Plan at a glance
Location and entrance
The park is at No. 002, Guhuai North Road, Gongyuan Street, Hongtong County, Linfen. Enter “Hongtong Big Locust Tree Root-Seeking and Ancestor Worship Park” in your navigation app. Go in through the large root-shaped entrance gate. The giant “Root” (根) character screen wall, the old locust-tree site and the Ancestor Worship Hall are all inside the park, so plan it as one large attraction.
Tickets, reservation and hours
Peak-season admission is CNY 80 per person from roughly April to October; the low-season price is about CNY 60 from roughly November to March. Online reservation or a self-service ticket machine is recommended. Peak-season hours are around 07:00–19:30 and low-season hours around 07:30–18:00. Ticket inspection usually stops 30 minutes before closing, while performances and ceremonies follow the day's notice.
How much time to allow
Allow 1–1.5 hours for the main root-seeking landmarks. Add Guangji Temple, the Stone Scripture Pillar, the Chinese Surname Garden and one live performance for a 2–2.5-hour visit. The park involves more walking and covers more ground than Su San Prison, so it needs more than a brief town stop.
Tickets and visit details
View visit options for this attraction and confirm the visit date and current arrangements before you go.
Choose your visit
The “Root” screen wall and old locust-tree site
The giant “Root” (根) character screen wall at the entrance is the clearest starting point for the park's theme. The first-generation locust tree no longer survives. The memorial pavilion at its former site, together with the second- and third-generation trees, forms the root-seeking landscape visitors see today. This suits visitors interested in migration memories and surname culture.
Ancestor Worship Hall and surname services
The Ancestor Worship Hall contains tablets for 1,230 surnames. You can search for a surname through the official mini-program before entering and then decide whether to add this stop. The search is best treated as a root-seeking cultural experience; it does not by itself confirm your personal family history. Search functions, tablets and service arrangements may change.
Guangji Temple, Stone Scripture Pillar and Chinese Surname Garden
The highlights route can add Guangji Temple, the Jin-dynasty Stone Scripture Pillar and the Chinese Surname Garden. Together they broaden the visit from a single photo stop to the park's history and folk displays. They remain inside the Big Locust Tree Park; they do not provide ticket access to Guangsheng Temple or other Hongtong attractions.
Performances and family activities
The park stages the live performance “Big Locust Tree Migration.” There may also be NPC interactions, genealogy-stamp activities and small gifts exchanged for imitation banknotes. These suit families and visitors interested in folk storytelling. Performances, interactive activities and ancestor-worship ceremonies can change with the date and event schedule, so check the timetable after entering before deciding whether to wait.
Build your day
Short route: “Root” screen wall to Ancestor Worship Hall
Enter through the root-shaped gate and walk in sequence to the “Root” screen wall, the migration sculpture group, the memorial pavilion for the first-generation locust tree, and the second- and third-generation trees. Finish at the Ancestor Worship Hall, then leave by the exit signs. This takes about 1–1.5 hours and fits a short stop within a half-day itinerary.
Highlights route: core landmarks and park displays
Start with the short route to the locust trees and Ancestor Worship Hall, then add Guangji Temple, the Stone Scripture Pillar and the Chinese Surname Garden. Fit in “Big Locust Tree Migration” according to the day's performance time. Allow about 2–2.5 hours. If the performance changes, the park's named landmarks still make a complete visit.
Pace and a Hongtong combination
Tour groups may be busiest from 09:00 to 11:00. Arrive at opening time for photographs of the “Root” screen wall and old trees; the 15:00–17:00 light is softer for tree shadows and reliefs. Big Locust Tree Park, Su San Prison and Guangsheng Temple can form a Hongtong-area itinerary in separate sections. Each has its own tickets, parking and management, with no shared performance, shuttle or opening schedule.
Get there
Hongtong West Railway Station
Bus 26 runs from Hongtong West Railway Station directly to the park, and a taxi takes about 20 minutes. If you want to continue to Guangsheng Temple or Su San Prison after arriving by high-speed rail, decide which will be your final stop and plan the ride back to the station. The distances between the stations and attractions do not cover the full travel time by themselves.
Hongtong Railway Station and county buses
After leaving the conventional railway station, walk to the Tax Bureau stop and take bus 3. Get off at Big Locust Tree Entrance. Stops and return departures depend on the day's service. A taxi involves fewer transfers when travelling with children or luggage.
Driving and parking
The park has a large parking area with plenty of spaces and charging points; parking costs about CNY 10 per visit. Enter through the root-shaped gate after parking. Tickets, performances and surname services are handled separately inside the park.
Know before you go
Expectations and extra spending
Much of the park consists of modern reconstructions or reproductions, and the first-generation locust tree no longer survives. It is best for migration stories, surname culture, performances and family activities rather than a site of original historic buildings. Ancestor ceremonies, incense, stamps and explanations are optional; ask about the price of any paid service before joining.
Performances and ceremonies change
“Big Locust Tree Migration,” the main ancestor-worship ceremony and other activities may change with the date, special events or on-site arrangements. Check the performance board after entering. A cancelled or shifted programme should not force you to rush the core landmarks; confirm the day's closing and last ticket-inspection times as well.
Shade, walking and food
Walking distances are long. Bring water, sun protection and comfortable shoes in summer, and expect more crowding around the “Root” screen wall, in front of the Ancestor Worship Hall and near performance areas during the morning. Look for Hongtong steamed rice and pork noodles in the county town. If you are also visiting Guangsheng Temple, plan food and the return trip around the two attractions' separate transport and ticketing.