Japan, South Korea and Taiwan charge nothing to enter their national parks. China charges a lot: the four-day ticket for Wulingyuan runs about 225 yuan in peak season, and Jiuzhaigou and Huangshan each cost close to 200 yuan before buses and cable cars. That contrast sums up the region: free, lived-in landscapes with towns and onsen in Japan and Korea, and gated, engineered scenic areas with glass walkways and cliff elevators in China.
The headline parks are Zhangjiajie National Forest Park’s sandstone pillars, the blue lakes of Jiuzhaigou and Huangshan’s granite peaks and cloud seas; Japan’s Fuji-Hakone-Izu, the Northern Alps and wild Shiretoko; Korea’s Seoraksan; Taiwan’s Taroko and Yushan; and the open desert of Gobi Gurvansaikhan in Mongolia.
Access is easy almost everywhere except Mongolia, and the crowds are the real challenge. Autumn, from late September to November, is the best season across the region.
At a Glance#
- China’s icons: sandstone pillars at Zhangjiajie, lakes and falls at Jiuzhaigou and Huanglong, and granite peaks at Huangshan.
- Japan: Mount Fuji and Hakone, Kamikochi in the Alps, and Hokkaido’s Daisetsuzan and Shiretoko.
- Korea: granite ridges at Seoraksan, Bukhansan on Seoul’s edge, and Hallasan on Jeju.
- Taiwan: the marble gorge of Taroko, partly closed since 2024, and Yushan, the highest peak in Northeast Asia.
- Mongolia: dunes and canyons in Gobi Gurvansaikhan, wild takhi horses in Khustain Nuruu and the lake at Khuvsgul.
- Fees: free in Japan, Korea and Taiwan; about 190 to 225 yuan for China’s big parks, plus buses and cable cars.
China#
Wulingyuan in Hunan has more than 3,000 quartz-sandstone pillars, many over 200 m tall, and Zhangjiajie National Forest Park is its best-known section. One ticket, about 225 yuan (31 USD) in peak season, covers four days and the park’s free shuttle buses; the Bailong Elevator up the cliff costs extra. Plan two full days, and add Tianmen Mountain next to Zhangjiajie city.
Jiuzhaigou in northern Sichuan is a valley of turquoise lakes and waterfalls below Tibetan villages. From April to mid-November the entrance is 190 yuan plus a compulsory 90 yuan bus; tickets are sold in advance by passport name, with a daily cap. Huanglong nearby has terraced calcite pools. Huangshan in Anhui has granite peaks, twisted pines and seas of cloud; entry is about 190 yuan in peak season, cable cars 80 to 100 yuan each way, and staying on the summit for sunrise is the classic plan.
Further south, Wuyishan in Fujian mixes red cliffs, bamboo-raft rides on the Nine Bend River and rock tea, and Lushan in Jiangxi is a misty summer retreat. Tiger Leaping Gorge in Yunnan is the best two-day hike in the country. More in China national parks.
Japan#
Japan’s 35 national parks have towns, onsen and shrines inside them, and none charges entry. Fuji-Hakone-Izu is the easy one from Tokyo: lakes, ropeways and Fuji views in Hakone, and the climb up Mount Fuji from July to 10 September, which costs 4,000 yen (about 27 USD) and needs an online booking. Kamikochi, a car-free valley in the Northern Alps, is the start of the country’s best mountain walking, and Nikko combines waterfalls and Lake Chuzenji with shrines.
In Hokkaido, Daisetsuzan has the earliest autumn colours in Japan, from mid-September, and long hut-to-hut traverses. Shiretoko has one of the densest brown bear populations in the world; boat cruises from Utoro run along the cliffs from late April to October, and drift ice reaches the coast in February and March. Kushiro-shitsugen is a vast marsh where red-crowned cranes gather in winter. In the far south, Yakushima is a rain-soaked island of moss and ancient cedars. More in Japan’s national parks.
South Korea#
Korea’s 23 national parks are free to enter and very busy on autumn weekends. Seoraksan, near Sokcho on the east coast, has granite spires, the Ulsanbawi ridge and a cable car, and turns red and gold in mid-October. Bukhansan is reachable by subway from Seoul. Jirisan has the highest peak on the mainland and a multi-day ridge traverse with shelters.
On Jeju, Hallasan (1,947 m) is a long day hike to the crater at the top; both summit trails need a free advance reservation and have midday cutoff times. More in National parks in South Korea.
Taiwan#
Taroko National Park is a marble gorge cut by the Liwu River. The April 2024 Hualien earthquake caused large rockfalls, and many of the classic trails were still closed in 2026, so check the park website before you go. Yushan National Park holds Yushan (3,952 m), the highest peak in Northeast Asia, a two-day climb via Paiyun Lodge; you need a park permit, and lodge beds are allocated by online lottery weeks ahead. Yangmingshan on the edge of Taipei has hot springs and volcanic vents, and Kenting has coral coast. See National parks in Taiwan.
Hong Kong#
About 40% of Hong Kong is country park. Dragon’s Back is a two to three-hour ridge walk ending at the beach at Shek O, Lantau Peak is the big climb, and the Sai Kung peninsula has volcanic columns and empty beaches. See Hong Kong country parks.
Mongolia#
Gobi Gurvansaikhan is Mongolia’s largest park: the Khongoryn Els singing dunes and the narrow ice canyon of Yolyn Am, with the Flaming Cliffs, where dinosaur eggs were first found, just to the north. Most people visit on a five to eight-day jeep tour from Ulaanbaatar, sleeping in ger camps. Khustain Nuruu, two hours from the capital, is where Przewalski’s horses (takhi) were reintroduced, and Gorkhi-Terelj is an easy weekend of rock formations and horse riding. In the north, Khuvsgul protects a huge clear lake. Small park fees are collected at the gates; check the current amounts with your tour operator.
When to go#
Autumn is the best season across the region: mid-September in Hokkaido, October in Korea and the Japanese Alps, and October to early November in central China. Spring brings cherry and azalea blossom. Summer is hot and humid with typhoons in the south, but it is the only season for Fuji, the high Alps, Yushan and Mongolia (June to September). Avoid China’s national holidays, especially the first week of October, when the big parks hit their daily caps.
In China, book park tickets a week or more ahead through the official WeChat mini-programs or Trip.com, using your passport number, and bring the same passport to the gate.
Best national parks in East Asia#
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More Things to Do#
East Asia national parks FAQs#
What is the most famous national park in East Asia?
Zhangjiajie National Forest Park in China, whose sandstone pillars inspired the floating mountains in Avatar. Jiuzhaigou, Huangshan and Mount Fuji are close behind.
Do national parks in Japan and Korea charge entry?
No. Every national park in Japan, South Korea and Taiwan is free to enter. You pay for buses, cable cars, huts and a few conservation fees, such as 4,000 yen to climb Mount Fuji.
How much does Zhangjiajie cost?
About 225 yuan in peak season for a four-day ticket covering Zhangjiajie National Forest Park and the rest of Wulingyuan, with shuttle buses included. The Bailong Elevator and cable cars cost extra.
Do I need a permit to climb Yushan?
Yes. You need a Yushan National Park entry permit, and beds at Paiyun Lodge are allocated by online lottery, so apply weeks in advance with backup dates.
When is the best time to visit national parks in East Asia?
Autumn, from mid-September in Hokkaido to early November in central China, for clear skies and leaf colour. Avoid Chinese public holidays, when the big parks reach their daily visitor caps.
Is Taroko Gorge open?
Partly. The April 2024 earthquake closed much of the gorge road and many trails, and sections have reopened in stages. Check the national park’s website for the current list before you go.