Saihanba National Forest Park

Saihanba National Forest Park

Saihanba National Forest Park is a national AAAA-level tourist attraction and a national forest park.

Saihanba National Forest Park is the largest forest park in northern China, located in the Bashang area of Chengde. During the Qing Dynasty, it was part of the famous imperial hunting ground "Mulandian," also known as the Mulan Hunting Ground. The forest park covers a total area of 410,000 mu, including 1.06 million mu of forest landscape, 200,000 mu of grassland landscape, and a forest coverage rate of 75.2%.

Saihanba National Forest Park is located in the northern part of Weichang County, Chengde City, bordering Hexigten Banner of the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region to the north. It is 240 kilometers from downtown Chengde and 460 kilometers from Beijing. As part of the Qing Dynasty’s imperial hunting ground — the Mulan Hunting Ground — it spans a total area of 1.41 million mu, with elevations ranging from 1,100 meters to 1,940 meters. The area features a cold temperate monsoon climate, with cool summers where temperatures generally do not exceed 25°C. The region boasts a rich diversity of flora and fauna, suitable for both sightseeing and hunting. The park is divided into six major types of landscapes and is hailed as “the source of water, the homeland of clouds, the world of flowers, the ocean of forests, and a paradise for leisure and vacation.” It is recognized as a national first-class tourism resource, distinguished by its “ecology, royalty, and folk culture.”

The area lies at the junction of the Inner Mongolia Plateau and the mountainous regions of northern Hebei, featuring complex terrain and vegetation. Mountain plateaus complement each other; rolling hills and grassy plains stretch as far as the eye can see; rivers and lakes are scattered like stars; and forests and grasslands intertwine. Especially spectacular is the vast expanse of ... seamlessly integrated with large areas of natural grassland, creating a magnificent and beautiful scene. The Manchu, Mongolian, and Han peoples live together here, their cultures blending to create a rich ethnic atmosphere. Visitors can enjoy Manchu and Mongolian cuisine, participate in traditional ethnic activities, and explore cultural tourism.

Park Honors

In 1999, Saihanba National Forest Park was designated as an “Ecotourism Demonstration Zone” by the Hebei Provincial Government, and the provincial forestry bureau established the “Hebei Forestry Hard Work and Entrepreneurship Model Education Base” here. In 2002, it was successively named a “National Ideological Education Base” by the Central State Organs Work Committee and a “Model Education Base for Rebuilding Beautiful Mountains and Rivers” by the State Forestry Administration. In the same year, it passed the inspection of the National Tourism Administration and joined the ranks of AAAA-level tourist attractions. Saihanba has become an important showcase of Hebei Province's forestry. In 2003, it was named an “Hebei Youth Ecological Environment Education Base” by the Communist Youth League Hebei Provincial Committee and the Hebei Provincial Environmental Protection Bureau. In 2005, during the “China-Foreign Tourism Brand Promotion Event” jointly organized by the All-China Federation of Industry and Commerce Tourism Chamber of Commerce, Asia-Pacific Tourism Federation, World Overseas Chinese Tourism Cooperation Organization, and Capital Tourism Group Research Institute, it was selected and promoted as China’s Best Forest Park. In 2006, the park was awarded the title of “National Patriotic Exemplary Advanced Unit” by the China Patriotic Engineering Federation and named a “Civilized Scenic Tourism Area” by Chengde City. It also received a silver award in the “50 Places in China Most Worth Visiting for Foreigners” selection. In 2007, it was rated as a “Trustworthy Tourist Attraction” and the “Most Beloved Charming Scenic Spot” by the Hebei Provincial Tourism Bureau. It ranked among the top 50 in the “Top 100 Self-Drive Tourism Destinations in China,” made the “Golden Top Ten” list through online voting on the China Forestry Network, and was rated a “Five-Star Forest Park” by the Hebei Provincial Forestry Bureau. In 2008, the park was honored as “China’s Best Tourism Brand Scenic Area,” in 2009 it received titles such as “The 30 Most Beautiful Scenes in Hebei,” “China’s Best Cultural Tourism Destination,” and “China’s Star Tourism Destination,” and in 2010 it was awarded the title of “Hebei Quality Trustworthy 5A-Level Brand Enterprise.”

