Plan at a glance
Two gates, two different routes
Qingchuifeng National Forest Park is on Pule Road in Shuangqiao District, Chengde. The north gate is the main visitor center and has a cable car. The south gate is lower down, near Pule Temple, and is the main starting point for a hike uphill. Your choice of entrance determines whether the cable car can be part of the route.
Tickets and opening times
The forest park ticket is CNY 25; a three-attraction ticket with Pule Temple and Anyuan Temple is CNY 50. The cable car costs CNY 50 one way or CNY 80 return. Tickets must be booked using a valid ID document. Advance online booking through an official channel or a reputable travel platform is recommended. Overseas visitors should check whether their booking channel accepts passports or other travel documents. Current opening hours are April 1–30, 08:00–17:30; May 1–October 9, 07:30–18:00; and October 10–March 31, 08:30–16:30. From May 1 to October 9, 2026, last entry is at 17:10; ticket sales at the south and north gates stop at 17:00, and the central ticket office beside the cable car stops sales at 16:30. Check the daily notice for stop-sale and last-entry times in other seasons. The north gate and cable car may close in winter, so confirm which entrance is open before setting out.
How much time to allow
The south-gate hike to Toad Rock and Qingchuifeng Peak and back takes about 1.5–2 hours. If the north gate is open and the cable car is running, you can also descend by cable car from the north. Allow 3–4 hours for the full route: ride up from the north gate, visit Qingchuifeng Peak, Toad Rock, Baoshan Temple and the cliff carvings, then walk down to the south gate. Most of the effort is on the steps and mountain trail downhill. The north gate may close in winter, so check conditions before choosing this route.
Tickets and visit details
View visit options for this attraction and confirm the visit date and current arrangements before you go.
Choose your visit
Qingchuifeng Peak and Toad Rock
Qingchuifeng Peak is a natural stone pillar, 38.29 m high, wider at the top than at the base. It is the park’s defining landform. Nearby Toad Rock looks like a crouching toad and makes a natural companion stop; its viewing platform is a convenient place to pause for photos.
Baoshan Temple and cliff carvings
Baoshan Temple sits partway up the mountain and contains Qing-dynasty cliff carvings. It fits naturally into the full route after taking the north-gate cable car uphill.
Cable-car views and an outside viewpoint
On the open-sided cable car, look down over Chengde and the surrounding mountains while avoiding the uphill climb. Near Anyuan Temple, a free viewpoint outside the park looks toward Putuo Zongcheng Temple and Qingchuifeng Peak together. It is an exterior viewpoint, not a substitute for entering the forest park.
Who will enjoy this visit
The full route suits visitors interested in unusual natural formations, Danxia landforms and mountain photography. Those who want to limit the climb can hike up from the south gate and take the north-gate cable car down, if both are open. Steps, summer showers and wind at the summit add to the effort; consider the descent before bringing older adults or children.
Build your day
A 1.5–2-hour south-gate route
Enter through the south gate and climb the stone steps to Toad Rock, then continue to the foot of Qingchuifeng Peak for photos. If the north gate and cable car are open, visitors with enough energy can continue to the north gate and ride down. If either is closed in winter, return to the south gate the way you came. This short route focuses on the peak and Toad Rock.
A 3–4-hour route from north to south
When the north gate and cable car are open, take the cable car uphill from the main visitor center. Visit Qingchuifeng Peak and Toad Rock, then continue to Baoshan Temple and the cliff carvings before walking down to the south gate. From there, you can continue on foot to Pule Temple or Anyuan Temple. The north gate may close in winter; use the entrance and trail sections open that day.
Tickets and return options
To avoid retracing the route on a short visit, consider a one-way downhill cable-car ticket when service is running. Choose the CNY 80 return ticket only if you plan to ride both ways. Before descending, check that the cable car is operating, the queue and the weather. If it stops, return by the trail.
Get there
Bus to the foot of the mountain
Take bus 6, 10, 26 or 28 in the city and get off at Lamasi stop (喇嘛寺) or Qingchuifeng Park stop (磬锤峰公园), then walk to the entrance you need. Decide whether you are going to the north-gate visitor center or the south gate; they serve different routes.
Driving and parking
Navigate to “Qingchuifeng National Forest Park — Visitor Center.” The north-gate parking lot costs about CNY 10 per vehicle. There may be a few small spaces or roadside parking near the south gate, but spaces are limited. If you plan to use the cable car or hike the full route, parking at the north gate is closer to the visitor center.
Connecting to nearby stops
Pule Temple is near the south gate, and Anyuan Temple is to the north. You can link them using the open paths and walking directions, but each mountain route and attraction has its own operating arrangements. Puning Temple and Chengde Museum can be planned separately, depending on the day.
Know before you go
Steps, weather and clothing
The south-gate hike up and back takes about 2–3 hours, mostly on mountain steps. Wear comfortable shoes with good grip. Mountain weather changes quickly; carry a light rain layer. It is windy on the summit and temperatures drop in the morning and evening, so keep a warm layer with you rather than leaving it in the car.
Supplies and spending
There are few shops on the mountain and prices may be high. Bring water and energy snacks before entering. Farm stays and souvenir shops are common near the entrance and village; ask the price before eating or shopping. In cold weather, avoid buying cold drinks from vendors on the mountain.
Avoiding crowds and drone rules
Weekdays and early weekend mornings can mean shorter queues, especially for the cable car. Drones are banned throughout the scenic area. Take photos of Qingchuifeng Peak, the cliff carvings and distant views only from permitted ground-level locations.