Plan at a glance
Three visitor areas and the nature of the site
Daqinggou is in Horqin Left Rear Banner, Tongliao. It is both a National 4A-level tourist attraction and a national nature reserve. The visitor areas are the Underground Primeval Forest, Sancha Kou Gorge Rafting and Xiaoqing Lake Water Park. Together, they combine forested ravines, springs and nearby sandy landscapes.
The protected area as a whole is not the same as the area open to visitors. After entering, confirm which of the three areas are open that day, how to get between them and how to return before deciding the order of your visit.
Tickets, opening hours and visit time
Public ticket information lists a reference gate-ticket price of CNY 50, covering only the Primeval Forest attraction. Sancha Kou, Xiaoqing Lake and internal transport may require separate tickets. Check which areas, activities and transfers are included when buying tickets.
The published operating season runs from April 25 to October 25; commonly listed hours are 08:00–17:00, with last admission around 16:30. If you plan to visit near the start or end of the season, call +86 475 558 2213 to confirm whether the site is open, the last admission time and what your ticket covers.
Tickets and visit details
View visit options for this attraction and confirm the visit date and current arrangements before you go.
Choose your visit
Primeval forest and ravine trails
The Primeval Forest area features ravine vegetation, springs and walking trails. Reaching the bottom involves stairs. If the route is open, you can walk a short section of the boardwalk and see the forest and stream.
Some stairs are steep, and the boardwalk can be slippery after rain or in damp weather. If anyone in your group cannot manage repeated climbs up and down, stay by the ravine edge or in an upper area open to visitors.
Sancha Kou rafting
Sancha Kou is where the gorges meet and is the attraction’s rafting area. The season, course, water conditions, age requirements and price depend on the day’s information. Before rafting, check the water and safety conditions.
You can view the gorge from open viewpoints without rafting. Rafting is charged separately from the gate ticket. Wear the safety equipment provided and follow the operator’s instructions.
Xiaoqing Lake and water activities
Xiaoqing Lake has lakeside rest areas and water activities. Boat rides, speedboats and lotus viewing depend on water levels, the season and operations. If activities are closed, walk only in areas open to visitors.
Xiaoqing Lake and the Primeval Forest are separate ticket areas. Check internal transport and the last shuttle time, and leave enough time to return to the exit.
For a separate desert-area visit with its own entrance, activities and transport, see Kulun Yinshawan Scenic Area.
For another distinct desert-area visit in Tongliao, with separate access and operating arrangements, see Baogutu Desert Scenic Area.
For a separate seasonal visit to lake and grassland scenery, see Agula Grassland Resort.
Build your day
2–3-hour Primeval Forest short route
Enter the Primeval Forest area through the entrance designated that day, then follow the open route to a ravine viewpoint. If you feel up to it, take the stairs down to the ravine floor and walk along open boardwalk and streamside paths before returning the same way. If the boardwalk is closed or slippery, stay in an open area along the ravine edge.
Allow about 2–3 hours, excluding travel from central Tongliao. This route covers only the Primeval Forest, not Sancha Kou rafting or Xiaoqing Lake. If you also want to visit other areas, allow extra time for internal transport and activities.
Half-day to full-day route across all three areas
Consider linking the Primeval Forest, Sancha Kou and Xiaoqing Lake only when all three are open and internal transport is available. First confirm each area’s entrance, shuttle schedule, last departure and any separate attraction or activity tickets, then decide on the order.
If transfers are smooth and queues are short, 4–5 hours is a compact reference. For a slower visit to all three areas or time for rafting and water activities, a full day is more comfortable. Actual duration depends on transfers and queues. Follow the designated route back to the entrance at the end.
Get there
Driving and getting around the site
Daqinggou is about 97 kilometres from central Tongliao; allow around 1.5 hours, with the actual time depending on your starting point, navigation route and road conditions that day. Navigate to “大青沟国家级自然保护区” (Daqinggou National Nature Reserve). Before setting out, call +86 475 558 2213 to confirm opening, parking and vehicle access.
Stops inside the site are spread out, and some roads may be gravel. Slow down and park only in designated areas. Check that day’s notice for parking fees and whether private cars may enter.
Train connections and return arrangements
If arriving by train at Ganqika Station, arrange a transfer or hired car to the attraction in advance. Confirm the outbound trip, last return service, drop-off point and the attraction’s last admission time.
Different areas may require a sightseeing shuttle or a car transfer. After buying tickets, ask about the last shuttle and leave enough time to return from Xiaoqing Lake to the exit.
Know before you go
Ticket areas and activity costs
Rafting at Sancha Kou, speedboats, boat rides, sightseeing shuttles, accommodation and food may all cost extra. When buying tickets, confirm the ticket areas, activity prices, operating times and last transport. Do not assume one gate ticket covers every area.
The service standards for horse riding, archery and similar activities have not been confirmed. Before taking part, check the operator, route, duration, equipment and price, then decide whether to join.
Fitness, weather and nature protection
The stairs in the Primeval Forest require strength and put strain on the knees. Older adults, young children and visitors with limited mobility should assess the route before descending. Wear non-slip shoes, and follow staff instructions if paths are slippery, temporarily closed or affected by changing water levels.
Stay on open paths and in visitor areas. Do not pick plants, disturb wildlife or enter restricted parts of the reserve. Open fires are prohibited in the forest. Do not enter the attraction without permission during closure periods.
Food and return plans
Food and accommodation inside the site depend on the day’s operations. Confirm what is available before setting out. You can also eat back in central Tongliao; navigate separately to Hajiuhai Mongolian Restaurant or Maliu Dairy Shop and check their hours.
Daqinggou, Yinshawan and Baogutu are separate attractions. If you plan to visit more than one, check the road distance between them and each site’s opening hours, and allow time for the transfer.