Qicai Forest Scenic Area is located in Datan Town, Fengning Manchu Autonomous County, Chengde City, Hebei Province. It is a national 4A-level tourist attraction and a comprehensive scenic area built in accordance with national 5A-level standards in the Bashang Grassland region. Covering an area of about 20,000 mu, the scenic area is situated in the transition zone between the Inner Mongolian Plateau and the North China Plain, with an altitude of approximately 1,500 meters. Its core feature lies in the integration of diverse natural landscapes such as grasslands, forests, lakes, and hills. The forest coverage rate is as high as 80%, and with the change of seasons, the forest vegetation presents rich colors like green, yellow, red, and orange, hence the name "Qicai Forest" (Seven-Color Forest). The scenic area is divided into two main parts: the Manchu Cultural Park and the Ecological Leisure Area, with facilities such as sightseeing buses, glass plank roads, and forest trains. Among them, the "Steps on the Treetops" (glass skywalk) is about 300 meters long, 2.6 meters wide, and about 12 meters above the ground; the total length of the wooden plank roads in the scenic area is about 5 kilometers, connecting all major scenic spots. With Manchu culture as its connotation, it integrates functions such as sightseeing, folk experience, and leisure vacation, and is a representative natural and cultural scenic area in the Bashang region.
History and Culture
This is one of the Manchu inhabited areas, carrying a profound Manchu cultural heritage. Manchu culture has developed here for hundreds of years, from the early hunting and nomadic culture to the integration with the Han and other ethnic cultures, forming a unique regional cultural system.
It was once an important part of the Qing Dynasty's "Mulan Paddock". Emperors such as Kangxi and Qianlong held autumn hunting ceremonies here, trained the Eight Banners soldiers, and received Mongolian princes, witnessing the history of national unity of "military training and pacifying vassals".
The scenic area deeply explores the local Manchu cultural resources and displays the Manchu historical stories, traditional etiquette (such as shaman sacrifice), traditional handicrafts (such as paper-cutting and embroidery), and characteristic food culture to tourists through Manchu cultural exhibition halls, live performances, and folk experience activities. For example, some traditional Manchu architectural styles are restored in the scenic area, and during festivals, Manchu wedding customs performances, horse races and other activities are held, allowing tourists to intuitively feel the charm of Manchu culture and helping the inheritance and development of traditional ethnic culture in tourism development.
Main Attractions
Manchu Cultural Exhibition Hall
The Manchu Cultural Exhibition Hall is the core area for displaying Manchu history and folk customs. There are seven sub-exhibition areas in the hall, with a total area of about 800 square meters. Through cultural relic displays, graphic introductions, and scene restorations, the exhibition hall systematically presents the origin and development of the Manchu people, traditional costumes (such as cheongsams and mandarin jackets), living environments (such as pocket houses and swastika kang), food characteristics (such as Sachima and sticky bean buns), and festival customs (such as the Banjin Festival), providing a window for tourists to gain an in-depth understanding of Manchu culture.
Colorful Pond
Colorful Pond is a general term for a string of natural lakes in the scenic area, consisting of multiple lakes of different sizes connected in series, with a total area of about 5,000 square meters. The lakes are surrounded by birch forests and larch, and the water presents colorful colors due to the reflection of surrounding vegetation and different mineral contents. Especially in autumn, the golden leaves and blue lake water set off each other, making the scenery extremely charming. There is a wooden plank road along the lake, about 800 meters long, convenient for tourists to watch.
Glass Skywalk
Spanning over the forest, it is about 300 meters long, 2.6 meters wide, and about 12 meters above the ground. The bridge deck is paved with double-layer laminated tempered glass, with a load-bearing capacity of 800 kilograms per square meter. Walking on it, tourists can overlook the grassland in the forest and look up at the blue sky and white clouds from a perspective level with the treetops. On both sides are dense birch forests and pine forests, allowing tourists to experience the excitement of the glass plank road and feel the tranquility of integrating into nature. The entire tour takes about 20 minutes.
Tianjing Lake (Sky Mirror Lake)
Tianjing Lake is an artificially built viewing lake with an area of about 3,000 square meters. The lake surface is as calm as a mirror, clearly reflecting the sky and surrounding trees. There is a wooden plank road about 500 meters long and 3 viewing platforms by the lake, as well as internet-famous water beds and other check-in facilities. In spring, wild flowers bloom by the lake; in summer, the trees are lush; in autumn, the forests are dyed in layers. It is an excellent place to take photos of the lake reflections and natural scenery.
Forest Ranch
Forest Ranch is a key area for parent-child tours, covering an area of about 100 mu. It has a variety of animals such as sika deer, camels, and goats in free-range, allowing tourists to feed and interact with them at close range. There is a children's play area in the ranch, including a 70-degree angle squirrel-themed slide, swings and other facilities. The slide is about 20 meters long, suitable for children aged 3-12. There are large lawns planted around the ranch, where you can have picnics, fly kites and other activities, full of natural wild fun.
Yunting (Cloud Pavilion)
Yunting is located on the top of a hill in the scenic area with an altitude of about 1,800 meters, with about 516 steps on the trail. Yunting is a wooden structure, about 6 meters high, covering an area of about 20 square meters. After climbing to the top, you can overlook the entire scenic area in 360 degrees. The distant grasslands and nearby forests are all in sight. On clear days, you can see mountains dozens of kilometers away. It is named "Yunting" because it is often surrounded by clouds and mist.
