Plan at a glance
Location and scope
The park is at No. 100 Longniao Avenue, Longcheng District, Chaoyang. The main entrance is at the Visitor Center. Key stops include the Chaoyang Paleontological Fossil Museum, the Mesozoic Geological Corridor, the Petrified Wood Forest, and the in-park fossil-digging experience. Chaoyang Fossil Valley is a separate attraction; its admission ticket and educational programs are not interchangeable with those here.
Allow about 3 hours for the main sights. If you want to visit every museum gallery and join the digging activity, plan around 5 hours.
Admission and opening hours
The listed adult ticket price is CNY 85. Regular opening hours are 09:00–17:00, with last entry at 16:30. Evening visits are available only when the park announces them separately.
Tickets are available on the park website or at the on-site ticket window, and real-name registration is required. The park may limit or stagger entry, or require reservations, when visitor numbers approach capacity. The Mesozoic Geological Corridor also has its own opening schedule.
Tickets and visit details
View visit options for this attraction and confirm the visit date and current arrangements before you go.
Choose your visit
Highlights in the museum
The Chaoyang Paleontological Fossil Museum displays fossils from the Jehol Biota, including fish, amphibians, dinosaurs, birds, and ancient plants. Sinosauropteryx (中华龙鸟), an early feathered dinosaur, and Archaefructus liaoningensis (辽宁古果), an early flowering plant, are among the museum's notable exhibits.
The original Sinosauropteryx fossil is displayed on the museum's second floor. Visitors interested in specific specimens and natural history exhibits can spend longer here; follow the museum signs for the other displays.
Outdoor geology and hands-on activities
The Mesozoic Geological Corridor lets visitors view fossil-bearing rock layers up close, while the Petrified Wood Forest displays petrified wood relocated here for protection. Both are outdoor stops, distinct from the specimens displayed in the museum cases.
The park also offers a hands-on fossil-digging activity. Activity details and available sessions vary by date.
Build your day
Three-hour highlights route
This compact route takes about 3 hours: allow around 1.5 hours for the museum and about 30 minutes each for the geological corridor and petrified wood forest. You will also need time to walk between stops or wait for the shuttle. Allow extra time for transfers, especially if you are visiting with children or prefer a slower pace.
Return to the entrance by park shuttle, or by electric cart if you meet the on-site rental requirements. The shuttle departs when full, so include the wait in your return time.
Five-hour in-depth route
Follow the sequence Museum → Mesozoic Geological Corridor → Petrified Wood Forest. Visit the museum galleries, then join the fossil-digging camp; the activity takes about 40 minutes and depends on what is available that day. Plan around 5 hours for the full route, then take park transport back to the Visitor Center.
Outdoor-first route
Another option is an outdoor-first route of about 3–4 hours: visit the geological corridor and petrified wood forest first, then the museum, and finish at the fossil-digging camp. If the digging activity is unavailable, take park transport back to the Visitor Center after the indoor visit.
Get there
Bus and connection from Chaoyang Station
City Bus 15 serves the “Geological Park” (地质公园) stop, followed by a walk of about 10 minutes. Check for route changes on the day of your visit. A tourist loop bus from Liaoning Chaoyang High-Speed Railway Station also passes the bird fossil park. It was free from October 1–7, 2026, and returned to regular fares on October 8. Call 0421-2624777 to check current stops and schedules. Chaoyang Station is about 2 km from the park; by taxi, set the park's South Gate as your destination.
Driving and getting around the park
For driving directions, search for “辽宁朝阳鸟化石国家地质公园” (Liaoning Chaoyang Bird Fossil National Geopark), at No. 100 Longniao Avenue. Reference parking prices are CNY 10–20 per day. The park shuttle is about CNY 10 per person; an electric cart is about CNY 150 for 6 hours, and a bicycle about CNY 40 per hour.
The main stops are about 1–2 km apart. Before renting an electric cart, ask the park about available models, driver requirements, and pick-up and return points. The shuttle departs when full.
Know before you go
Concessions and identification
The park lists free admission for children under 1.3 m, visitors aged 70 and over, active-duty and retired military personnel, holders of a police ID or disability certificate, journalists, and firefighters who present valid credentials. Visitors at least 1.3 m tall and under 18, seniors aged 60–69, and full-time students in undergraduate programs or below can buy half-price tickets with valid credentials. Tickets require real-name registration.
If you are using a passport, call the park at 0421-3862200 to ask how to complete real-name registration and verify concession eligibility. If you have not confirmed that you qualify, budget for the adult ticket.
Walking, supplies, and on-site restrictions
Indoor and outdoor stops are spread across the park. Bring water and any essentials before entering. If you need an accessible route or use mobility aids, ask how the parking area, shuttle stops, and venue entrances connect.
The fossil-digging camp is sold separately at a reference price of CNY 198 for 40 minutes; it is not included in the regular admission ticket. Before joining, ask the activity operator whether samples can be taken home, what age limits apply, and whether children need adult supervision. Follow on-site signs and staff instructions for photography and touching exhibits.