Longbei Mountain Forest Park is back, and I really don’t recommend going in August because it’s just too amazing!

Tickets: Free! No reservation needed (only Wenfeng Tower climbing costs 10 yuan). Opening hours: 5:00 AM - 8:30 PM (in summer, you can enter as early as 5 AM, night tours are fantastic). Transportation: Drive and navigate to "Longbei Mountain Yangxian Gate" (main gate parking lot 5 yuan/day, new energy vehicles park free for 2 hours). Bus: Routes 106, 107, 109 go directly to "Forest Park West Station." 🚶‍♀️ Two must-do routes 1️⃣ Parent-child nature classroom route (3 hours · easy and not tiring) Route: Yangxian Gate → Cuihu Lake → Azalea Garden → Forest Trail → Dutch Windmill Lawn. Activities: Cuihu Lake boating: Electric boat 30 yuan/hour, feeding koi + cooperative paddling is super healing. Azalea Garden treasure hunt: In May-June, find the "Tiger Shrike" in the purple flower sea (bring your own binoculars!). Forest Trail: 1.5 km colorful non-slip path, with animal science boards and leaf rubbing walls along the way. Lawn picnic: Spread a picnic mat in the Dutch Windmill area, DIY rice balls + fruit skewers, kids can run wild without stress. 2️⃣ Photography power walk route (4 hours · blow up your social media) Route: Yangxian Gate → Artificial Waterfall → Wenfeng Tower → Dawn Redwood Forest → Inkstone Pool. Photo spots: Artificial waterfall group: Shoot at 6:30 AM! 178 meters of four waterfalls + bamboo forest waterfall viewing pavilion, full fairy filter effect. Wenfeng Tower top: 10 yuan to climb the 108-meter tower, 360° view of Yixing city + distant Taihu Lake (a must on sunny days). Dawn Redwood Forest reflection: Mirror lake + straight dawn redwoods, wear a white dress for forest-style photos. Inkstone Pool blue waves: Ancient-style pavilions + rippling water surface, Hanfu enthusiasts will feel like gods here. 🌟 Hidden activities + seasonal specials Free bonus: Collect 10 types of fallen leaves → exchange for forest postcards at the visitor center. Book the "Little Forest Ranger" activity (3 days in advance! Plant trees + insect observation with kids). Night-only: September-November "Glowworm hike": Rent reflective vests to explore the firefly forest. First Saturday of every month: Stargazing night under Wenfeng Tower (astronomical telescope open). Seasonal specials: April-May: Wisteria tunnel + 50,000 azalea flowers (wear light-colored clothes for photos!). September-October: Osmanthus garden aroma SPA + chestnut picking (pick up bamboo baskets at the entrance). December-February: Rime forest + snow treasure hunt (non-slip shoes essential). 🍜 Foodie radar + accommodation Snacks inside the park: Bamboo Forest Tea Bar: Bamboo tube rice + osmanthus lotus root starch soup (25 yuan per person). At the playground entrance: Cherry blossom ice cream truck (top-tier aesthetics). Nearby food: Main gate farmhouse: Black rice with sugar + stewed bamboo shoots with salted meat (50 yuan per person). West Heng Street night market: Xuxingji hand-pulled noodles + Heqiao dried tofu (the chili sauce is amazing!). Accommodation recommendations: Top choice for families: Tent camp inside the park (barbecue + stargazing allowed). Luxury vacation: West Bank Huangchuan Hotel (10-minute walk, full of design flair). ⚠️ Hard-earned tips Mosquito protection! Mosquito protection! Mosquito protection! Mosquitoes are fierce near the dawn redwood forest and ponds, bring mosquito repellent. Transportation tools: Rent electric scooters 60 yuan/hour (best for families with kids). Family bicycles 100 yuan/hour (ride freely on the lawn area). Safety tips: No entry to creek areas deeper than 30 cm, children should wear GPS watches. Avoid the "Despair Slope" trail on rainy days (slippery bluestone slabs). Photography tips: Enter before 6:30 AM to shoot morning mist waterfalls + Tyndall light through the bamboo forest. Wenfeng Tower is backlit in the afternoon, better to climb in the morning. This guide is for reference only.