Sign in Subscribe
Explore National Parks

7 Most Beautiful National Parks in China To Explore

China’s most beautiful national parks offer soaring peaks, glassy lakes, rare wildlife, and epic hikes you won't want to miss.

7 Most Beautiful National Parks in China To Explore

If you’re looking for the most beautiful national parks in China, these seven should be at the top of your list: Zhangjiajie, Jiuzhaigou, Huangshan, Shennongjia, Potatso, Wuyishan, and Sanqingshan.

Together, they offer everything from rainbow-colored lakes and cloud-piercing peaks to rare wildlife and dramatic canyon views that will leave you in awe. Let’s dive in and discover what makes these national parks a must-visit when traveling in China.

Zhangjiajie National Forest Park — Hunan

Rank #1 Most Beautiful National Park in China

Scenic sunset over the towering quartz-sandstone pillars of Zhangjiajie National Forest Park in China, with lush green vegetation covering the landscape and mist in the distant valleys.

Zhangjiajie National Forest Park inspired the floating mountains of Avatar. Think sky-piercing quartz-sandstone pillars draped in mist, vertigo-inducing glass bridges, and the 326-meter Bailong Elevator that rockets you straight into the clouds.

Highlights

  • Hallelujah Mountain viewpoints for surreal sunrise shots
  • Tianzi Peak cableway—cloud inversions are common after rain
  • Golden Whip Stream walk—easy, shaded, and monkey-filled
  • Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon Glass Bridge

Activities & Tips

  • Hike the Huangshi Village loop for a crowd-free panorama
  • Ride the world’s highest outdoor elevator early—lines balloon after 10 a.m.
  • Stay inside Wulingyuan town for a quick park shuttle dash
Aerial view of Baofeng Lake in Zhangjiajie National Forest Park, China, surrounded by steep forest-covered sandstone peaks and calm blue water with sightseeing boats.
BaoFeng Lake Zhangjiajie National Forest Park

Jiuzhaigou Valley National Park — Sichuan

Rank #2 Most Beautiful National Park In China

Vibrant autumn landscape in Jiuzhaigou Valley National Park, China, featuring turquoise water with submerged tree branches, colorful forested hills, and a snow-capped mountain reflected in the crystal-clear lake.

Jiuzhaigou National Park looks Photoshopped—turquoise Five-Flower Lake, tiered waterfalls, and Tibetan villages framed by snow-dusted peaks. Autumn’s reds and golds crank the color dial even higher.

Highlights

  • Five-Flower Lake’s kaleidoscopic blues and greens
  • 320-meter Nuorilang Waterfall—China’s widest travertine cascade
  • Mirror-like Long Lake at 3,100 m elevation
  • Tibetan folk houses along Shuzheng Valley

Activities & Tips

  • Hop park buses between “Y-shaped” valleys, then walk downhill for best views
  • Bring layers—elevation changes mean four seasons in a day
  • Visit outside China’s first week of October to dodge holiday crowds
Scenic view of a clear turquoise lake with cascading waterfalls and surrounding pine-covered hills in Jiuzhaigou Valley National Park, China, framed by leafless branches in the foreground.

Huangshan National Park (Yellow Mountain) — Anhui

Rank #3 Most Beautiful National Park In China

Bright daytime view of Mount Huangshan in Anhui, China, showcasing steep granite cliffs covered in green pine trees with a clear blue sky and distant mountain ranges in the background.

Huangshan National Park looks like a classic Chinese ink-painting come alive—gnarled pines cling to granite spires above above what looks like a sea-of-clouds waves. Sunrise from Bright Summit is rite of passage you can't miss.

Highlights

  • Lotus Peak—highest of Huangshan’s 72 summits
  • West Sea Grand Canyon loop—steep but show-stopping
  • Hot spring soak at the base after a quad-burning descent
  • Winter rime ice that turns pines into silver sculptures

Activities & Tips

  • Book mountain-top hotels early—sunrise steps from your door
  • Choose Yuping cable car up, Yungu down to sample both sides
  • Shoulder months (Mar–Apr, Nov) mean clear skies minus peak prices
Misty mountain landscape in Huangshan National Park, China, featuring dramatic granite peaks, dense pine trees, and a gnarled pine branch in the foreground under low-hanging clouds.

