Urban ecosystems are mainly comprised of green infrastructure, such as green spaces, parks, forests, lakes, streams, and rivers, and are relatively small in China. Although economic evaluation of urban ecosystem services has attracted wide attention, little is known about the recreation value of urban ecosystems, an important benefit of urban ecosystems. Using modern consumer choice theory, residents in the Wenjiang district and Chengdu City accepting recreation services of urban ecosystem were assessed using a face to face questionnaire survey, which asked them to express their willingness to pay (WTP) for travelling to green infrastructure in the Wenjiang district. The residents' WTP for the recreation services of the urban ecosystem and its influencing factors were analyzed using the Logit and Oprobit models, and the economic value of the recreation service was calculated by the contingent valuation method (CVM). The results showed that: (1) respondents in the Wenjiang district and Chengdu City had different average probability of payment and amount of the residents' WTP for traveling to green space, forests, lakes, and rives in the Wenjiang disrict. The average probability of respondents expressing a WTP in Chengdu City and Wenjiang district were 60.3% and 69.1%, with an average WTP of 127.1 Yuan and 142.5 Yuan per year per person, respectively. (2) The probability and amount of the residents' WTP was not only influenced by respondent's income level, but also reflected the subjective evaluation of residents for internal infrastructure services in the urban ecosystem and degree of convenience, as well as the residents' willingness for the next availability of services. However, educational level and residents' willingness of next available services had a significant negative influence on the maximum WTP, which could correspond to variation in recognition and the act of paying, as well as "pick-up" psychology. (3) Based on the maximum WTP, the value of urban ecosystem services in recreation in the Wenjiang district was approximately 410 million Yuan per year. With growing residential income and increasing demand for the recreation entertainment services, this WTP might grow in the coming years. Finally, based on the respondents stated preferences, we suggest how ecological management could be used to protect urban green spaces, and promote sustainable city development to maximize these benefits to people.