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JinYueTan

Well this is much more than a park - more like a nature reserve. And so there is a fee of 30 yuan to enter. There is a Tourist Service Centre near the main entrance but this time they had no English park maps, only Chinese - in fact the center had nothing for foreign visitors.

But the park is huge and has so much to see and do, and I suppose not knowing what to expect is part of the fun. So I will tell you only about some of the main attractions and let you find all the others for yourself.

It has many touristy areas and loads of remote parts where you can find peace and quiet.

It has chair lifts and a downhill sled-like rail that are both quite good fun. People picnic all over the place. 

The biggest attraction is the big bell that you can make sing with a big wooden mallot - the queues are not that bad.

There aren't many places to eat but there are a few but they are very basic - so bring your own is my advice.

There are all sorts of bikes for hire that are a good deal if you want to explore lots of this park in one visit. The further you get the less people you meet. I have seen many parts but I have so much more to discover.

For me and my family we visit regularly and manage to find something new and different each time and prefer the quieter regions. Thomas too prefers to be in the forest or chasing butterflies or trying to catch a dragonfly.

This time I visited the big Temple that I didn't know was there and only found because I went for a stroll while the rice was being cooked in a little restaurant nearby - my wife Mary was hungry and took a chance.

It has quite an impressive building and it isn't too busy. I didn't go inside as I see how much this temple means to the Chinese visitors but I think you can enter if you want. Outside there was more than enough for me to enjoy and photograph.

It was one of the nicest temples I have visited.

There are many lakes with many boats and boat trips available. The bird life and wild life in general is very disappointing, it's one area that has to be improved and I'm sure they are already looking into it.

There are many other areas further out that do have deer and the like but you need to catch an additional bus or have transport to reach them or really like walking. This is what I call the real JinYueTan and I love getting lost in there but that is for another report.

Photos taken by Steve Mellow.

At a different time, autumn and it shows   the park in different light plus they are all wrapped up well.

These photos really add to showing the beauty of the magnificent park. 

Just look at these trees. It just makes me want to go there right now.

The lake at this part of the park is particularly beautiful and a popular spot for wedding photographs.

A great friend form the past, Alice, now married and living in Japan.

Miss you Alice.

You have to rest every now and then as this park is vast and varied. Almost too much to see and experience.

And finally Steve himself. Must have been taken early on as he looks fresh and somehow younger.

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Comment by Przemyslaw (Murin) Murzyn on January 9, 2014 at 22:14

JinYueTan in winter: Great art out of snow. Price is 30 RMB entrance to the park. 10 RMB bus that will take u to that area. and 30 RMB entrance to the area where all the snow sculptures are. Except that u can do Snowmobiling (which is quite expensive 260 RMB for 10 min) Horse Drawn Sleigh, Dog Drawn Sleigh and many more (these are around 50 RMB per ride) this place is located next to the ski slope

Comment by The Choonies on June 22, 2012 at 18:18

Photos taken by Steve Mellow.

At a different time, autumn and it shows   the park in different light plus they are all wrapped up well.

These photos really add to showing the beauty of the magnificent park. 

Comment by The Choonies on June 20, 2012 at 23:07

Taxi is about 40 yuan. There are buses too. If you go with a few people the taxi option is not too bad. Also my preferred way is by light rail - which is really cheap and takes you right to the main entrance. The light rail line is all over so there should be a station not too far from you.

Comment by The Choonies on June 7, 2012 at 6:47

Thanks but I just don't think I do justice to this fastastic place.

I discussed with young Richard as I wish we could have an open place for all and we decided that each park should be a separate page to the right and general  comments in the center. It a slow process as pictures can only be added one at a time in a comment window but I have a few ideas to improve the method I'm using just need some time to try them out - I'm flat out on so many projects at the moment. Cartoon exhibition amazing by the way.

Comment by Richard Roman on June 6, 2012 at 23:40

Awesome! Thanks Mr Choonie!

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