National park · China
Mugecuo National Park
Enter Mugecuo for a short visit: take the park bus to Mugecuo lake, walk to Qisehai in autumn, entry ~CNY 50, avoid winter crowds.
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- 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.
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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
120 km² (46 sq mi)46 sq mi (120 km²)
approximate
Established
2020
Best months
Sep–Nov
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
- 120 km² (46 sq mi)46 sq mi (120 km²)
- Area approx. 120 km² (check).
- Established
- 2020
- Best months
- Sep–Nov
- Permits
- For some areas
Mugecuo National Park, in Ganzi Prefecture, protects a series of alpine lakes, forested slopes and hot‑spring pools. The park is most visited in autumn when the multicoloured lakes display vivid hues and crowds are thin. Access is via a taxi to the gate 21 km from Kangding, then a park bus to the main lake, with optional horse‑trek routes and foot‑soak hot springs.
Decide
Why go, which months, and what lives here when
At a glance
Status
- No UNESCO listing; national park since 2020.
Size and age
120 km² (46 sq mi)46 sq mi (120 km²) · national park since 2020
Area approx. 120 km² (check).
Why go
- Scenic multicoloured lakes and alpine meadows.
- Horse‑trek routes and hot‑spring foot soak.
- Autumn colours and fewer visitors.
When to go
- JanCaution
- FebCaution
- MarGo
- AprGo
- MayGo
- JunGo
- JulGo
- AugGo
- SepBest
- OctBest
- NovBest
- DecCaution
- JanCold, possible snow.
- FebCold, few services.
- MarEarly spring, melting snow.
- AprFlowers, mild.
- MayGreen valleys.
- JunWarm, occasional rain.
- JulSummer, bus may be crowded.
- AugSummer, possible thunderstorms.
- SepAutumn colours, clear.
- OctPeak colour, low crowds.
- NovLate colour, cool.
- DecCold, some facilities closed.
Wildlife and nature calendar
| What | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alpine meadow flora (azaleas, grasses)May–Sep | no | no | no | no | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | no | no | no |
| Forest birdsApr–Sep | no | no | no | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | no | no | 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 Kangding
Taxi to the park gate (chartered minibuses not allowed).
≈1 h
Zones and sectors
| Zone | What is there | Access |
|---|---|---|
| Park gate | Ticket office, bus loading point. | Open to visitors. |
| Mugecuo lake area | Scenic lake, hot‑spring foot‑soak, horse‑trek start. | Reachable by park bus. |
| Qisehai lake | Seven‑colour lake, walking trail from Mugecuo. | Footpath from Mugecuo lake. |
Sketch map
Take the points offline
4 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 approximate; based on Kangding centre and park maps.
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 50–80 (≈ US$7–12) | person | Check at gate; includes bus to Mugecuo lake. |
Ranges, not quotes: fees change without notice. Check with the park or your operator · checked Sep 2026.
Park entry permit or guide
Park rules
- Chartered minibuses
- Not allowed inside the park; use taxi to gate.
- Camping
- Not permitted; stay in nearby villages.
- Litter
- Carry out all rubbish.
- Fire
- Open fires prohibited.
- Hot‑spring fee
- Small charge applies for foot soak.
Where to stay
Near the park
SanDaoQiao village homestays
Family rooms, basic amenities, about 10 km (6.2 mi) from gate.Family rooms, basic amenities, about 6.2 mi (10 km) from gate.
Near the park
Kangding town
Hotels and hostels, 21 km (13 mi) away.Hotels and hostels, 13 mi (21 km) away.
Safety
Altitude and sudden weather change medium
Road bus safety 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
- Park bus provides short walks from drop‑off points.
- Steep sections near lake may be challenging for limited mobility.
Visiting lightly
- Bring your own snacks; few shops inside.
- Leave no trace; use designated paths.
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to enter Mugecuo?
Entry is about CNY 50–80 per person; the ticket includes the park bus to the lake.
What are the best hikes in Mugecuo?
Walk from Mugecuo lake to Qisehai lake (easy, 1–2 h) and the optional horse‑trek from Mugecuo (moderate, 2–3 h).
When is the best time to visit Mugecuo?
Autumn (September–November) offers clear weather and vivid lake colours with fewer visitors.
Can I camp inside the park?
No, camping is prohibited; stay in nearby villages.
Is a taxi allowed to the park?
Yes, a taxi can drop you at the gate; chartered minibuses are not permitted.
Deep dive
Every source; fees and rules change, so check before you go
Show the detailsHide
Sources
Ask about Mugecuo National Park
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