Open Travel Guide
Hiking in Changchun

Changchun Hiking & Trekking Guide 2026

The trails that define Changchun, with distances, elevation, and when each is actually passable.

By Updated

This guide covers 5+ hiking trails in Changchun — Jingyue Lake Ring Trail (Jingyuetan National Forest Park), Lianhuashan (Lotus Mountain) Forest Trails and Nanhu (South Lake) Park Lakeside Paths top the list. Every recommendation carries its practical details: typical costs, the best time to visit, and what to know before you commit.

Changchun is the capital of Jilin province in northeast China, a planned railway-and-capital city best known as China's 'City of Automobiles' and for the former imperial palace of Puyi, the last Qing emperor, who ruled the Japanese-controlled state of Manchukuo from here. Wide boulevards, the Jingyuetan forest lake, China's oldest film studio and long, dry winters make it a quieter, cheaper alternative to Harbin and Shenyang.

Top trails

Routes worth lacing up your boots for.

  1. 1

    Jingyue Lake Ring Trail (Jingyuetan National Forest Park)

    About 17-20 km for the full lake loop (route recorded at 18.5 km on Komoot; ring road about 17 km, boardwalks about 20 km in total); shorter sections are easy to cut4-6 hours on foot for the full loop; about 2 hours by bicyclemoderateGentle rolling forest terrain around the lake; no verified elevation-gain figure

  2. 2

    Lianhuashan (Lotus Mountain) Forest Trails

    Varies by route; the resort covers about 130 sq km of secondary forest on the Dahei Mountain forest belt and no single marked trail length was found2-4 hours for a half-day forest walkeasyLow hills; the resort's ski slopes span about 254-378 m above sea level

  3. 3

    Nanhu (South Lake) Park Lakeside Paths

    Short flat lakeside loops inside the park; the full perimeter length was not found in published sources1-2 hourseasyFlat

  4. 4

    Beidahu National Leisure Mountain Trail (Yongji, Jilin City)

    Trail length was not found in published sources; ski-resort summit routes climb from about 537 m to about 1,357 mA full day including the transfer from ChangchunhardResort base about 537 m, summit about 1,357 m (roughly 800 m of vertical)

  5. 5

    Changbai Mountain North Slope and Tianchi (Heaven Lake)

    Walks of 2-6 km around the Changbai waterfall and Tianchi viewpoints; the longer forest and Tianchi circuits are 8-15 km (varies by route)1-2 days including the high-speed train from Changchun (about 2.5 hours each way)moderateTianchi crater lake at about 2,189 m; the waterfall is about 68 m high

Trail difficulty levels

Pick a route that matches your fitness and experience.

Easy

Mostly flat, well-marked paths. Suitable for families and casual walkers.

Moderate

Some elevation gain, longer distances. Requires basic fitness.

Hard

Significant climbs and exposure. Requires good fitness and route-finding.

Expert

Technical terrain, scrambling, or alpine conditions. Experience essential.

Local hazards

What to watch out for on the trail.

High

Sudden weather changes — always carry rain gear and warm layers.

Medium

Wildlife encounters — make noise on the trail and store food properly.

Medium

Trail conditions can deteriorate after rain — check recent reports before setting out.

Related topics