Nestled in the heart of Chongqing’s Jiangbei District, Hong’ensi Forest Park (鸿恩寺森林公园) is a sprawling oasis spanning over a thousand acres, making it the second-largest park in the city, only surpassed by the Central Park. It’s a quintessential mountainous park, characterized by undulating terrain with steep cliffs to the northwest and sloping plateaus along the southern riverbanks. At the park’s highest point, the elevation reaches 418 meters, and from the pinnacle of Hong’en Pavilion, visitors can savor panoramic views of Jiangbei District, Yubei District, Shapingba District, Yuzhong District, and the Northern New Area.
Table of Contents
- Basic Information
- Location and Transportation
- Highlights of Hong’ensi Forest Park
- Vlog about Hong’ensi Forest Park
- Useful Tips Summarized from Reviews
- Attractions near Hong’ensi Forest Park
Basic Information
| Estimated Length of Tour | 3 hours |
| Ticket Price | Free |
| Opening Hours | 8.00 – 21.30; Last admission: 21.00 |
| Telephone Number | 0086-023-67051488 |
Location and Transportation
Hong’ensi Forest Park is situated on the north bank of the Jialing River in the Jiangbei District, specifically in the Maorshi Village of the Guanyinqiao Street Subdistrict. This beautiful park is located approximately 7 kilometers away from the city center. To get there, you can choose one of the following ways:
Bus: Take bus 601, 631, or 847, and get off at Hong’ensi Park Stop (鸿恩寺公园站) to reach the east gate.
Metro: The closest metro station to Hong’ensi Forest Park is Dashiba (大石坝) on line 5. After getting out of the station from Exit 3A, walk about 1100 meters to the east to reach the west gate of the park.
Highlights of Hong’ensi Forest Park
Historical Legends
Local folklore weaves a captivating tale associated with Hong’ensi Forest Park. According to legend, during the Ming Dynasty, Emperor Jianwen, Zhu Yunwen, was overthrown by his uncle, Emperor Chengzu, Zhu Di. To escape the pursuing imperial forces, Emperor Jianwen sought refuge in the rugged terrain of Longjie Hill. When he was on the brink of despair, he was miraculously saved by 19 geese sent by Guanyin, the Goddess of Mercy. Grateful for this miraculous rescue, Emperor Jianwen’s followers secretly established a temple on the mountain, hoping for a future resurgence. To honor the geese that saved them, they named the temple “Hong’ensi,” and the main deity enshrined within is Guanyin.
Hong’en Pavilion
Situated at an elevation of around 468 meters, Hong’en Pavilion is the highest point within Hong’ensi Forest Park, surpassing the “One Tree” observation platform on Nanshan, which stands at 437.5 meters. It offers the broadest and most elevated panoramic view of the Chongqing main city area. Hong’en Pavilion is a seven-story structure covering an area of 3,400 square meters. Its architectural style draws inspiration from the traditional buildings of the Ming and Qing dynasties in the southwestern region of China. With upturned eaves, corner eave tilt, and ornamental roof ridges, the pavilion’s top two levels are covered with gilded copper tiles, while the lower five levels feature green glazed tiles.
Lush Vegetation
Hong’ensi Forest Park boasts an impressive collection of flora, featuring more than 30,000 trees, including osmanthus, ginkgo biloba, and Chinese wisteria. The park is home to over 10,000 osmanthus trees, encompassing 60 varieties, primarily the golden osmanthus, silver osmanthus, red osmanthus, and year-round osmanthus, making it a national leader in osmanthus horticulture.
The park’s terrain is intelligently utilized for ecological purposes. The northwest slope features predominantly deciduous trees and a variety of colorful foliage, covering an area of 18.4 hectares, which constitutes 23% of the park’s total area. This area serves as a vital natural habitat for wildlife and plays a crucial role in preserving the park’s ecological balance.
Vlog about Hong’ensi Forest Park
Useful Tips Summarized from Reviews
Transportation Tips: For convenience, it’s recommended to enter the park through either the East 1 Gate or East 2 Gate. Entering from the West Gate or South Gate may involve climbing a steep slope.