Wuyishan National Park — Fujian

Rank #4 Most Beautiful National Park In China

Entrance gate to Zhuxi Garden in Wuyishan, China, with a traditional Chinese archway, a statue of philosopher Zhu Xi, lush green trees, and a mountain in the background under a bright blue sky.

Wuyi Mountain National Park pairs tea culture with wilderness: raft Nine-Bend River beneath sheer cliffs, then sip Da Hong Pao oolong grown on those same slopes.

Highlights

  • Bamboo-raft drift through Nine-Bend Gorge
  • Heavenly Tour Peak trail—panoramas without cable cars
  • Rock-carved ancient Han dynasty relics
  • UNESCO-listed subtropical forest sheltering rare orchids and king cobras

Activities & Tips

  • Sunrise atop Tianyou Peak—start pre-dawn for empty paths
  • Tea field walks and tasting sessions in Dahongpao Scenic Area
  • Combine with nearby tulou earth houses for a culture-plus-nature loop
Aerial view of Wuyishan National Park in Fujian, China, featuring dramatic Danxia landform cliffs covered in green vegetation and a winding river cutting through the mountainous landscape.

Shennongjia National Park — Hubei

Rank #5 Most Beautiful National Park In China

Golden snub-nosed monkeys sitting on a forest floor in Shennongjia National Park, China, with adults cradling their infants in a lush green woodland environment.

Shennongjia National Park is China’s Bigfoot country—locals whisper about the “wild man,” but you’re more likely to spot golden snub-nosed monkeys swinging through primeval forests.

Highlights

  • Shennong Peak—3,105 m roof of central China
  • Dajiuhu Wetland boardwalk of high-altitude bog lakes
  • Seasonal sea-of-clouds from Xiaolongtan lookout
  • Endemic plants dating back to the Ice Age

Activities & Tips

  • Park shuttle loops mean DIY day trips are easy—buy passes at Songbai Gate
  • Visit mid-May for rhododendron bloom; October for fiery foliage
  • Warm clothing year-round—peaks stay cool even in July
Monumental statue of the mythological figure Shennong with outstretched arms at the end of a tree-lined path in Shennongjia National Park, Hubei, China, set between densely forested mountain slopes.

Potatso (Pudacuo) National Park — Yunnan

Rank #6 Most Beautiful National Park In China

The Three Pagodas of Chongsheng Temple in Dali, Yunnan, China, reflected in a calm pond surrounded by lush greenery under a bright blue sky with scattered clouds.

Potatso National Park sits on the edge of the Tibetan Plateau near Shangri-La—picture alpine meadows, yak herders, and jade-colored lakes at 3,500 m.

Highlights

  • Shudu Lake boardwalk—wildflowers and grazing yaks
  • Bita Lake—mirror reflections framed by spruce forest
  • Songzanlin Monastery views on the drive in
  • Rare black-necked cranes in winter

Activities & Tips

  • Altitude hits hard—spend a day acclimating in Shangri-La town first
  • Rent a bike for the 3 km lake circuit—flat and scenic
  • Spring (Apr–Jun) best for rhododendrons and clear skies
Scenic view of a traditional Chinese pavilion and arched stone bridge reflected in a tranquil lake at Potatso National Park, Yunnan, China, with snow-capped mountains rising in the background.

Mount Sanqingshan National Park — Jiangxi

Rank #7 Most Beautiful National Park In China

Sanqingshan National Park is granite fantasia—48 peaks and 89 pillars twist into shapes locals liken to dragons, goddesses, even penguins. Ropeways whisk you onto vertiginous skywalks bolted straight into the cliff.

Highlights

  • West Coast Trail—glass-floor sections over 1,600 m void
  • Sunshine Coast sunrise deck—peaks glow gold, clouds swirl below
  • Nanqing Garden area’s “Python Coming Out of the Mountain” rock
  • Summer waterfalls fed by monsoon storms

Activities & Tips

  • Two ropeways save knee-crunching climbs—Yujing and Jinsha
  • April–June mornings give the strongest “Buddha’s Halo” light phenomena
  • Light rain often clears tourists—bring a poncho and enjoy the solitude
Stone pathway leading to an ancient temple complex at Mount Sanqingshan National Park in China, featuring traditional Chinese architecture, weathered statues, and moss-covered stonework.

Looking For More National Park Articles?

Not A Member? ✈️

Save 40%-95% On Flights With Jetsetter Alerts Airline Mistake Fare & Flash Sales Alerts!

Get Personalized Airfare Alerts

Airline Mistake Fares

=