Plan at a glance
Four gates, four ways to walk the park
Seven Star Crags is on Qixing Road 1 in Duanzhou District. It is a large park, and the North, West, South and East Gates lead toward different parking areas and scenery. Decide your entrance and exit before choosing the route; this is much easier than improvising after you enter.
Allow 3–5 hours for a standard visit. The listed opening hours are 08:00–18:00, with entry stopping at 17:30. Some areas offer evening visits from 19:00–22:00, possibly with registration. Adult admission is listed at CNY 70, while the child and senior rate is listed at CNY 35. Student concessions for students enrolled in Guangdong should be checked against the day's ticket rules.
Buy the entry ticket first, then decide about boats
The CNY 100 “Happy 100 Xinghu Card” is useful for visitors who plan to return to Seven Star Crags and Dinghu Mountain. The cave cruise is listed at about CNY 20 per person, the bamboo raft experience at about CNY 70–80, and sightseeing vehicles at about CNY 15 per section. These are not included in the basic admission ticket.
Tickets can be bought in advance through the “Weixinghu” or “One-Tap Xinghu Tour” mini-programs, with an ID card used for entry. The North Gate has more parking, the West Gate is closer to some core sights but has fewer spaces, and the South Gate is more prone to holiday congestion. Your gate choice affects the amount of walking later.
Ready to book?
Use the standard admission package for the core shuttle route; confirm the visit date and current opening hours before checkout.
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3–4 hours: North Gate in, South Gate out
For a first visit, enter through the North Gate and continue past the bald cypress grove, Peach Blossom Island, Shuangyuan Cave, the suspension bridge, the Thousand-Year Poetry Gallery at Shishi Crag, Shuiyue Palace and Five-Dragon Pavilion before leaving through the South Gate. You see the lake, crags, cave and cliff inscriptions without committing to the longest circuit.
If the queue for the Shuangyuan Cave boat is long, watch how quickly it is moving before you decide to wait. The boat can change the order of the route; the poetry gallery and Shuiyue Palace are good places to visit first while you wait.
About 3 hours: West Gate in, East Gate out
Visitors who prefer caves and cliff inscriptions can enter through the West Gate and visit Longyan Cave, the Thousand-Year Poetry Gallery, Tianzhu Crag and Shuangyuan Cave before leaving through the East Gate. The West Gate has limited parking but is close to the first part of this route.
Tianzhu Crag and a cave cruise both take extra time. In hot weather, rain or a group that does not want continuous uphill walking, keep the lake edge, poetry gallery and one cave rather than filling the schedule until there is no break.
2–3 hours: An easier family route or an evening visit
With older adults or children, enter through the East Gate, visit Xinghu Museum and Yuping Crag, then follow the lakeside greenway toward the South Gate. This works as a half-day lake outing; there is no need to cover the entire park.
Evening visits suit people who already know the daytime route and mainly want the lights or dinner in Yanqian Village. Some areas may be free or open after 19:00 with registration, but boats, caves, sightseeing vehicles and paths may not follow their daytime schedule.
Build your day
North Gate to South Gate: lake first, heritage second
North Gate → bald cypress grove → Peach Blossom Island → Shuangyuan Cave → suspension bridge → Thousand-Year Poetry Gallery at Shishi Crag → Shuiyue Palace → Five-Dragon Pavilion → South Gate. Check the Shuangyuan Cave queue when you arrive. If it is long, visit the poetry gallery and Shuiyue Palace first, then return to the pier.
The bald cypress grove, suspension bridge and Shuiyue Palace are good places to stop for a few photographs. The light is softer after 16:00, but that is too late to begin the long route; once entry stops at 17:30, you still need time to leave and collect your car.
West Gate to East Gate: caves and cliff inscriptions
West Gate → Longyan Cave → Thousand-Year Poetry Gallery → Star-Picking Pavilion at Tianzhu Crag → Shuangyuan Cave → East Gate. Both Longyan Cave and Shuangyuan Cave take time, so make one of them the main stop if you only have three hours. Whether to climb Tianzhu Crag depends on the weather and your legs that day.
Choose the main focus before you start. If caves matter more, put the boat and poetry gallery in the first half; if you want an easier lake-and-crag visit, drop one cave and spend more time around Shuiyue Palace, Five-Dragon Pavilion and the lake paths.
Family route: East Gate in, South Gate out
East Gate → Xinghu Museum → Yuping Crag → family facilities or lakeside greenway → South Gate. Shops and food points inside the park are limited, so bring water and snacks before entering with children.
If Yanqian Village or the ancient city wall is next, choose the exit with that transfer in mind. Looking for another gate just before closing can turn a short onward transfer into a long wait for a boat or sightseeing vehicle.
Get there
Driving: start with the North or West Gate
For driving, search for “Seven Star Crags North Gate Parking Lot.” The North Gate parking rate is listed at CNY 10 per vehicle on ordinary days and about CNY 15 on holidays. The West Gate has fewer spaces but is closer to some core sights; the South Gate is more congested on holidays, so do not rely on it for both parking and departure.
A taxi from Zhaoqing East Railway Station takes about 20 minutes, and the ride from Zhaoqing Railway Station takes about seven minutes. City buses K01, K02, 204 and 205 serve the gates. Public-transport visitors should also think about the ride back from the exit they choose.
Pay for vehicles and boats only where they help
The park's crags, lake paths and viewpoints are spread out. Sightseeing vehicles charge by section, listed at about CNY 15 per section. Set the main route first, then use a vehicle for one or two long sections if it saves useful energy; several consecutive rides can become expensive quickly.
Boat, bamboo raft and sightseeing-vehicle boarding points are separate, and queues are common in busy periods. Check the pier and departure information when you enter, then agree on a meeting point with your group in case you split up for a short section.
Know before you go
Shoes, water and weather
A 3–5-hour visit includes lakeside paths, steps, bridges and possibly a climb, so walking shoes are more useful than photo-only footwear. Food and water options inside the park are limited; bring water, snacks, sun protection and mosquito repellent.
Rain and wet weather slow down the caves, steps, suspension bridge and lake paths. If you find standing water or slippery stone, remove one distant stop rather than rushing near the end of the day.
Queues and small extra charges
The North Gate is the practical choice for a first-visit highlights route, while the West Gate suits caves and the poetry gallery. The South Gate needs extra care on holidays. Sightseeing vehicles, boats and bamboo rafts are paid separately; if someone asks for payment through a personal QR code, check that it is an official service before paying.
“Free photo” offers near the entrance may charge when you collect the image, so ask about the price first. Yanqian Village or the ancient city wall can be visited after leaving Seven Star Crags; there is no need to overcrowd the daytime route for an evening meal.