Evening Illumination: During the summer season, the park’s illumination typically begins around 8:00 PM, while in winter, it starts around 7:30 PM. Visitors interested in experiencing the park’s nighttime ambiance should plan their visit accordingly.
Exploring Nearby Attractions: During the daytime, visitors can explore the Jiangbei Library located within the park. This library offers a unique and enriching experience for those interested in literature and culture.
Seasonal Attractions: In spring, the park boasts beautiful displays of red plum blossoms and magnolia flowers. These attractions are spread throughout the park, with the red plum blossoms mainly concentrated along the main pathways and near the Hong’en Pavilion. Visitors can enjoy a leisurely stroll along the main pathways while admiring the blooming flowers.
Food Options: It’s important to note that there are no dining facilities inside the park. Visitors should plan to eat before entering or bring their own snacks and water. While there is a noodle restaurant near the park entrance, it’s essential to be aware of that the restaurant typically closes in the afternoon and reopens around 5:00 PM.
Entering from East Gate 1, the uphill climb is the least steep, and it takes about ten minutes to reach Hong’en Pavilion. Although East Gate 2 is the closest to Hong’en Pavilion, it requires climbing and has more forks in the path; those who enjoy hiking might choose this route.
On a weekday, there weren’t many people. I started from East Gate 1 and quickly walked along the path to reach my destination. In the afternoon, I took a stroll around, and after dinner in the evening, I came back to enjoy the night view.
In winter, the lights turn on at 7:30 PM.
In the autumn, every corner of the Hong’en Temple Forest Park is filled with fragrant osmanthus trees of various sizes. The forest coverage is quite high, and the roads are smooth, making it suitable for young children to walk. The highest point, Hong’en Pavilion, offers a great viewing platform where you can see the surrounding attractions like Zhumo Mountain (照母山), Guanyin Bridge (观音桥), Liberation Monument (解放碑), Hualong Bridge (化龙桥), Shapingba (沙坪坝), and Dashi Dam (大石坝) all at a glance. It’s a good spot for sightseeing.
We parked the car at the East Gate 1 parking lot, then walked up the steps. There was a group of ladies dancing the Baba Dance. It took us about ten minutes to walk there, and then we climbed some stairs. There were still a lot of people taking photos, and the lights came on precisely at eight in the evening. However, the weather in Chongqing was still too hot. Fortunately, the lighting was indeed quite beautiful.
It’s advisable not to go alone; the roads are quite dark at night, and there aren’t many people on the main roads when it’s time to leave, which can feel unsafe.
Hong’en Pavilion closes around 9 p.m., and security will start clearing the area at around 9:30 p.m.
Hong’en Temple Light-up Time: 8 PM
It is suggested to arrive an hour early at the third floor of Hong’en Pavilion to enjoy the scenery, which is very nice. Coming down from the top floor at 8 PM to admire the night view is recommended, as taking photos when it’s not fully dark yet looks great!
Entering through the East Gate 1, you will reach Hong’en Pavilion easily without feeling tired.
Remember to bring mosquito repellent as there are a lot of mosquitoes at Hong’en Temple, especially at night. Be mentally prepared for this.
The night view is exceptionally beautiful, with the tower looking magnificent. After climbing to the top of the tower, the panoramic view of Chongqing at night is simply stunning.
The lights are turned on at 8 p.m. If you want to capture the moment when the lights are turned on, make sure to time it right.
When visiting the Hong’en Temple from East Gate 1, the recommended route for a night climb is to follow the “Osmanthus List” to the left once inside the gate and walk along the main path in the park for about ten minutes to reach the Hong’en Pavilion.
If you only want to visit the Hong’en Pavilion, you can use navigation to find the “East Gate 2 of Hong’en Temple.” This entrance is closest to the Hong’en Pavilion, and you can park your car on the roadside. Once inside the park, it takes about 15 minutes to reach the Hong’en Pavilion, mainly uphill with stairs, but it’s relatively easy.
It is advisable to plan your time wisely. Many people mentioned that the lights would be turned on at 7:30, but in reality, it has been changed to 8 o’clock. Coming early, walking around in circles, and waiting can be a bit boring.