Plan at a glance
A large free park with separately ticketed attractions
Sun Island Scenic Area is at 3 Taiyang Avenue in Songbei District, a large urban park on an island in the Songhua River. General park admission is free and does not require a reservation. Common entrances are Gate 1 and Gate 3, near the ferry and cableway. The Giant Panda House, Deer Park and Russian Style Town inside the park charge separately.
The park is open 08:00–18:00. Because the grounds are large, a quick route takes about 2–3 hours and a highlights route about 4–6 hours. Walking the whole way is tiring, so decide whether to use the sightseeing bus according to the day's route and your companions' walking ability.
For days that put nature first
Sun Island is a park to explore slowly, suited to families, couples, photographers and visitors who want a riverside walk. Its main appeal is lakes, gardens, pavilions, waterfalls and seasonal plants rather than a continuous line of amusement rides.
Prices, reservations, interaction rules and opening status for the smaller attractions may change. The Giant Panda House is currently listed at around CNY 49 and requires a reservation; Russian Style Town is listed around CNY 20–45, and Deer Park around CNY 10 including feed, but all of these should be checked on site.
Tickets and visit details
View visit options for this attraction and confirm the visit date and current arrangements before you go.
Choose your visit
Sun Stone, Zuolong Square and Qifeng Terrace
After entering through Gate 1, Sun Stone is the easiest starting point to find. Continue to Zuolong Square and Qifeng Terrace to see the park's open spaces and Chinese-style landscaping in one section. This works well for first-time visitors who want to understand the park's layout before choosing a longer route.
Shuige Yuntian, Sun Lake and Sun Waterfall
Shuige Yuntian is a main lake-and-Chinese-garden sight. Sun Lake is suitable for views across the water and swans, while Sun Waterfall combines a curtain of water with cave-like space. The lakeside, waterfall and pavilion areas all work for photographs; changing light affects the water, tree shadows and buildings.
Sun Island looks different in each season. Summer is good for escaping the heat, walking and picnics. Winter ice installations, animal interactions and path conditions should follow the seasonal notice; include temporary activities only when the current opening information confirms them.
Deer Park, Squirrel Island and Russian Style Town
Squirrel Island and Deer Park work as short family stops. Animal interactions, feed and access follow the on-site rules. Russian Style Town is inside Sun Island but has its own entrance, ticketing and content, so choose it separately as a small historic-building complex.
Build your day
2–3-hour quick route
Enter through Gate 1, visit Sun Stone first, then take the sightseeing bus towards Squirrel Island or Deer Park. Continue on foot to Shuige Yuntian and finish by moving towards Gate 3. This route focuses on Sun Stone, Shuige Yuntian and one animal area instead of repeatedly crossing the whole park.
The sightseeing bus costs around CNY 20–25; stations, departures and same-day ticketing may vary, so check on site. If you leave through Gate 3, you can connect to the cableway or ferry. If you return through Gate 1, check the bus direction before boarding.
4–6-hour highlights route
Enter through Gate 1 and follow Sun Stone → Zuolong Square → Qifeng Terrace → Shuige Yuntian → Sun Lake → Sun Waterfall. Then decide whether to enter Russian Style Town. This completes the park's main scenery first and puts the separately ticketed attraction later in the day.
For the return, take the sightseeing bus to Gate 1 or walk towards Gate 3 for the cableway or ferry. The sightseeing bus and cableway may have queues of more than one hour on weekends and public holidays. If you have another reservation that day, decide on the return mode by the middle of the visit.
Cross from the south bank
Take a ferry from the pier beside the Flood Control Monument. The public ferry costs around CNY 2 and the sightseeing ferry around CNY 10; after reaching Sun Island, walk about 10 minutes to Gate 3. You can also take the Songhua River Cableway from Tongjiang Street to the area near Gate 3; cableway tickets are separate.
After entering by ferry or cableway, start with Shuige Yuntian and Sun Waterfall near Gate 3, then move towards Sun Stone. If you do not want to return to the same pier, confirm the sightseeing-bus, metro or alternative river-crossing connection in advance.
Get there
Metro to Gate 1
Take Metro Line 2 to Sun Island Station and use Exit 3 for direct access to Gate 1. When navigating, select Gate 1 or Gate 3 specifically: the two entrances have different river-crossing options and different starting points inside the park.
Ferry and cableway to Gate 3
The pier beside the Flood Control Monument has ferries to Sun Island. Public and sightseeing ferries have different prices. The Tongjiang Street cableway crosses the river and arrives near Gate 3. Ferry service depends on weather, water level and route arrangements; the cableway has its own queue and operating hours.
Driving and parking
Navigate to the “Sun Island Gate 1 Parking Lot.” Spaces are tight in the busy season, so arrive early if you want to park near the entrance. You still need to walk or change to the sightseeing bus inside the park; if the car is at Gate 1, leaving through Gate 3 means returning for it later.
Know before you go
Sightseeing bus, paid attractions and queues
The sightseeing bus and cableway may have long queues on weekends and public holidays. The Giant Panda House requires a reservation, while Deer Park's price and whether feed is included may change. Russian Style Town has a separate ticket; free entry to Sun Island does not make every attraction inside free.
Walking, weather and seasonal conditions
The routes across Sun Island are long. Comfortable walking shoes matter more here than photo-friendly footwear. In summer, bring sun and mosquito protection; in winter, plan for river wind, icy paths and batteries draining in the cold. Stay on open paths beside the lake, waterfall and any winter ice.
Ice installations, animal houses, sightseeing buses, ferries and temporary park events may change because of weather, construction or season. Before leaving, confirm the Giant Panda House reservation, Deer Park status, Russian Style Town price and activities, and the day's Gate 1, Gate 3 and transport connections.