Attractions in Changbaishan: Changbai Waterfall Changbaishan Canyon Hot springs The "Below Ground" Forests The Heavenly Lake (Tianchi)

Changbaishan Introduction

Changbaishan, approximately translating as Ever White Mountain, is generally acknowledged as the most famous mountain in Dongbei. The mountain rises in the northern part of Jilin's Antu County, and it gradually extends southwards towards a merging with the not easily locatable North Korean border.

This area was formerly considered a holy land by the imperial Qing dynasty, a Manchu family, since the region has long been considered the cradle of the Manchurian people. It has also long had a relationship with the Koreans, and the big Korean Minority population here highlights this. During the Japanese occupation of North Korea, the Commander and President of North Korea, Kim Il Sung, hid in this mountainous region with his guerilla troops, in similar circumstances to his French counterpart Charles De Gaulle.

The mountain itself is a dormant volcano that has erupted three times since the sixteenth century and attractions here are mostly all related to these geographical movements. The beauty of this region is in its cold, bleak scenery and in the impressiveness of statistics seen in reality: the highest peak here (Baitou shan) is at a huge 2744 meters above sea level, the highest on the eastern side of the continent. The climate in the reserve ranges from temperate to frigid zones, in a quick movement up the slopes the weather can change dramatically. There are a variety of rare animal species here including the black bear, the leopard, the lynx and the Siberian tiger. The Heavenly Lake is the deepest alpine lake in China. The statistics run on...

The combination of all these factors makes Changbaishan a gigantic museum of natural science. Every year hordes of botanists, geologists, ornithologists, mythologists, conservationists, meteorologists and Japanese tourists head to the region to study their own particular field. A primitive ecological region, the Changbaishan Nature Reserve has recently been absorbed into UNESCO's World Biosphere Protection Zone. Visitors here are mostly interested in The Heavenly Lake (Tianchi), a huge alpine "pool" that fills one of the volcanoes ancient craters, and has a multitude of myths to its name (including being the birthplace of the Manchurian race and numerous sightings of monsters).

Sight Overview

The Changbaishan Nature Reserve is an area of astounding natural and rugged beauty. The sights here are all related to the volcanic activity that used to make this region unstable and dangerous. Thankfully, nowadays, the most dangerous things encountered on the range are probably the rare Siberian Tigers and the cold waters of the Heavenly Lake, that is purported to contain a monster of Loch Ness proportions.

The mountainous reserve boasts altogether 16 peaks, all of which surround the azure lake. The lake itself is the regions most popular sight, and is the central focus for the whole region. To the north of the lake lies the biggest waterfall, with a fall of 68 meters and this is the source of two of Jilin's rivers: the Songhua and the Tumen. About one kilometer from the waterfall are a profusion of hotsprings that are popular for their healing capacities.

Of lesser fame, and therefore less plagued by tourists, are the "below ground" forests, that grow in the craters of extinct volcanoes. This area is good for walking, although you may want to watch that you do not wander off into Communist North Korea. By far the farthest attraction is the Changbaishan Canyon, a region of strangely shaped rocks and good walking routes.