Plan at a glance
Make Xiaonanchuan your main route
The visitor area of Liupan Mountain National Forest Park is in Jingheyuan Town, Jingyuan County. Common stops within the park include Xiaonanchuan, the Ecology Museum, the Ecological Botanical Garden, and Liangdian Gorge. This page covers the visitor area of this ticketed park; it does not mean the whole Liupan Mountain range or attractions in other counties are included on the same ticket.
Start with the streamside trail at Xiaonanchuan. If you walk both the streamside and land routes and stop for photos, allow about 3–4 hours. Check whether the park shuttle bus is running before deciding to add other stops. If you walk both routes and also want to see Liangdian Gorge and the Ecology Museum, plan for most of a day; do not count on finishing in 4–5 hours. Add the Ecological Botanical Garden only after checking whether it is open and what areas are accessible.
Admission, the park shuttle bus, and opening hours
The park’s spring 2026 opening notice listed adult admission at CNY 50 and the park shuttle bus at CNY 40. The Ningxia tourism directory still lists CNY 65, and travel platforms show different ticket packages. Before buying, confirm the ticket type, which stops the park shuttle bus serves, and the current price. Published last-entry times also differ: some Trip.com pages show 4:30 pm, while other Trip.com page text and a local report from June 2026 list 5:00 pm. To leave a margin, plan to enter by 4:30 pm and follow the park’s notice for that day.
As of October 19, 2026, the park’s public page showed it open. Liupan Mountain has entered a period of high forest-fire risk, but the current notice is not a closure announcement. Fall and winter operations may change; call 0954-5648319 before setting out.
Tickets and visit details
View visit options for this attraction and confirm the visit date and current arrangements before you go.
Choose your visit
Follow the stream through Xiaonanchuan
Xiaonanchuan is the park’s main nature trail. The canyon is about 3 km long, with streams, trees, and waterfalls along the route. A common itinerary follows the streamside path in and returns by a land trail. Check the on-site map for which sections and entrances are open.
The route involves more than a stroll beside the water: the land trail back to the park shuttle bus stop also requires walking. If you want time for photos or are traveling with children who want to play near the water, leave enough time. Do not estimate the whole outing from only one section of the canyon trail.
Add the Ecology Museum and botanical garden if open
The Ecology Museum introduces Liupan Mountain’s geology, forests, and wildlife. An older route description puts the museum about 100 meters on foot from the Xiaonanchuan exit, then the Ecological Botanical Garden about 50 meters to the right of the suspension-bridge exit.
The botanical garden focuses on Liupan Mountain plants and nature education, but a visitor report from September 2026 said the grounds were still being completed. Check which areas and paths are open before setting out. If it is closed or under maintenance, skip it and use the park shuttle bus to reach other areas that are open.
Add Liangdian Gorge if you have more time
Liangdian Gorge and Xiaonanchuan are in different areas of the park. The gorge is a good addition if you want to see another mountain valley and have more time. Available route information lists park shuttle bus stops at the visitor center, botanical garden, and Liangdian Gorge; confirm the actual stops and return departures before boarding.
The Liupanshan Long March Scenic Area and Yehe Valley are separate attractions, not part of a walking route inside this park. If you plan to visit them as well, allow extra travel time and check each place’s opening status and admission separately.
Build your day
3–4 hours on foot: Take the streamside path into Xiaonanchuan and return by the land trail
At the visitor service center, check where the park shuttle bus stops, then go to the Xiaonanchuan entrance. Follow the canyon trail inward and return by the land trail if it is open. The streamside canyon route is about 3 km. Recent visitors have reported that the land trail from the exit to the park shuttle bus stop adds about 3 km. Walking both sections may bring the total close to 6 km; the actual distance depends on the route open that day.
Walking both the streamside and land sections takes stamina. If you are traveling with children or do not hike often, shorten the route as needed. If the short-distance sightseeing vehicle within Xiaonanchuan is running, ask whether it can shorten the walk back along the land trail. If you walk both sections without using this vehicle, allow about 3–4 hours for walking, waiting for any transfers, and stops.
Most of a day: Add Liangdian Gorge after Xiaonanchuan if the park shuttle bus is running
Start with Xiaonanchuan. Walking the full streamside and land routes may take about 3–4 hours by itself. If you then add the Ecology Museum and Liangdian Gorge, plan for most of a day; do not assume the full itinerary will take only 4–5 hours. Add Liangdian Gorge only after confirming that the park shuttle bus is running, that its stops connect, and that the return trip fits before the last departure. Stop at the botanical garden only if it is open and its paths are accessible.
The park’s areas are far apart, so an extended route depends on the park shuttle bus and cannot be planned from walking times alone. If it is suspended, queues are long, or the last departure is earlier than expected, prioritize Xiaonanchuan and drop the extra stops.
Get there
Navigate to the visitor service center in Jingheyuan Town
Set your destination to “Liupan Mountain National Forest Park Visitor Service Center” in Jingheyuan Town, Jingyuan County. The drive from downtown Guyuan takes about 1.5 hours, depending on the route and traffic. There is a park lot nearby; travel platforms list a reference price of about CNY 5 per car per day.
If you are not driving, first check public transportation from Guyuan or Jingyuan County town to Jingheyuan Town, then arrange the last leg to the visitor center. Confirm the return schedule too; the county bus is not the same as the park shuttle bus.
Confirm park shuttle bus stops after entering
The park shuttle bus is listed at a reference fare of CNY 40 per person, separate from adult admission in the park’s 2026 opening notice. At the visitor center, check which stops the ticket covers, how often buses depart, and when the last bus leaves. If the short-distance sightseeing vehicle within Xiaonanchuan operates, ask which section it covers before deciding whether to use it.
Know before you go
Fire restrictions can affect opening plans
Liupan Mountain National Forest Park has closed for winter fire prevention before: it stopped receiving visitors on October 31, 2025, and reopened in spring 2026. The protected area entered a period of high forest-fire risk in October 2026, but no reliable notice has announced a specific closure date. Do not assume last year’s dates will apply; call 0954-5648319 before leaving.
Follow inspection and park rules during high fire-risk periods. Do not bring ignition sources or make a fire in the forest. If the park closes temporarily, the weather changes, or a trail is restricted, follow on-site instructions and stay out of closed areas.
The canyon trail can be slippery; bring waterproof shoes and a jacket
The streamside trail and steps at Xiaonanchuan may be slippery. Wear shoes with good grip. Keep children close to the water and follow park directions; do not enter closed water areas. Mountain temperatures can drop quickly, so bring a jacket. In seasons with more insects, consider bringing insect repellent.
Leave time for the park shuttle bus and supplies
The park’s areas are far apart, and the last park shuttle bus may leave before the park closes. Ask about the return stop and last departure when you enter, especially if Liangdian Gorge is the last stop on your itinerary. The Xiaonanchuan walk is long; bring water and a simple snack, and do not count on having enough places to buy supplies along the way.