12 of China's most attractive national parks, as suggested by Lonely Planet.

China boasts diverse natural landscapes, from tropical rainforests to majestic plateaus. The world-renowned travel publisher Lonely Planet presents 12 of its most representative national parks.

A vast wetland area in Tam Giang Nguyen National Park, Tibet, China. (Source: Shutterstock)

Tam Giang Nguyen National Park (Qinghai - Tibet)

Located at an altitude with peaks reaching 4,800m, Sanjiangyuan National Park covers an area 14 times larger than Yellowstone (USA). This vast area of ​​190,100 km² stretches across the headwaters of three major Asian rivers: the Yangtze, the Yellow River, and the Lancang River (the upper reaches of the Mekong River).

Of that total area, more than half lies on the Tibetan Plateau – a region of particular ecological importance and home to many rare species such as the snow leopard, Tibetan antelope, and wild Tibetan yak.

Currently, the park is still in the process of completing its infrastructure, from road systems to management points, to serve both conservation and ecotourism development. While waiting for more favorable conditions, visitors can still participate in hiking trips to the headwaters of the Yellow River, following trails through grasslands, glaciers, high-altitude lakes, and even the Gobi Desert.

Giant Panda National Park (Sichuan – Shaanxi – Gansu)

A panda cub at the Bifengxia Panda Reserve, Sichuan. (Source: Animalgraphy)

Giant pandas, a famous endemic species of China, are one of the rarest bear species in the world . Thanks to decades of conservation and breeding efforts, the species' status has improved, no longer classified as "critically endangered." However, they remain vulnerable and continue to receive special attention.

The Giant Panda National Park was established by merging 67 nature reserves scattered across Sichuan, Shaanxi, and Gansu provinces. It is home to over 1,800 pandas, representing approximately 80% of the species' population in China. This merger aims to expand habitats, enhance habitat connectivity, thereby ensuring genetic diversity and facilitating natural reproduction.

Among them, the Wolong Nature Reserve and the Bifengxia Panda Base in Sichuan have opened to visitors. These destinations offer rare opportunities to admire and learn about China's iconic panda.

Wuyi Mountain National Park (Fujian - Jiangxi)

Experience rafting on the Nine Bends River in Wuyi Mountain National Park, Fujian. (Source: Getty Images)

Of China's first five national parks, Wuyi Shan is the smallest in area. This mountain, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and Biosphere Reserve, is notable for having one of the largest subtropical primeval forests on the planet, home to many ancient plant species and rare insects.

The landscape of Wuyi Mountain is both majestic and steeped in unique cultural heritage. Along the tranquil Nine Bends River are towering cliffs dotted with hanging coffins – evidence of an ancient funeral custom. The area also preserves the remains of a 1st-century palace, along with traces of temples and academies over 1,000 years old, a place that was once the cradle of Neo-Confucianism.

Today, rafting on the Cuu Khuc River has become a popular experience for tourists. In addition, the area has many mountain peaks and caves, suitable for mountain climbing and hiking expeditions .

Northeast Tiger and Leopard National Park (Heilongjiang - Jilin)

The Amur tiger is an endangered species. (Source: Shutterstock)

Located in the Changbai Mountains, near the Russian border, the park was established on the basis of a breeding center that successfully restored the population of Amur tigers – the world's largest cat species and still listed as endangered.

The Amur tiger was originally endemic to China, the Russian Far East, and Korea. Historically, the people of Changbai Mountain regarded the tiger as the "mountain god," before poaching, war, and economic development drove the species to the brink of extinction.

Besides the Amur tiger, the park is also home to the Amur leopard, the Eurasian lynx, and the golden eagle. Visitors can enjoy hiking trails through the forest, but the chance of seeing tigers in the wild is rare. Further south, along the China-North Korea border in Jilin, the Changbai Mountains Nature Reserve impresses with its vast forests, turquoise volcanic crater lakes, and attractive ski slopes.

Hainan Tropical Rainforest National Park (Hainan)

Pedestrian suspension bridge in Hainan Tropical Rainforest National Park. (Source: Shutterstock)

Established by merging numerous scenic areas and nature reserves, Hainan Tropical Rainforest National Park is one of China's most biodiverse destinations. It is the last remaining habitat of the Hainan gibbon – the planet's rarest and critically endangered primate. Furthermore, the park is home to 39% of China's recorded bird species, along with thousands of other wild plant species.

The tropical rainforests here boast a variety of unique ecosystems, ranging from mangrove forests to lush green valleys. Visitors can participate in hiking trips, visit wildlife monitoring stations or gibbon sanctuaries, and enjoy stargazing as night falls.

Wulong Karst National Geopark (Chongqing)

Three natural bridges at Wulong Karst National Geopark. (Source: Shutterstock)

Located about a two-hour drive from the center of Chongqing, Wulong Karst impresses with its majestic limestone landscape, which was featured in the movie Transformers: Age of Extinction .

"Karst" is a geological term referring to landforms formed by the process of rainwater and groundwater dissolving limestone over millions of years, creating sinkholes, caves, and sheer cliffs.

Wulong Karst National Geopark is part of the South China Karst Complex – a UNESCO World Heritage Site – and comprises three prominent main areas.

