 14:30, 15:00, 16:00, 16:20, 16:40 and 17:40. Bus fare is CNY 96/98.

By Train:
Take a train from Harbin Railway Station or Binjiang Railway Station to Yichun.

 From Changchun to Yichun:
By Bus:
Take a bus, which departs at 08:40, from the Kaixuan Road Passenger Transport Station. The bus fare is CNY 161.

By Train:
Take a train from Changchun Railway Station to Yichun.

Upon arrival at Yichun, take a train to Tangwanghe or a regular bus from Yichun Passenger Transport General Station (located at the crossing of Yingbin Road and East Qingshan Road) to Tangwang River District. It operates from 06:30 to 17:10. The bus journey is nearly two hours and the fare is around CNY 27.

Visitors can also take a train from Harbin Railway Station to Tangwanghe directly.

Then take a taxi from Tangwanghe Bus Station or Train Station to the scenic area.

At the entrance, a sightseeing bus will take you to core scenic spots inside.
 

Admission Fee	Entrance Ticket: May 1 to October 31: CNY 70 November 1 to April 30: CNY 45 Sight-seeing tower: CNY 20  Note: 1. Children up to 3.9 feet (1.2 meters) in height enjoy free entry. 2. CNY 10 for taking round-trip sightseeing buses is included in the admission ticket. 3. The admission ticket is valid for three days of unlimited entries, but visitors need to pay CNY 10 for taking sightseeing buses each time they enter the park.
Opening Hours	07:30 – 17:30
Recommend Visiting Time	One day