★
Eastern Guangdong’s only national forest park, surrounded by the sea on three sides, offering views over the whole of Nan’ao Island. Its main attraction is the Yingshi Mountain cliff-carving area,…
★, Chaoshan
Key facts
- Admission
- ¥20
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Guidebook rating
- 3 / 5
From China Self Guided Travel 2025, page 2387. Open in Google Maps
About ★
Eastern Guangdong’s only national forest park, surrounded by the sea on three sides, offering views over the whole of Nan’ao Island. Its main attraction is the Yingshi Mountain cliff-carving area, with more than 1,300 calligraphy works by renowned masters carved into the rock on a grand scale. The area enjoys an oceanic climate, with mild winters and cool summers, and an annual average temperature of 21.5℃.
Tips from the guidebook
- The mountain road is long, so walking is not recommended. Driving yourself or hiring a car is advised.
Frequently asked questions
How much does ★ cost?
Admission to ★ is ¥20, as listed in the 2025 guidebook. Prices can change; check the official channel before you go.
How long should I spend at ★?
Plan on 2–3 hours for ★.
Where is ★?
★ is in Chaoshan, Guangdong Province, in the South China of China.
More places in Chaoshan
Gate of Nature
Gate of Nature sits at Qing’ao Bay and is the 11th Tropic of Cancer marker tower built in China to date. When the sun is directly overhead at the Tropic of Cancer, the shadow passes through the central tube of the sphere above and falls on the centre of the platform below. It is one of Nan’ao’s newer attractions.
Free · 1–2 hours
Nan'ao Island
Lying on the sea where Guangdong and Fujian meet, Nan’ao is made up of 23 islands, large and small, known as “the guardian of Chaoshan and the throat of Fujian and Guangdong”. Besides historic sites such as Changshanwei Battery, Zongbingfu and Xiongzhen Pass, the island also has Huanghua Mountain National Forest Park and the Qing’ao Bay tourist area.
Zongbingfu (Garrison Commander’s Office) ¥10; Qing’ao Bay free; Gold and Silver Island ¥5; Song Well ¥5 · 1–2 days
Queshi Scenic Area
Foremost of the Eight Scenic Views of Shantou and one of Guangdong’s first provincial-level scenic and historic sites, Queshi lies on the southern side of Shantou Bay. It consists of coastal terraces and 43 peaks, and combines sea, mountains, rocks, caves and human heritage. Uniquely blending grandeur, strangeness, elegance and seclusion, it has long been the first choice for visitors to Shantou, filled with rich subtropical scenery and distinctive Chaoshan charm.
Tashan Scenic Area ¥10; Yanfeng Scenic Area ¥10; combined ticket for both areas ¥15; Longquan Cave ¥6; cable car ¥50 · 1 day
Qiaolou Xiaojiao (Watchtower Dawn Bugle)
“Dawn Bugle at Qiaolou” refers to Jinxian Gate in Rongcheng District, Jieyang. The gate was first built in the Ming dynasty and is rich in legend. It is said that during the Tang and Song dynasties, seven scholars buried a stone plaque inscribed with “Jinxian Gate”, and in the Ming dynasty seven scholars who wished to build a city gate here dug it up.
Free · 15–30 minutes
Huangmanzhai Waterfall
The waterfall cluster mainly consists of Huangmanzhai Falls, Milky Way Falls and Triple-Tier Falls. The pools beneath the falls are crystal clear, and the Sea Turtle Rock and Sea Dragon Rock along the banks are lifelike.
¥120 · Half a day
Qinglan Guaijiu Valley National Geopark
Volcanic activity some 200 million years ago shaped Qinglan Guaijiu Valley, whose landscape is both strange and beautiful. Thousands of distinctive mortar-shaped potholes (shijiu hu) pock the riverbed and the undersides of its caves. Strange mortars, rocks and caves come together here, and a stroll through the valley is a constant source of wonder. The mysterious Dihe Cave (Dihe Dong) is the highlight: within it, mortars sit inside caves and caves inside mortars, and its underground river has flowed for a thousand years without drying up. The valley was also a filming location for the film “Shame Iron Fist” (《羞羞的铁拳》).
¥60 · 2 hours