Chenzhou grassland summer escape guide
Chenzhou Yangtian Lake grassland guide
✅ Overview
Yangtian Lake grassland (4A), located in Yangtian Lake Yao ethnic township, Beihu district, Chenzhou, Hunan, at an altitude of 1,314 m. It is the largest highland grassland in South China, known as the southern Hulunbuir. The core features include the volcanic crater Yangtian Lake, rolling meadows, white windmills, Hobbit houses, and the filming location for "Chinese Restaurant 6." The average summer temperature is about 20℃, making it an excellent spot for summer escape and watching the sea of clouds and sunset.
· Open: 9:00 AM–5:00 PM, last entry at 5:00 PM; open from April to December, closed from January to April for maintenance; occasional night events and bonfires on Fridays, Saturdays, and holidays
🎫 Tickets (2026 reference)
· Adult on-site ticket: 120 CNY; online advance booking 1 day ahead about 108–110 CNY; includes sightseeing bus, which is a must for the full route as hiking is very tiring
· Half price: students, seniors aged 60–64 pay 60 CNY; free admission for children under 1.2 m, seniors 70+, military personnel, and others
· Additional expenses inside the park: horseback riding, feeding deer/alpacas, grass sledding, small train, about 30–80 CNY per activity
🚗 Transportation (from Shenzhen + local)
1. Self-driving (highly recommended, Shenzhen → about 4.5 hours)
Navigation: Yangtian Lake grassland scenic area; take Xuguang Expressway, exit at Linwu/Yingchun (avoid Yizhang/Meitian due to narrow roads and traffic jams); mountain roads have many sharp turns and 72 bends, beginners should drive carefully, bring motion sickness medicine, check brakes; parking costs about 10–20 CNY per day
2. High-speed rail + shuttle
Shenzhen North → Chenzhou West station (about 1.5 hours)
· 832 tourist shuttle: about 10 CNY, 1.5 hours direct to the scenic area, limited trips, last bus is early, watch return times
· Carpool: about 50–60 CNY per person from the west station exit; renting a car for 4 people is more cost-effective, round trip 200–300 CNY, convenient for mountain roads
🌿 Suggested itinerary (3–4 hours highlights)
Take the sightseeing bus at the entrance → Yangtian Lake lakeside trail (mirror lake, windmill reflections) → Hobbit colorful houses (photo spot) → petting zoo (deer, alpacas) → windmill viewing platform → mountaintop meadow to watch sunset and sea of clouds; enter before 9:00 AM or after 4:00 PM for better light, fewer people, and to avoid strong sun
⏰ Best season
· May–June: grass is greenest, high chance of sea of clouds, fewer visitors, best for photos
· July–August: lush midsummer, music festivals/bonfires, good for summer escape but rainy, foggy, poor visibility, heavy holiday traffic
· September–October: golden meadows, stunning windmill sunsets, large temperature differences
⚠️ Tips and reminders
1. Weather matters most: only clear days are worth it! Rain or heavy fog means a whiteout with no view of the grassland or windmills, so don’t go for nothing; it’s windy and cool on the mountaintop with big temperature swings, bring a light jacket, sun hat, sunglasses, and strong UV protection
2. What to wear: light white, light blue, or red long dresses stand out better against the green; comfortable sneakers for walking on grassy slopes and trails
3. Arrive early on holidays to avoid 10:00 AM–3:00 PM peak traffic jams; signal is weak, download offline maps in advance
4. Combine with Chenzhou Dongjiang Lake (foggy Little Dongjiang) for a classic 2-day trip