Plan at a glance
Location and park layout
Hailar National Forest Park (海拉尔国家森林公园) is on Xishan Road in Hailar District, about 2 km from the city center. Locals also call it Xishan Park (西山公园). The South, North, and West parks contain different areas, including old pine forest, White Sand Beach (白沙滩), and wetland boardwalks.
Tickets and visit time
Admission is CNY 30 for visitors from outside Hailar; local residents can enter free with a valid ID card. The park is open from 08:00 to 18:00, with last entry at 17:30. The short walk along the main trail and back takes about 1.5–2 hours; enter by 16:00 if you plan a longer walk.
Tickets and visit details
View visit options for this attraction and confirm the visit date and current arrangements before you go.
Choose your visit
Old Mongolian Scots pines and Mingren Peak
The park’s main feature is its old Mongolian Scots pine forest. Mingren Peak (名人峰) is in the South Park area, where boardwalks pass close to old trees and woodland. Some trees are known locally as the “Tree King” and “Tree Spirit,” and are worth seeing on a forest walk. Mingren Peak is not part of the 1 km short walk near the main entrance.
Choose the North Park or West Park
The North Park has a white-sand beach and the “Tree King”; the West Park has wetland boardwalks and birdwatching areas. Neither is on the short trail near the entrance. Ask which sections and connections are open that day before extending your visit.
Allow extra time for attractions in separate areas
The Microlithic Archaeological Site (细石器遗址), North Park’s White Sand Beach, and the West Park wetland are in separate areas and are not part of the 1 km short walk near the main entrance. Mingren Peak is in the South Park; enter through an open entrance for that area and follow its designated trail. Do not assume the two routes connect. If you want to visit several areas, check the connections and exit point first; with only two hours, stay on the pine-forest trail near the main entrance.
For a separate lakeside and grassland visit about an hour's drive from Hailar, with its own ticket and return plan, see Huhenur Grassland Scenic Area.
For a separate grassland trip from Hailar, with seasonal sightseeing-bus operations and its own entrance, see Moergle River Scenic Area.
Build your day
Short out-and-back through the pine forest near the main entrance
Enter through the main gate and follow the open main trail about 1 km into the forest, focusing on the Mongolian Scots pines near the entrance, then return the same way. Allow about 1.5–2 hours. Mingren Peak is in the South Park; to visit it, plan around the open South Park entrance and its trail, and do not assume the two routes connect directly.
Check exits before attempting a cross-park route
A 3–4 hour route could include the South Gate, the Microlithic Archaeological Site (细石器遗址), Mingren Peak in the South Park, White Sand Beach and “Tree King” in the North Park, and the West Park wetland boardwalks. Connections between the parks and the way back from the final stop to the entrance or parking area are unclear. Ask at the entrance which areas are open, how to travel between them, and where to exit; until the return is confirmed, use the out-and-back route from the main entrance.
Get there
By bus or taxi
Buses 3, 103, and 105 stop at the park gate; the fare is CNY 2. Bus intervals are not listed, so check the day’s service and return times before setting out. A taxi from central Hailar costs about CNY 10–15 and takes around 10–20 minutes.
Driving directions and parking
Search for “海拉尔国家森林公园” (Hailar National Forest Park) or “西山公园” (Xishan Park) and navigate to Xishan Road in Hailar District. Free parking is available. For the short walk, park near the main entrance and return to the same point.
Know before you go
Activities inside the park cost extra
The reindeer enclosure, Birdsong Forest, bicycles, and electric carts all have separate charges. Check ticket information for prices and which activities are open that day; if an activity is a priority, ask about its cost at the entrance before buying tickets.
Food options and service inside the park are unclear, so you can return to central Hailar for a meal. For the short walk, buy water and a light snack in town.
Restrooms, insects, and autumn color
There are few restrooms in the park, and some may be out of service. Use facilities in town or near the entrance before starting. Mosquitoes are common in the woods in summer and autumn; wear light-colored long sleeves and trousers and bring insect repellent. Autumn color usually appears from late September to early October, but cold weather or strong winds may cause leaves to fall early.
Check accessibility with park staff
Information about accessible paths, slopes, and restrooms is limited. If someone in your group needs accessible facilities or a route with fewer steps, ask park staff which areas are open, where vehicles can go, and where restrooms are before entering.