National park · China
Labahe Nature Reserve
Enter Labahe Nature Reserve for a day hike: pay the entry fee (check), follow the main Laba River gorge trail (check), visit May–Oct for drier weather.
- Source checked
- A source and a date are on record: we read it from an official or published page. Not yet confirmed on the ground.
- Field checked
- Someone checked it on the ground, with the date shown.
- Plan calculated
- Worked out by Voykit from its own data (times, distances, budgets). A calculation, not a measurement.
Unknown times stay unknown. How we verify
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Map to the park
Add your hotel to get directions from it. · stays in this browser; shared with the pocket card.
Area
500 km² (193 sq mi)193 sq mi (500 km²)
approximate
Established
2000
Best months
—
UNESCO
None
Rules in force · 7
- East Asia ↗Every border in East Asia is a full international border, Hong Kong and Macau included: an entry permission for one never covers the next.
- East Asia ↗Ferries between Korea, Japan and China cancel in rough seas and typhoons; keep a flight or a spare day behind every sea leg.
- China ↗Most nationalities need a visa, a unilateral visa-free entry (the list and end dates change) or the transit exemption below. Confirm your route on the official sites before you buy a ticket.
- China ↗Transit stay without a visa: up to 240 hours (10 days) for citizens of about 55 listed countries who pass through China to a third country or region, with a confirmed onward ticket and a stay inside the permitted area (Beijing, Tianjin and Hebei count as one area). It replaced the 144-hour rule in December 2024, which some older pages still quote. Use the transit lane at immigration, show the onward ticket, and check the current nationality list. Hong Kong and Macau count as separate regions; check whether your ticket qualifies.
- China ↗Foreign visitors must register their address with the police within 24 hours; hotels do it at check-in with your passport. Carry the original passport at all times: hotels, trains, museums, Tiananmen Square and police checks ask for it.
- China ↗Set up Alipay or WeChat Pay with a foreign card before you fly. QR payment is the default in shops, taxis and many stalls, and some places refuse cash or a foreign card. Carry cash as a backup.
- China ↗Google, WhatsApp, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube and many news sites are blocked. Use an eSIM with roaming (it routes through your home network) or install and test a VPN before you fly; VPN sites and app stores are hard to reach inside China, and only government-approved VPNs are officially permitted.
At a glance
- Country
- China
- Area
- 500 km² (193 sq mi)193 sq mi (500 km²)
- Approximately 500 km² (check).
- Established
- 2000
- Best months
- —
- Permits
- For some areas
Labahe Nature Reserve protects a subtropical river gorge on the Laba River within Erlangshan National Park, offering bamboo‑filled forest trails and birdwatching opportunities. Entry is by ticket at the gate, with day hikes on the main gorge path as the primary activity.
Decide
Why go, which months, and what lives here when
At a glance
Status
- No UNESCO listing; national park since 2000.
Size and age
500 km² (193 sq mi)193 sq mi (500 km²) · national park since 2000
Approximately 500 km² (check).
Why go
- River‑gorge hiking in a subtropical forest.
- Extensive bamboo groves and chance to see forest birds.
When to go
- JanCaution
- FebCaution
- MarCaution
- AprGo
- MayGo
- JunGo
- JulGo
- AugGo
- SepGo
- OctGo
- NovCaution
- DecCaution
- JanCold, possible fog.
- FebCold, occasional rain.
- MarIncreasing rain, fog.
- AprSpring, clearer days.
- MayWarm, less rain.
- JunWarm, occasional showers.
- JulSummer, rain possible.
- AugSummer, rain possible.
- SepLate summer, drying.
- OctAutumn, drier.
- NovCooling, fog.
- DecCold, fog.
Wildlife and nature calendar
| What | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Forest birdsMar–May, Sep–Nov · Variety of songbirds in bamboo and mixed forest. | no | no | yes | yes | yes | no | no | no | yes | yes | yes | no |
| Bamboo lemurs (unlikely)All year · No confirmed populations; listed for completeness. | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes |
Arrive & move
Getting in, how the park is divided, and where things are
Show 3 sectionsHideHow to get there, Zones and sectors, Sketch map
How to get there
From Chengdu
Take a bus or train to Luding, then a local taxi or shuttle to the reserve gate.
5–7 h
Open the page →
From Ya'an
Bus to Luding, then local transport to the gate.
3–4 h
Zones and sectors
| Zone | What is there | Access |
|---|---|---|
| Entrance area | Gate, visitor desk, information board. | Open with ticket. |
| Main trail | Path along the Laba River gorge, passes bamboo forest. | Open to day hikers. |
Sketch map
Take the points offline
3 points as a GPX waypoint file, plus a plain-text list of coordinates. Save it while you have signal: maps apps show the points without a connection.
Coordinates from Wikidata, approximate centre of the reserve.
See & do
Caves, trails and wildlife, with how hard each is and whether it needs booking
Show Top experiencesHide
Top experiences
Practical
Fees, permits, rules, where to sleep and what can go wrong
Show 8 sectionsHideEntry fees and permits, Park rules, Where to stay, Safety, Accessibility, Visiting lightly, Questions people ask, Related
Entry fees and permits
| Item | Range | Per | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Park entry | Free | person | Exact fee not published (check). |
Ranges, not quotes: fees change without notice. Check with the park or your operator · checked Sep 2026.
Park entry permit or guide
Park rules
- Camping
- Not permitted in the park.
- Backcountry hikes
- Not permitted; stay on marked trails.
- Drones
- Check with park authorities before use.
Where to stay
In the park
Park hotels
Small hotels near the entrance, basic amenities.
Near the park
Luding town
More lodging options, 30 km (19 mi) from the gate.More lodging options, 19 mi (30 km) from the gate.
Safety
Rockfall medium
Weather medium
How much daylight do you have?
Time out
Finding the local time zone…
Times are local to the spot (zone loading). The half-hour margin is our rule of thumb, not an official figure; light fades earlier in forest or under cloud. Carry a headlamp on any route that could run late.
Accessibility
- Entrance area reachable by car; trails have steep sections, not suitable for limited mobility.
Visiting lightly
- Carry out all waste; do not feed wildlife.
- Use designated trails to protect forest floor.
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to enter Labahe Nature Reserve?
The official entry fee is not published online; visitors should expect a modest ticket at the gate (check).
What are the best hikes in Labahe Nature Reserve?
The main Laba River gorge trail (3–5 h) and the bamboo forest loop (1–2 h) are the most popular day hikes.
When is the best time to visit Labahe Nature Reserve?
May to October offers the driest conditions; spring and early autumn are also suitable.
Can I camp in Labahe Nature Reserve?
No, camping is prohibited; stay in the park hotels or nearby towns.
Is backcountry hiking allowed?
Only marked trails are permitted; backcountry routes are closed to visitors.
Deep dive
Every source; fees and rules change, so check before you go
Show the detailsHide
Ask about Labahe Nature Reserve
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