Jungle Tribe
This is a popular check-in spot for tourists after entering the scenic area. As soon as you step in, you can see various small amusement facilities distributed on the green grass, such as glass plank roads, jungle adventures, and slides scattered around. Next to it, a slightly curved "horse path" winds through the dense larch area. Tourists can ride horses and stroll under the leadership of the horse owners. On the left side, a wooden plank road goes straight up to the clouds, leading to the "Yunting" at an altitude of about 1,800 meters. Climbing 516 steps, you can have a panoramic view of the 10,000-mu forest and hilly grasslands, and Tianjing Lake is also faintly visible, bringing a magnificent experience of "seeing all the mountains small".
Mushroom Street
Mushroom Street is a characteristic path built with the theme of mushrooms abundant in the forest. There are exaggerated-sized mushroom sculptures, imaginative flower and grass shapes, and mushroom-shaped entertainment projects. Tourists feel as if they are shuttling into a microcosm, staying in a dreamy fairy-tale kingdom.
Tour Route
After entering the scenic area, tourists can first take the scenic area sightseeing bus (about 5 kilometers in total, 15 minutes by car) to the Manchu Cultural Exhibition Hall, visit for about 1 hour to learn about Manchu culture; then go to the Forest Ranch to interact with animals and experience children's facilities, which takes about 1.5 hours; then go to the Colorful Pond along the wooden plank road, stroll and enjoy the scenery for about 1 hour; then walk to the Steps on the Treetops to experience the glass skywalk for about 30 minutes; then go to Tianjing Lake to take photos and check in, which takes about 40 minutes; finally, choose to walk (about 3 kilometers, 1 hour) or take the sightseeing bus back to the scenic area entrance. The total tour time is about 5-6 hours. If you want to save energy, you can reduce the walking sections and take more sightseeing buses, and the whole journey is about 4 hours. It is recommended to enter the scenic area before 9 am to avoid the afternoon peak.
Travel Suggestions
- The temperature difference between day and night in the scenic area is large. Even in summer (average temperature around 16℃), you need to bring a thin coat. In autumn (temperature 8-15℃), you need to prepare a sweater or a jacket.
- The best tourist seasons are June-August (for summer resort) and September-October (for autumn scenery). In June-August, the grasslands are green and the forests are dense; in September-October, the leaves present colorful colors.
- The trails in the scenic area are long. It is recommended to wear comfortable sports shoes, and the daily walking distance is about 5-8 kilometers.
- You can carry a small amount of dry food and drinking water. The catering points in the scenic area are mainly concentrated near the entrance and the Forest Ranch, with an average consumption of about 30-50 yuan per person.
- In summer, it is necessary to take sun protection (strong ultraviolet rays) and mosquito repellent measures. You can carry sunscreen (SPF30+) and mosquito repellent.
- If you want to take beautiful photos, it is recommended to bring a camera. The light is suitable for taking photos before 10 am in autumn and in the evening in summer.
- There will be folk performances during festivals (such as summer vacation and National Day). You can check the scenic area's official website in advance to learn about the activity time and arrange your itinerary reasonably.
Matters Needing Attention
- Sharp objects are prohibited on the glass skywalk (Steps on the Treetops). Running, jumping or leaning on the guardrail on the bridge is strictly prohibited. The number of people carried at a single time does not exceed 200. You must follow the instructions of the staff.
- Smoking and littering are prohibited in the forest. Picking flowers and plants and harming wild animals are strictly prohibited. There are multiple garbage classification and recycling points in the scenic area.
- When climbing to Yunting, some sections are steep. You need to pay attention to your feet safety. It is recommended to travel with companions. The elderly and children need to be accompanied.
- Mobile phone signals are weak in some areas of the scenic area. It is recommended to keep in touch with fellow travelers and avoid acting alone. You can get a paper map at the entrance.
- If you participate in paid projects such as horse riding (price about 100 yuan/hour), you need to choose the regular operating points of the scenic area, follow the coach's guidance, and wear safety equipment.
- In winter (November to March of the next year), some roads may be icy, and the scenic area will close some attractions in a timely manner. It is recommended to consult the opening status of the scenic area in advance before traveling.
Transportation
- Self-driving: Starting from Beijing, drive along Jingcheng Expressway and Daguang Expressway, get off at Datan Town exit, then drive about 5 kilometers along the signs to reach the scenic area. The whole journey is about 280 kilometers, and the driving time is about 4 hours; starting from Chengde urban area, drive along Daguang Expressway and Capital Ring Expressway, the whole journey is about 220 kilometers, and the driving time is about 3.5 hours.
- Tourist special line: There is a tourist special line from Beijing Dongzhimen Bus Station directly to Fengning Datan Town, once a day, departing at 7 am, with a driving time of about 5 hours and a ticket price of about 100 yuan. After arriving at Datan Town, you can take a taxi (about 10 yuan) to the scenic area.
- Internal transportation of the scenic area: There are sightseeing buses in the scenic area, with a full-line pass of 50 yuan per person. You can get on and off at each scenic spot stop, and the operating time is consistent with the opening time of the scenic area.
Opening Hours
The opening hours of the scenic area are adjusted with the seasons: peak season (June 1 - October 7) is 7:30-18:00, and the last entry time is 16:00; off-season (October 8 - May 31 of the next year) is 8:30-17:00, and the last entry time is 15:00. Among them, some attractions (such as the glass skywalk and Forest Ranch) may be temporarily closed due to weather reasons from December to February of the next year. For details, please refer to the scenic area announcement.
Tickets
As of August 16, 2025, the ticket price is 118 yuan per person. You can search for the service account "七彩森林旅游" on WeChat to get the latest updates or buy tickets online.