Dalian Jinlong Temple National Forest Park

Dalian Jinlong Temple National Forest Park

Dalian Jinlong Temple National Forest Park is a cultural tourism attraction and a national-level forest park.

Dalian Jinlong Temple National Forest Park is situated at the junction of Yingchengzi Town and Hongqi Town in Ganjingzi District, Dalian, about 25 kilometers from the city center. It spans 21.38 square kilometers and is classified as a national-level forest park. The park boasts rolling mountains, dense woodlands, abundant peculiar rocks, and verdant grass, with a vegetation coverage rate exceeding 94%. It is home to 72 plant families, 296 genera, and 757 species, as well as over 30 animal varieties, making it an ecological tourism destination that integrates travel, leisure, scientific exploration, and physical fitness. The park officially opened at the end of May 2002.

Dalian Jinlong Temple National Forest Park is divided into ten major scenic areas. Chengshan Mountain, standing at 406 meters, offers views of historical sites such as ancient city walls. Among them, Fenghuangshan Scenic Area has an elevation of 381 meters, while Longshan Scenic Area reaches 406 meters. From these peaks, visitors can enjoy panoramic views of the Bohai Sea to the north, the Yellow Sea to the south, and the skyscrapers of downtown Dalian to the east. The forest in Jinlong Temple National Forest Park is dense and rich in plant resources, with a total of 112 plant families, 296 genera, and over 700 species. The forest coverage rate is as high as 92%. Major forest types include black pine forests, Chinese red pine forests, Japanese red pine forests, black locust forests, Liaoning oak forests, mixed coniferous and broadleaf evergreen forests, and deciduous forests. The park also features numerous century-old trees, making it a rare and precious secondary natural forest in the Liaodong Peninsula. Additionally, vine landscapes typically found in southern China thrive here with remarkable vitality. The park is abundant in uniquely shaped, lifelike rocks. There are two man-made lakes within the park: Jinlong Lake and Lingjiao Lake, covering a combined area of 3.3 square kilometers, which offer a variety of water-based recreational activities. Beneath Jinlong Lake lies a large fishing pond for visitors to enjoy angling. The park also houses three temples: the North Temple, Jinlong Temple, and Niangniang Temple. Though some are now only ruins or relatively small in scale, each is steeped in beautiful legends. On Chengshan Mountain, there are remnants of ancient stone city walls stretching over 160 meters. The park was also a battlefield during the Russo-Japanese War, with visible remnants of trenches from that era. Special areas have been designated for hunting and forest animal breeding zones within the park, spanning 202.7 hectares and 105.6 hectares respectively.

Dalian Jinlong Temple National Forest Park is rich in biological resources, with wild fruits abundant throughout and habitats suitable for larger animals such as roe deer, roe, and wild boar. The forest is home to dozens of bird species, including common ones like pheasants, turtle doves, magpies, and eagles. The site has been approved by China’s National Forestry Administration as a development area for the Dalian International Hunting Ground. The park is scattered with over 30 peculiar rock formations, and its natural secondary forests feature diverse and vivid shapes—such as Xuanzang Worshiping Buddha, Dog Head Rock, Lion Guarding the Pass, Thousand Buddha Cliff, Maitreya Buddha, Golden Turtle Gazing at the Sea, Heavenly Dog Eating the Moon, Zhong Kui Rock, and Welcoming Stone.

In spring, Dalian Jinlong Temple National Forest Park is covered with blooming mountain flowers; in summer, its dense foliage provides cool shade; in autumn, the hills are ablaze with red leaves; and in winter, the landscape transforms into a snowy forest sea. The mountain valley's artificial lake ripples gently, reflecting the surrounding landscape and showcasing its charm. The forest is dotted with peculiar rocks, each telling ancient stories that spark the imagination. Wild animals often roam the woods, playing and chasing one another, creating a vivid scene of returning to nature that captivates and enchants visitors.

Dalian Jinlong Temple National Forest Park is not only a beautiful backyard garden for the city of Dalian but also a newly developed tourist destination in the suburbs, ideal for outdoor forest bathing and sightseeing.