Do you love national parks? You probably know the national parks in your own country, like Yellowstone in the U.S., the Lake District in the U.K., Uluru in Australia, etc. You may have heard or been to some of the famous ones around the world, like Serengeti National Park in Tanzania. Known for outdoor recreation and preservation, breathtaking views of expansive natural areas, camping and picnic sites, and park wardens, they attract nature lovers by the thousands

China has national parks too, 225 in total! They cover both scenic and historic preservation areas. Here we concentrate on China’s top scenic national parks, featuring five chosen for outstanding scenery and reputation.

China has national parks too, 225 in total! They cover both scenic and historic preservation areas. Here we concentrate on China’s top scenic national parks, featuring five chosen for outstanding scenery and reputation.

1. Wulingyuan National Park — Zhangjiajie’s Precipitous Pillars

Wulingyuan is usually the only one of China’s national parks to make it to a top-in-the-world list. It features some awesome towering geology, alongside rich wildlife. Zhangjiajie National Forest Park makes up most of it, alongside Suoxiyu Nature Reserve. Its inspiration for the floating rocks in Avatar has added to its fame.

Popular activities: hiking, mountain climbing, photography, rafting, and Halleluyah Mountain dreams?!

Access: From Zhangjiajie take a bus or private transport 1 hour north to Wulingyuan. From there hike or take local transport on park roads.

Suitable for: able hikers, with enough to tire the fitter and more adventurous

Best time(s) to visit: October is the best month, with cooler temperatures and fall foliage; but for summer activities like rafting go in the early summer to beat the rain.

· Popularity: Expect crowding at the major view points at peak times, otherwise there’s moderate to low visitor concentration.

· Facilities: two cableways, an elevator, and electric cart; farm houses and small tourist shops provide food and snacks inside the park

· Accommodation: The best hotels are in Zhangjiajie, otherwise there are some good hotels in Suoxiyu and the west gate, but farmers’ guesthouses inside the park can be quite rudimentary.

· Days needed for a classic tour: 3 days are needed to see the main attractions in the park.

· Costs*: 4-day Discover Zhangjiajie Tour from $599

· Entry fee: about $40 (not including cableways etc. at about $8 a ride)

2. 九寨沟国家公园 - 五彩缤纷的山上湖泊

九寨沟（有九个农村的山谷）之所以出名就是因为她那高海拔村子里五光十色的湖泊，伴随着美丽的瀑布、白雪覆盖的山顶、起伏的森林和藏族人民的村庄。这是一个一流的国家公园。

常见活动项目： 徒步旅行、摄影、观赏湖景和众山在湖里的倒影。

交通： 乘坐飞机，或者从成都乘坐八小时的公共汽车，然后五十优美公里的往返公车或者徒步旅行。

适合： 对于喜欢在山路坐公车的人来说，这是很享受的。对于老练的徒步旅行者来说，到达海拔3000米的最高村庄应该不是一个问题。对大众游览者来说，那就不必紧张，轻松地旅游就行了。

最佳旅游季节： 秋天美丽的树叶在湖中的倒影是该国家公园最华丽的时候。冬季的公园并不是那么令人振奋，不推荐旅游。

注意事项： 不要在中国的国定假日到这个公园来旅游，特别不要在十月1~7日到这个公园。因为在那些时间段，太多的人来到这个公园，在这些高峰时间段，游客简直无法走动。

设施： 妥善保养的村间道路、旅店和藏民所经营的小店和简便餐厅。

膳宿： 公园内有简易的旅店，公园外有较好的酒店。

旅游所需时间： 乘坐旅游车只需一天时间，但是徒步旅行需要两天以上的时间

费用： 两天九寨沟精致游，包括黄龙，从美元一千一百十九起价。

门票： 约五十美元，不含十二美元的一张两天的公车票。

3. 广西桂林漓江国家公园 - 石灰岩风景

远超一般的风景区，不像一般的国家公园，漓江国家公园既没有入口也不收费。沿着漓江，从桂林到阳朔80公里（50英里），就是桂林漓江国家公园，沿途石灰岩丘林引发了无数诗人的诗性和画家为之而创作的图画。

