National park · China
Kongtongshan National Park孔洞山国家森林公园
Enter Kongtongshan National Park: pay the entry fee (≈ CNY 60–80), hike the Pilgrimage Route (≈4 km (2.5 mi) stairs) early in the morning, or take a taxi to Middle Peak for a shorter climb; visit in spring or autumn to avoid heat and crowds.Enter Kongtongshan National Park: pay the entry fee (≈ CNY 60–80), hike the Pilgrimage Route (≈2.5 mi (4 km) stairs) early in the morning, or take a taxi to Middle Peak for a shorter climb; visit in spring or autumn to avoid heat and crowds.
- 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
150 km² (58 sq mi)58 sq mi (150 km²)
approximate
Established
1986
Best months
Mar–May, Sep–Oct
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
- 150 km² (58 sq mi)58 sq mi (150 km²)
- approximate
- Established
- 1986
- Best months
- Mar–May, Sep–Oct
- Permits
- For some areas
Kongtongshan National Park in Gansu offers Daoist heritage sites on forested cliffs, historic temples, and panoramic mountain views.
Decide
Why go, which months, and what lives here when
At a glance
Status
- No UNESCO listing; national park since 1986.
Size and age
150 km² (58 sq mi)58 sq mi (150 km²) · national park since 1986
approximate
Why go
- Explore Daoist heritage on cliffs with historic temples.
- Panoramic mountain views from the summit.
When to go
- JanGo
- FebGo
- MarBest
- AprBest
- MayBest
- JunGo
- JulCaution
- AugCaution
- SepBest
- OctBest
- NovGo
- DecGo
Wildlife and nature calendar
| What | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Typical high‑altitude flora and small mammalsApr–Nov | no | no | no | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | no |
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 Lanzhou
Train to Pingliang, then bus 6 mi west to the park entrance.
3–4 h
From Pingliang
Local bus or taxi to the park gate, about 10 km (6.2 mi).Local bus or taxi to the park gate, about 6.2 mi (10 km).
30 min
Zones and sectors
| Zone | What is there | Access |
|---|---|---|
| Lake base area | Visitor centre, parking, and start of the Pilgrimage Route. | Open with entry ticket. |
| Pilgrimage Route | 4 km (2.5 mi) of stairs and temples up to the summit.2.5 mi (4 km) of stairs and temples up to the summit. | Open; guide not required. |
| Middle Peak | Shorter climb reachable by taxi. | Taxi drop‑off; open. |
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 centre of the park.
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 | CNY 60–80 (≈ US$9–12) | person | — |
Ranges, not quotes: fees change without notice. Check with the park or your operator · checked Sep 2026.
Park entry permit or guide
Park rules
- Guides
- Not required for the Pilgrimage Route, but recommended for remote sections.
- Camping
- Not allowed within the park boundaries.
- Fires
- Prohibited; use designated cooking facilities outside the park.
Where to stay
Near the park
Pingliang town
Budget hotels and guesthouses 10 km (6.2 mi) from the park.Budget hotels and guesthouses 6.2 mi (10 km) from the park.
In the park
Lake base guesthouses
Simple rooms near the entrance.
Safety
Steep stairs medium
Altitude change low
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
- Lake base area reachable by car; short walks from parking.
Visiting lightly
- Stay in locally owned guesthouses.
- Leave no waste; use refillable water bottles.
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to enter Kongtongshan National Park?
Entry is about CNY 60–80 per person; purchase the ticket at the gate.
What are the best hikes in Kongtongshan National Park?
The traditional Pilgrimage Route (≈4 km of stairs) and the shorter Middle Peak ascent via taxi.
When is the best time to visit Kongtongshan National Park?
Spring (Mar–May) and autumn (Sep–Oct) offer mild weather and fewer crowds.
Is camping allowed in the park?
No, camping is prohibited within the park boundaries.
Do I need a guide for any part of the park?
Guides are not required for the main trails, but are recommended for remote sections.
Deep dive
Every source; fees and rules change, so check before you go
Show the detailsHide
Ask about Kongtongshan National Park
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