Plan at a glance
Location, entrances, and access
Jilongding Forest Park is in Qixing Village, Shuangjiao Town, Yangchun, across the Yangchun, Gaozhou, and Xinyi area. Common starting points include Qixing Village Parking, Jiucaidi Village Parking, and Tianmei Farm in Xinyi. Your choice of entrance changes the route length, elevation gain, and return plan.
The mountain is free to enter and does not require a reservation, but it is an undeveloped hiking area with no unified ticket gate, toilets, shops, or rescue station. The beginner route is about 9–10 kilometres and takes 4–5 hours with around 500 metres of ascent. The full ridge loop is about 12–15 kilometres and takes 6–8 hours with around 800–900 metres of ascent, so do not treat it like a walk in a normal city park.
Seasonal and equipment expectations
The high-mountain azaleas usually flower from mid-April to early May, but flower coverage, weather, and road conditions vary each year. The summit is windy and can be much colder than the foothills. Bring at least 2 litres of water, high-energy food, a rain jacket, a headlamp, an offline track, long trousers and socks, and shoes suitable for uneven hiking.
Tickets and visit details
View visit options for this attraction and confirm the visit date and current arrangements before you go.
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Highland grassland and ridge views
The main scenery is open highland grassland, azalea slopes, wind turbines, and a three-city boundary marker. In clear weather, the slopes and distant views can be wide open. Fog, low cloud, or rain may hide the landscape completely, so sunrise and cloud views should remain possibilities rather than fixed results.
The route can pass features such as Niupishi Grassland, Shierlengding, Yangyuanshi, and Dashigu. They are spread across different route choices, and reaching them depends on the entrance, fitness, weather, and turnaround time. Do not leave the main route simply to collect every viewpoint.
Who it suits
Jilongding suits hikers with outdoor experience who can use offline navigation and manage their own food, water, and weather decisions. First-time mountain visitors, families with very young children, people with knee or ankle problems, and travellers who only want an easy grassland view should not start with the full ridge loop or a night route.
Build your day
A 4–5 hour beginner route
Start from Tianmei Farm or Qixing Village Parking and follow the farm track and gentler dirt road towards the highland grassland and the area near the main peak. Return the same way or use a confirmed short loop. The route is about 9–10 kilometres with around 500 metres of ascent. Solve food and toilet needs at the foot of the mountain, and leave time to turn around early if fog or rain arrives.
Download the offline track before setting out and agree on a meeting point and latest descent time with your group. Mobile signal may disappear, so return along the safe route you already know if the weather worsens, the path becomes unclear, or someone is tiring. Do not search for a shortcut in the field.
A 6–8 hour full ridge loop
From Jiucaidi Village, the route can pass Niupishi Grassland, the azalea slopes, Shierlengding, the main peak, and the three-city marker before descending along the confirmed ridge route. The loop is about 12–15 kilometres with around 800–900 metres of ascent. There are no continuous services between the wind turbines, ridges, and viewpoints, so control photo stops and turnaround time.
Start high early in the day and do not keep going in the afternoon just to wait for better light or flowers. In fog, thunderstorms, wet ground, or strong wind, give up the loop and return by the planned descent route rather than staying on the ridge.
A two-day overnight route for experienced hikers
Experienced backpackers may consider walking from Qixing Village to Wuxing Camp after confirming the weather, water, and camp conditions, then making a light ascent and descent on day two. You must carry a tent, sleeping bag, water-filtering equipment, food, and emergency lighting. Camping, sunrise, and cloud views depend on weather and on-site conditions and cannot be promised.
Without backpacking, offline-navigation, and outdoor emergency experience, do not climb at night for sunrise. A daytime short route with accommodation at the foot of the mountain or in Yangchun or Xinyi is easier to control.
Get there
High-speed rail and mountain transport
Public transport does not reach the main hiking entrances directly. Travel by high-speed rail to Yangdong Station or Maoming Station, then arrange a shared ride, private transfer, or local vehicle. Send the exact entrance name and parking point to your group before departure; searching only “Jilongding” can leave you at the wrong side of the mountain.
Driving, parking, and local transfers
Drive to Qixing Village Parking, Jiucaidi Village Parking, or Tianmei Farm. Foot-of-mountain parking is often free, while some spaces may cost CNY 20 per day. Arrive before 08:00 in busy periods to avoid village-road passing difficulties and full parking areas.
The village mountain roads are narrow and difficult for two cars to pass. If you are not confident on these roads, park in a safe area at the foot and use a locally permitted transfer to the trailhead. Do not drive onto an unconfirmed dirt track or block a village route.
Know before you go
Supplies, signal, and navigation
There are no shops, toilets, or rubbish bins on the mountain. Carry at least 2 litres of water and high-energy food, and use the toilet at the foot before starting. Above about 800 metres, mobile signal may disappear. Offline tracks, a backup route, and travelling with others are essential.
Do not hike a remote path alone or rely only on live phone navigation. Leave your route, entrance, expected return time, and emergency contact with someone who is not on the trip. If you are lost, injured, or losing daylight, descend early and seek local help.
Rain, fog, insects, and cold
After rain, dirt roads become muddy and slippery; avoid the hike for the following two days when conditions remain poor. Mountain fog can reduce visibility, so keep a rain jacket, headlamp, and warm layer accessible. From April to June, wet grass may have leeches; wear long trousers and socks and carry insect repellent. The summit can be windy, with a temperature difference of 5–8°C from lower areas.
Do not light fires, leave rubbish, or approach or feed cattle and other animals. A flower field, sunrise, or photograph is not worth crossing a steep slope, cliff edge, or unmarked route. Make a safe descent the priority.
Foot-of-mountain accommodation and food
Guesthouses at the foot of the mountain are basic, and some use shared bathrooms. Confirm rooms and hot water before holiday trips. For more reliable accommodation and food, return to Yangchun or Xinyi; after the hike, rehydrate and rest before trying local dishes such as steamed pork ribs with spring sand ginger or ginger chicken.