主要景点： 九马壁画山、黄布溪、二十元人民币山、兴平古镇。

常见活动项目： 游艇巡游、徒步旅行、摄影、登山

交通： 从桂林乘坐漓江游轮，或者沿着漓江边上的乡间小路旅行

适合： 任何人能够乘坐游轮或者车辆来游览者奇特的石灰石山峰和漓江风景。

最佳旅游时段： 因为夏季有雾，所以雨后观赏比较好； 秋季比较干燥，天气也比较凉爽。

注意事项： 桂林漓江国家公园是一个非常受欢迎的旅游景点，每天都有极多的游船窜梭在漓江上，但是您还是可以找到相对安静的村庄和小山来欣赏当地的优雅。

设备： 旅游船在中文提供自助餐， 竹筏漂流提供从另一个角度享受漓江风光； 在桂林和阳朔不仅有当地的名餐，而且也供应西式食品，而漓江边上有农家小吃。

膳宿：在桂林和阳朔的酒店里，有各种价格房间，而在兴平和其他漓江边上的度假村的价格就相对低一些。

旅游所需时间：主要的景点需要一天时间，在桂林和阳朔的游览需要半天时间。

费用： 漓江一日游，193美元起价；桂林、阳朔三日游，269美元起价。

门票： 免费

2. Jiuzhaigou National Park — Multicolored Mountain Lakes

Jiuzhaigou (‘Nine-Village Valley’) National Park is known for its colorful lakes in high-altitude valleys, with waterfalls, snowy peaks, forested slopes, and Tibetan villages. It’s a classic national park.

· Popular activities: Hiking, photography, marveling at lakes and reflected mountains

· Access: flight or 8-hour bus ride from Chengdu; then 50 km of good park roads are plied by buses and hikers

· Suitable for: All who can tolerate mountain bus journeys will enjoy it. Altitudes over 3,000 m in the upper valleys shouldn’t trouble very fit hikers; others should be prepared to take it easy.

· Best time(s) to visit: The fall colors reflected in the lakes is when the park is at its prettiest. Winter is harsh there and travel is unadvisable.

· Popularity: Avoiding the Chinese holiday crowds (especially Oct. 1–7), when the park in overrun, it is still difficult to get away from tourists at the main speak times.

· Facilities: good valley roads, guest houses, and Tibetan-family-run shops/eateries

· Accommodation: better hotels outside the park gate; much simpler guest houses inside

· Days needed for a classic tour: 2+ days to hike the main sights, 1 day with transport

· Costs*: 2-day Essence of Jiuzhaigou Tour from $1,119 (includes Huanglong)

· Entry fee: around $50 (not including $12 for a 2-day bus pass)

3. Guilin Lijiang National Park, Guangxi — Karst Landscapes

More of a scenic area, with not much of a national park feel, the Li River National Park has no entrance and fee to get in. It covers the 80-km (50-mile) stretch of river between Guilin and Yangshuo, bounded by classic sheer karst hills, which have inspired many a poem and ink painting.

Top features: Nine Horse Fresco Hill, Yellow Cloth Shoal, 20-Yuan-Bill Hill, Xingping Ancient Town

Popular activities: cruises, hiking, photography, hill climbing

Access: from Guilin, take a Li River cruise, or visit villages along the river by mountain/rural roads

Suitable for: Anyone can take a cruise or vehicle to see this amazing limestone and water scenery.

Best time(s) to visit: summer for misty peak views after the rain; fall for drier, cooler weather

Popularity: Immensely popular, dozens of tour boats ply the river daily, but you can find quieter villages and hills to enjoy relative peace

Facilities: Cruise boats serve buffet lunches, bamboo rafts offer another way to see the river; Guilin and Yangshuo offer everything from Western food to local specialties, while farmer restaurants along the river provide simple local fare.

Accommodation: hotels in Guilin and Yangshuo are the mainstay with all price ranges, though more modest lodging is offered in Xingping and other riverside resorts

Days needed for a classic tour: 1 day for the main sights + 1/2 days to explore Guilin and Yangshuo

Costs*: Li River Cruise Day Tour from $193, 3-day Guilin and Yangshuo tour from $269

Entry fee: none

4. 漓江玉龙雪山国家公园 - 包含虎跳峡

玉龙雪山（海拔5596米，也就是18,360英尺）国家公园的西边有众所周知的虎跳峡，而公园里就有徒步旅游的小径通向那里。山上有冰川，也有小小的滑雪胜地，而长江就在北边咆哮。这是世界上最深、最壮观的山谷中的一个。

常见活动项目： 徒步旅行、摄影、观赏冰川，牦牛，和冰雪山峰、甚至可以想象老虎跳跃这个峡谷的状态

交通： 公园的大门是在漓江中心以北15公里的地方。缆车可以把你带到4500米（14,800英尺）高的冰川公园和其他的高山景点。乘坐G214公车到漓江北面40公里（25英里）去游览30公里长的虎跳峡。

