Jingyuetan National Forest Park

Jingyuetan National Forest Park lies on Jingyue Avenue in the Jingyue High-tech Zone, about 18 km south-east of central Changchun in Jilin province. Its centrepiece is Jingyue Lake, a reservoir created in the 1930s, surrounded by large plantations of conifers and broadleaf trees that make the area one of the biggest man-made forests in China. For the city's residents it serves as an everyday escape, and for visitors it is the most accessible stretch of real woodland near Changchun. The park is laid out around the lake, with a circuit road, forest paths, viewing platforms and picnic areas. Visitors can walk or cycle among the trees, take the sightseeing bus that runs around the park for about ¥10 a ride, or board a boat on the lake for about ¥40. Seasonal contrasts define the experience: green shade in summer, vivid yellow and red foliage from late September to mid-October, and a snow-covered landscape in winter when cross-country skiing events are held and trails are used for snow activities. A visit typically takes three to five hours, longer for those who walk a significant part of the lakeshore. The gate ticket costs about ¥27-30, and tickets can be bought at the gate or through the park's official WeChat account. The park is open from early morning to about 8:00PM, with the visitor centre staffed from 8:30AM to 4:30PM, though some lake rides and attractions are not operating in 2026, so it is best to confirm what is running before travelling. Crowds build on weekends and during the autumn foliage and Golden Week periods, when the roads around the lake become slow; weekday mornings are calm. Photographers favour the lakeshore at sunrise and the elevated platforms for views over the forest canopy. Light-rail Line 3 stops at Jingyuetan, so the park is easy to reach without a car, and the nearby Jilin Natural History Museum and Changying Century City make it simple to build a full day in the district.