Above the edge of a giant sinkhole, three natural bridges rise high, considered the world's tallest natural limestone arches. The Furong Cave impresses with its vast karst space, stalactites formed over thousands of years, and a magical underground waterfall. Meanwhile, a glass elevator in the Longshui Gorge takes visitors down into a deep gorge carved by the flow of an ancient river.

Wulong remains a little-known destination for international tourists, except among the community of cave explorers – who have long regarded it as a globally renowned landmark.

Jiuzhaigou Scenic Area (Sichuan)

Autumn scenery in Jiuzhaigou. (Source: Getty Images)

Jiuzhaigou has long been considered one of China's top tourist attractions. The valley boasts an almost surreal beauty, with crystal-clear lakes, cascading waterfalls in shades of turquoise, pearl, and sapphire, and dense, mysterious forests, all set against a backdrop of snow-capped limestone mountains.

Each year, around five million tourists come here to hike along the trails and admire the spectacular scenery. The name Jiuzhaigou means "valley of nine villages," recalling the nine Tibetan settlements in the area, seven of which are still inhabited.

Hoa Son (Shanxi)

Sunrise over Mount Hua. (Source: Shutterstock)

At 2,154 meters high, Mount Hua is one of the five sacred mountains of Taoism and is also famous as one of the most treacherous mountain climbing routes in China. Visitors are often captivated by the narrow, steep steps clinging to the cliff face, or the wooden planks stretched across the vertical granite cliffs – a test of both courage and patience.

Historically, Mount Hua was a retreat for Taoist hermits and mystics, and was associated with ancient physicians who climbed the mountain to gather herbs for making elixirs. The mountain also appears in many martial arts novels, where swordsmen duel on its five peaks.

Today, its wild yet mystical landscape, combined with its adventurous nature, makes Mount Hua a favorite destination for many tourists, especially those who choose to climb at night to witness the spectacular sunrise from the summit – an unforgettable experience.

Zhangye Global Geopark (Gansu)

Colorful mountains at Zhangye Global Geopark. (Source: Hiddenchina)

Zhangye Global Geopark impresses with its rust-red mountain ranges interspersed with streaks of white, yellow, orange, and pale purple – a spectacular landscape at the foot of the Qilian Mountains. It is also being developed into the Qilian Mountains National Park, with the goal of comprehensively conserving the entire area.

Beyond its stunning scenery, this area also plays a crucial ecological role. Snow leopards roam the mountain ranges, helping to prevent desertification, preserve glaciers, and conserve water resources in the western fringes of China. Within the park lies a small oasis, once a resting place for travelers on the ancient Silk Road trade route – the Hexi Corridor.

Huangshan (Anhui)

The scenery of Hoang Son is as beautiful as a watercolor painting. (Source: Lonely Planet)

The jagged granite peaks interspersed with the slender pine trees of Huangshan (Hangshuan), shrouded in mist, have made this place an endless source of inspiration for Chinese poetry, painting, and photography for centuries. A UNESCO World Heritage site, it is also considered the cradle of the landscape painting style – a distinctive style of painting characterized by the imagery of "mountains and water."

To fully explore the landscape, visitors can follow a dense network of trails leading to the summit and around the mountain slopes. At an altitude of 1,864m, many hotels have been built, some with natural hot springs, making it easy for visitors to stay overnight and enjoy the majestic mountain scenery in the early morning mist.

Zhangjiajie National Forest Park (Hunan)

Sandstone pillars at Zhangjiajie National Forest Park. (Source: lzf/Getty Images)

Zhangjiajie has long been famous for its unique landscape, so much so that it served as inspiration for the Pandora world in the movie Avatar, especially impressive when shrouded in fog. A UNESCO Global Geopark, it is dotted with 240 pillar-shaped sandstone peaks and over 3,000 towers, creating a rare and enchanting scene.

For thousands of years, this remote land was known only to a few ethnic minority communities and hundreds of rare animal species, including the Chinese giant salamander – the world's largest amphibian, which is critically endangered.

Today, the most spectacular viewpoints can be found in Yuanjiajie or Hallelujah Peak, where visitors can access it via a glass elevator and admire the entire majestic rocky landscape stretching out before them.

Dunhuang Global Geopark (Gansu)

A Buddha statue at the Mogao Caves complex. (Source: Shutterstock)

The highlight of Dunhuang Geopark is the Mogao Caves – a UNESCO World Heritage site, home to one of the world's most important collections of Buddhist art. The exquisite statues and murals, created continuously over 1,000 years, beginning in 366 AD, have transformed the area into a living "library in stone." Of the 735 caves, 20 are currently open on a rotating basis, and visitors are required to participate in guided tours to explore them.

About 200 km to the northwest, in the Gobi Desert, wind and time have sculpted the bizarre yadan (yardang) landscape. The uniquely shaped rock formations and the eerie sound of the wind whistling have earned it the nickname "Devil's Town," where travelers easily get lost in the wilderness. China currently has the highest concentration of yadan in the world, mostly in Dunhuang. The most complete experience is to take a minibus tour to see this natural wonder in its entirety.

Source: https://baoquocte.vn/12-cong-vien-quoc-gia-hap-dan-bac-nhat-trung-quoc-theo-goi-y-cua-lonely-planet-326585.html