Wudalianchi (wǔ dà lián chí 五大连池) scenic spot, located in the City of Heihe (hē hé shì 黑河市), covers 1068 square kilometers. It is composed of volcanoes of new and old period, five volcano barrier lakes, "Stone Dragon" of more than 60 square kilometers (basalt mesa) and low-temperature cold springs with high value of health care. In 1991, it was rated as one of the forty best national tourism resorts of China. It is named "the Mineral Water Town of China" and "China’s Natural Volcanic Park".

Natural Volcanic Park
 
The volcanoes of Wudalianchi includeYaoquan Mountain (yào quán shān 药泉山), East and West Longmen Mountain (dōnɡ xi lònɡ mén shān 东西龙门山), Wohu Mountain (wò hǔ shān 卧虎山), South and North Gelaqiu Mountain (nán běi ɡé lā qiú shān 南北格拉球山), East and West Jiaodebu Mountain (dōnɡ xī jiāo dé bù shān 东西焦得布山), Molabu Mountain (mò lā bù shān 莫拉布山), Wei Mountain (wěi shān 尾山), Xiaogu Mountain (xiǎo ɡū shān 小孤山), Heilong Mountain (hēi lónɡ shān 黑龙山) and Huoshao Mountain (huǒ shāo shān 火烧山).Twelve of them erupted ten or even hundred thousands of years ago. Two younger volcanoes named Heilong Mountain and Huoshao Mountain were formed between 1719 and 1721.After the volcano erupted, the rolling lava divided Bai River (bái hé 白河) into five parts that are linked like beads. Five ponds, the total length is more than 20 kilometers and the area of lakes is up to 40 square kilometers, are connected by underground rivers. The volcanoes, decorated with clear water and the vast basalt mesa make a set of unique landscape between mountains, rivers and stones. 
 

Holy Water
There is a legend about the water of Wudalianchi. It is said that long long ago, a hunter from Oroqen (è lún chūn 鄂伦春) shot a deer. The deer ran with the wound  and the hunter follewed her. To his surprise, the deer didn't run to the deep woods, but into a pond. In the water, she licked its wound and soon the blood of the wound stopped.The hunter also took some water, at once he was full of vitality. The story spread, and the water was finally called Holy Water.

Although it is a legend, in fact, the water of Wudalianchi can help people keep fit, treat and prevent diseases. According to the scientists, the mineral water here contains more than 40 kinds of necessary trace elements for the human body. It can compare with the  French "Vichy" and the Russian "Caucasus" mineral water. The three kinds of mineral water are called the world’s three major cold springs.


Attractions
The landscape is magical and unique here. More than 100 scenic spots have been found in Wudalianchi scenic zone. They are divided into seven major scenic spots. At present, more than 70 sites have been developed and mainly distribute in Huoshao Mountain scenic spot, Yaoquan Mountain scenic spot and Jiaodebu Mountain scenic spot. 

Yishen Garden (yì shēn yuán 益身园)
"Yishen" means "to be good for health". It is the largest scenic spot of Yaoquan Mountain. It is composed of Yishen Kiosk (yì shēn tínɡ 益身亭), Huan Corridor (huán lánɡ 环廊), North Park, Waterfall, Yaoquan Lake (yào quán hú 药泉湖), Huanhu Road (huán hú lù 环湖路), and Beiyin Spring (běi yