Luotian Forest Park: SZ's premier provincial-level forest escape

Located in the border area between Shenzhen and Dongguan in Bao’an’s Yanluo Subdistrict, Luotian Forest Park is Shenzhen’s only forest park at the Guangdong provincial level. Spanning across Bao’an and Guangming districts, it marks the northernmost point of Shenzhen’s cross-city hiking trails.

A view from Luotian Forest Park. Photos from WeChat account “深圳派”

One of the most notable features of Luotian Forest Park is its expansive size of 576.39 hectares, which is equivalent to 13 Xiangmi Parks of Futian District, and 4.5 Shenzhen Bay Parks. The entire park has preserved its original ecosystem, with minimal artificial interference during its development. Visitors are greeted by untamed wilderness throughout the park, which is ideal for hiking, mountaineering and leisure activities.

After entering the park through its southern entrance, visitors will find the Chinese Roses Garden, where various hues of Chinese roses are in full bloom. Continuing from the garden along a hidden mountainous path though the woods, visitors will reach the entrance to the Lanfeng Viewing Platform. From there, a 10-minute walk along the hand-built path offers scenic views of the Chinese Roses Garden and the Yueliang Lake (Moon Lake).

A view from Luotian Forest Park. 

The Yueliang Lake is one of the most-visited spots in the park. Surrounded by lush trees, the tranquil lake resembles a piece of breathtaking jade. When sunlight filters through gentle breezes, the lake’s surface shimmers beautifully. The lakeside lawn is expansive and open, making it a perfect spot for picnics, camping, or simply unwinding by lying down. Visitors can enjoy solitude on the lawn, reading a book and savoring their food without being disturbed by others, as the park remains relatively undiscovered.

Within the park stands a 60-year-old banyan tree, planted by a park ranger when it was a young sapling. Known as the “Tree of Time,” it has now grown into the park’s “guardian,” silently witnessing the passage of years.

The park features multiple hiking and country trails, as well as cycling paths that invite visitors to explore the park on foot, or by bike. Loop trails at the foothills and mid-mountain areas are suitable for cycling and hiking.

A view from Luotian Forest Park. 

Currently, the park’s cycling paths total 10 kilometers, divided into two routes: a one-way cycling segment along Shenlin Road, and a two-way cycling route along Fenglin Road.

The gentle and well-maintained mountain loop trail is a classic route popular among visitors, while the Fenglin Country Trail leads to a stone stairway that ascends to the mountaintop observation tower.

Upon reaching the observation tower at the highest peak, the view suddenly expands to reveal lychee groves.

How to get there:

Metro: Line 6 or 11 to Songgang Station (松岗站), Exit E, and take a taxi to the park

Driving: Navigate to “罗田森林公园停车场”(Luotian Forest Park parking lot)