The "Below Ground" Forests

A previously highly volcanic region, Changbaishan now boasts numerous craters scattered among vast peaks and these have recently drawn many visitors to the area. The most famous of these craters, and the largest in the nearby region, now holds the Heavenly Lake (Tianchi).

Another striking feature here are the so called "below ground" forests (Gudi linhai) that cover many of the craters. The largest of the craters is 60 meters deep and about 3,000 meters wide, the deepest attraction in Changbaishan. The forest here is clearly divided into three bands: the top strata contain mainly conifer trees, the middle has mostly broad-leafed varieties and the bottom level has pines, most notably the large Korean pine.

These craters are all centered around the lake itself and to get there is just a short hike up. The area is interesting not ony for bottanists, but also for those after a little solitude and a good walk amongst nature.