Historical Culture

Historically, Saihanba was a natural royal garden known for its abundant water, lush forests, and thriving wildlife. During the Liao and Jin dynasties, it was called the “Thousand Li Pine Forest” and served as an imperial hunting ground. In 1681, after quelling the Rebellion of the Three Feudatories, Emperor Kangxi of the Qing Dynasty toured the frontier and was drawn to this piece of Mongolian grazing land in southern Mongolia. It was strategically located “to the south guarding the capital and to the north controlling the northern desert,” with rugged mountains and moderate distance. Leveraging the ancient imperial tradition of seasonal hunting — “Spring Hunt, Summer Shoot, Autumn Hunt, Winter Hunt” — Kangxi aimed to train the combat effectiveness of the Manchu Eight Banners, implement a conciliatory policy to pacify the Mongols, curb Russian aggression in the northern frontier, and maintain the unity of the multi-ethnic state. Under the pretense of local tribes “presenting pastures, opening sacred hunting grounds, and conducting annual autumn hunts,” he established the “Mulan Hunting Ground” and instituted the “Mulan Autumn Hunt” as a ancestral tradition. Historians refer to it as “training troops to appease vassals.” According to historical records, as an imperial hunting ground in the frontier, the Mulan Hunting Ground held 105 “Mulan Autumn Hunts” over 139 years from the 20th year of Kangxi’s reign to the 25th year of Jiaqing’s reign. It left behind historical relics on the Saihanba Plateau such as Bright Soldiers Platform, General’s Paozi, Twelve United Camps, North Sai Buddha Stone Temple, Qianlong Tiger Killing Cave, Cuihua Palace, and Kouken Tomb, along with many beautiful legends.

Natural Scenery

The greatest beauty of Saihanba lies in its ecology, and its most distinctive feature is its forest-grassland landscape. With ever-changing scenery throughout the four seasons, it is known as “the source of rivers, the homeland of clouds, the world of flowers, and the ocean of forests.”

This is the Source of Rivers. The area’s lush forest vegetation nurtures numerous rivers, lakes, swamps, and wetlands. There are six major rivers, among which the Tulin River and Yin River are key sources of the Luan River and Liao River — two important waterways in North China and Northeast China. There are also major lakes such as Qixing Lake, Taifeng Lake, Moon Lake, and Sun Lake, as well as vast swamps and wetlands. The rivers in Saihanba are sweet and clear, while the lakes shimmer beautifully, truly showcasing the beauty of water in its abundance, clarity, tranquility, and softness.

This is the Homeland of Clouds. The skies of Saihanba are high and the air is fresh, especially in autumn when the azure sky is dotted with white clouds, just as beautiful as the Tibetan Plateau. Sometimes the clouds are close, floating right above your head, making the sky feel low and within reach. Other times they are far away, hanging at the horizon, visible only when you look up. Sometimes they cover the sky in thin layers, sometimes forming fluffy clusters in one corner. They may be pure white like cotton, fiery red, gauzy thin, or thick as a mountain — resembling peaks or waves, taking on countless shapes, drifting or lingering, bringing peace and joy to the soul.

This is the World of Flowers. In summer, Saihanba becomes a natural botanical garden. The most stunning are the golden sheets of blooming globeflowers in the marshes, swaying with the wind in brilliant yellow. There are also bright red wild lilies, pure yellow wild poppies, pale purple wild chrysanthemums, purple copper trumpets, snow-white hogfennel, blue-purple willow blues, dove blues, and pink-white dried branch plum blossoms... Countless wildflowers of various kinds bloom vibrantly across the mountains and meadows, presenting endless splashes of color and beauty.

This is the Ocean of Forests. Saihanba National Forest Park covers a total area of 1.426 million mu, with 1.1 million mu of forested land. The forest is mainly composed of larch, Scots pine, and spruce, along with birch, mountain poplar, oak, and maple. From a high vantage point, the endless forests undulate with the mountains, resembling rolling green waves. The contiguous millions of mu of forest form a vast sea of green, majestic and spectacular.

Saihanba also features vast grasslands and flat clearings among the woods, filled with fragrant grasses and vibrant blooms. In spring, Saihanba melts into new greens as snow and ice recede. In summer, it becomes a vast green carpet embroidered with flowers and trees, like a naturally woven tapestry. In autumn, the blue skies, white clouds, lake reflections, and colorful forests create a rich palette. In winter, the land is blanketed in snow and ice, with silver-coated pines and hidden wildlife, offering endless charm.

The air in Saihanba is fresh and the climate cool, with average summer temperatures around 25°C and a maximum rarely exceeding 30°C. The park is home to a variety of wildlife, including river deer, roe deer, deer, wolves, wild boars, foxes, leopards, rabbits, pheasants, and various bird species. It also produces precious natural green foods such as mushrooms and fiddlehead ferns. Saihanba National Forest Park is a rare destination for wildlife viewing, grassland exploration, escaping the heat, and reconnecting with nature.