Plan at a glance
Who this visit suits
This is a large, drive-through area of red pine forest and walking paths, with long distances between stops. Driving is the most practical way to get around. Allow 2–3 hours for the main sights, or 4–5 hours if you want to walk the boardwalks and visit Yuanhai Temple.
Tickets and opening hours
An adult ticket is listed at CNY 40. The park usually opens 08:00–17:00, with no reservation required. Tickets and hours may change; check the day's notices before setting out and leave before closing.
Tickets and visit details
View visit options for this attraction and confirm the visit date and current arrangements before you go.
Choose your visit
Sanjiang First Lookout Tower
The lookout tower is about 28 meters high and offers a view over the Red Pine Mother Forest. Visibility is better on clear days, but mobile reception near the tower is weak. Download an offline map in advance. Do not climb over railings or enter closed areas to take photographs.
Red Pine Mother Forest and Northeast Little Jiuzhai
These areas have forest paths and wooden boardwalks. Walk at an easy pace to see the red pines, streams, and vegetation along the route. Wear comfortable shoes with good grip and stay on open boardwalks; the boardwalk route is for walking, not for finding off-road trails.
The forest steam train and Yuanhai Temple
The small forest train is a separate attraction inside the park. Its schedule and ticketing arrangements are unclear; check the on-site notice before deciding whether to wait for it. 元海寺 (Yuanhai Temple) works as a short stop near the end of the visit. If the temple or the road to it is closed that day, return by an open road.
For a separate narrow-gauge railway and lake route, see Huanan Steam Train and Xiangyang Lake.
Build your day
A two-to-three-hour core route
After entering, drive first to the Sanjiang First Lookout Tower parking area and climb the tower. Then drive to Northeast Little Jiuzhai and the Red Pine Mother Forest paths. Choose an open boardwalk section and return the same way. If the forest train is running and the timing works, take a ride before leaving; do not cut into your return time to wait for it.
A four-to-five-hour full route
Start at the lookout tower, then drive to the forest train boarding area and boardwalks in the order open that day. Walk through 红松母树林 (the Red Pine Mother Forest) and 东北小九寨 (Northeast Little Jiuzhai), then finish with a stop at 元海寺 (Yuanhai Temple) before driving out. You need to drive between attractions; walking distances depend on which areas are open.
Shorten the visit and plan your return
In rain, during road closures, or if you are tired, visit only the tower and one section of boardwalk. Do not try to walk between widely separated stops. Plan your return around the 17:00 closing time, and check your route again near the entrance where mobile reception is better. Do not leave at the last minute before closing.
Get there
Driving and navigation
Navigate to “大亮子河国家森林公园 (Daliangzihe National Forest Park)” or “大亮子河红松母树林自然保护区 (Daliangzihe Red Pine Mother Forest Nature Reserve).” The drive takes about 1.5–2 hours from downtown Jiamusi and about one hour from Tangyuan County. There is currently no dependable public transport information; drive or arrange a vehicle in advance. There are no shuttle buses inside the park, so you cannot cover the driving route on foot.
Park roads and mobile reception
The park is large; drive between attractions on the internal roads. Download an offline map before entering and agree on a meeting point and what to do if anyone gets separated. Mobile reception is weak around the lookout tower, so do not rely on searching for a map or making a call at the last minute.
Know before you go
Clothing, insects, and access boundaries
There are many insects in the forest. Wear light-colored long sleeves and trousers and bring insect repellent, water, and high-energy snacks. Stay on open park roads, paths, and boardwalks. Do not enter closed parts of the nature reserve, approach wildlife, or linger in areas marked with warnings.
Food and overnight stays
There are few places to buy food and drinks in the park. Stock up in Tangyuan County or Jiamusi before entering. Nearby lodging is limited; after a 4–5-hour route, plan to stay in Tangyuan County or return to Jiamusi. Do not treat an unmarked clearing in the woods as a designated campsite.