01City Guide
Zhuoer Mountain Scenic Area
卓尔山景区
All Ages
Admission
Jun-Aug: admission and sightseeing shuttle usually cost CNY 60-80 together.
Typical Visit
Allow time for the shuttle and the main boardwalk walk.
Quick Facts
Ticket
No unified ticket gate or admission charge.
Hours
No fixed operating hours; complete the walk in daylight.
Transport
No direct metro. Drive or arrange a private car from Qilian county seat to Ami Dongso Forest Camping Base or Binggou Forest Camping Base (about 20-30 minutes).
Duration
About 1 hour for the core walk; 2-3 hours for a fuller visit
Best Time
Daylight in clear weather; avoid muddy or rainy conditions
Visitors
Visitors comfortable with a short forest walk
How to Visit
1
Drive from Qilian county seat to Ami Dongso Forest Camping Base or Binggou Forest Camping Base.
Allow about 20-30 minutes by car; this is the starting point for parking and the forest walk. Standard cars and SUVs can usually reach it.
Tip:Searching only for Binggou Forest can lead to a different attraction. Confirm that the navigation destination includes Camping Base.
2
Park in the designated area and enter the forest from the boardwalk entrance.
This is an open forest route rather than a site with one ticket gate; do not allow time for ticket purchase, and complete the walk in daylight.
Tip:Do not treat it as a scenic area with night lighting or a fixed closing announcement. Start returning before it gets dark.
3
Walk the short core route first, then decide whether to continue.
Follow the forest boardwalk and trail for a return walk of about 1.5-2 km, usually around one hour. Turn back when the route becomes concrete or when your energy drops.
Tip:Shaded sections can be muddy or hold leftover snow. Wear shoes with grip rather than sandals or heels.
4
If your fitness and the weather allow, combine the stream, forest clearings, and distant snow-mountain views in one return walk.
Allow 2-3 hours for a fuller visit, following the order: parking area - forest trail - stream and clearings - return by the same route.
Tip:Do not set off on a long through-hike without preparation. There are no reliable supplies in the forest, so keep to the short walk if you have not brought water and food.
Highlights
- Qinghai spruce forms a continuous forest canopy, with different layers of woodland visible from the boardwalk and trails.
- The stream creates useful short stopping points along a gentle walking route.
- Forest clearings can reveal distant Qilian snow mountains when visibility is good.
- The easy return trip from Qilian makes this better as a half-day self-drive walk and stop than a full-day enclosed attraction.
- At roughly 3,200 m, the walking is not demanding, but visitors still experience the temperature and altitude changes of the plateau forest.
Insider Tips
✦Buy water, simple food, and mosquito repellent in Qilian before entering the forest; do not plan around on-site shops or restaurants.
✦At about 3,200 m, keep a slow pace. If you develop headache, chest tightness, or clear fatigue, turn back and rest at a lower elevation.
✦Bring a windproof layer even in summer, as mornings, evenings, and the forest itself can feel cold; trails become more slippery after rain.
✦Mobile signal is weak in some sections. Download an offline map and agree on return pickup arrangements in advance.
✦Do not touch marmots or other wild animals, and do not leave the trail to chase photographs.
More Qilian Attractions
02City Guide
Qilian Mountain Grassland
祁连山草原
Admission
Free along public road sections; private pasture access and activities are separate on-site transactions.
Typical Visit
Flexible roadside stops as part of a driving day
03Nature Escape
Qilian Mountains Scenic Area
祁连山风景区
Admission
No unified ticket; individual stops have separate entry, fee, and parking rules.
Typical Visit
Flexible selected stops within a daylight driving day
04Built Heritage
Arou Temple
阿柔大寺
All Ages
Admission
CNY 15 for adults
Typical Visit
30-60 minutes
05Nature Escape
Amidongsuo Scenic Area
阿咪东索景区
Admission
Free entry from May to July 2026; register visitors and the vehicle plate at the east gate and sign the liability waiver.
Typical Visit
Allow time for entry registration, fixed stops, and west-gate exit before closing.
06Historic Walk
Ebao Ancient City Ruins Park
峨堡古城遗址公园
Admission
The ruins park and Ancient City Museum are separate visits; do not assume shared tickets.
Typical Visit
Short daylight stop for the ruins; allow separate time only if visiting the museum.