Spatial planning of national parks in China

National park is one of the most important types of natural protected area in China, and also the main body of natural protected area system. The planning of spatial distribution of national parks is the key to establishing the natural protected area system. In this paper, we list national parks arrangement principles, important bases and expected goals in the first place, and then put forward the selection method of "from assessment regions via alternative regions to the candidate regions". Meanwhile, we analyze the spatial distribution of 52 candidate regions of national parks, and also explore their planning and construction in different stages. Our research would provide theoretical basis and technical guidance for China′s national park construction, and also promote the planning and construction of the natural protected area system.