适合： 峡谷中的徒步旅行对普通人来说虽然是富有艰巨性，但却是令人有很好的享受感。由于冰川公园在山顶，处于高原气候，对于体力不是很强壮的人士，需要谨慎。

最佳旅游时节： 游览雪山的最佳季节是从二月到六月。

注意事项： 整年都是游览云南的好时间，但是不要在中国的节期，游客太多，特别不要在中国国庆期间（十月1~7日）来旅游。

设施： 虎跳峡有修得很完善的小道供徒步旅行者使用，而且沿途还有很多店铺和招待所。缆车、氧气、和日常旅游设施在玉龙山都有安排。

膳宿： 不错的招待所在虎跳峡的小路边上都有，在漓江有不少好的酒店。

旅游所需时间： 到虎跳峡游览最好能有两天的时间。游览玉龙山需要一天的时间。

费用： 漓江虎跳峡精华四日游，从749美元起，也可把其中的两天改为游览虎跳峡。

门票： 玉龙山和虎跳峡需要分别的门票。玉龙山的门票是30美元，虎跳峡的门票是12美元。

4. Lijiang Yulong Xueshan National Park — with Tiger Leaping Gorge

Yulong Xueshan (‘Jade Dragon Snow Mountain’ 5,596m or 18,360 ft) National Park includes popular hiking routeTiger Leaping Gorge on its west side. The mountain has glaciers and a small ski resort, and the Yangtze thunders north in the gorge, one of the deepest and most spectacular in the world.

Popular activities: hiking, photography; viewing glaciers, yaks, and snowy peaks, imagining tigers leaping the cataract?!

Access: The gate is 15 km north of central Lijiang. Trams go up to 4,500 m (14,800 ft) where the glacier park is and to other mountain sights. Take the G214 to 40 km (25 mi) north of Lijiang to access 30-km-long Tiger Leaping Gorge.

Suitable for: The gorge hike is strenuous but enjoyable for those of normal fitness. A trip up the mountain, especially with physical exertion, should be viewed with caution, due to altitude sickness, especially at Glacier Park.

Best time(s) to visit: from February to June is the best time to visit the snow mountain.

Popularity: you can visit Yunnan all year round, but avoid the Chinese holiday crowds (especially Oct. 1–7).

Facilities: Tiger Leaping Gorge is well-developed for hiking tourists with plenty of shops and hostels. Trams, oxygen, and the usual range of day-visit facilities are available on Yulong Mountain.

Accommodation: good hostels on the gorge hiking route, and plenty of hotels in Lijiang

Days needed for a classic tour: The Tiger Leaping Gorge hike is best done over two days. Take one day to explore Jade Dragon Mountain.

Costs*: Our 4-day Lijiang and Magnificent Tiger Leaping Gorge Tour from $749 can easily be tailored to include a 2-day gorge hike.

Entry fee: The Snow Mountain and Tiger Leaping Gorge are entered separately. $30 for snow mountain (entry ticket and environmental car are included), $12 for Tiger Leaping Gorge

5. Huangshan National Park — the Legendary Yellow Mountains

Surrounded in myths of ancient immortals, the Yellow Mountains have some bizarrely charming geomorphology. Compact and complex, this National Park has it all in a small area. There are peaks to climb, gorges to hike, and ethereal sights to see.

Top features: the seas of clouds, bizarre rocks like ‘Monkey Watching the Sea’, and strange pines like Welcoming Guest Pine

Popular activities: trekking the mountain paths, photography, gazing out over the swirling mists and island-like peaks, getting up before dawn to see the sun rise

Access: 3 hours by coach from Hangzhou or 1 hour from Huangshan to the main gate; there are taxis in the park to take you to the cableways, but from there it’s by foot on narrow concrete paths and steps.

Suitable for: Avoiding the steepest climbs and the long hikes, most of the top sights are accessible even by those of low fitness.

Best time(s) to visit: Summer is best for weather, but crowded; winter beautiful and peaceful, but treacherous underfoot and closed in places. The intermediate seasons offer a compromise.

Popularity: Crowds peak in the summer, when the narrowest of passes become queuing places, as lines of tourists march up and down alternately, and Welcoming Guest Pine becomes clogged with hundreds trying to snap themselves in front of it.

Facilities: Three cableways, including Asia’s longest telpher, and a monorail provide access from every side. The mountainside is well-signed, and there are plentiful (though expensive) restaurants and shops. There’s a hot-spring spa at the mountain foot.

Accommodation: The mountain-top hotels offer everything from 4* to dorms, all at least twice the price of those at the mountain bottom. An overnight stay is recommended to catch the dawn and to save time going up and down.

Days needed for a classic tour: Typically 2 days are spent on the mountain (though 3 or 4 days are needed to see everything)

Costs*: 3-Day Yellow Mountain and Hongcun Village Tour from $529 (while there you ought to see quaintly photogenic Hongcun)

Entry fee: about $40 in peak season, $25 in low season, not including cableways or monorail.

Source: http://www.chinahighlights.com/travelguide/top-national-parks.htm

Discussion Questions:

1. If you have been to any of these parks, please describe your experience.

2. If you have not been to any of these parks, which of these or other parks would you like to visit? Why?

3. Do you think national parks are worth preserving? Why or why not?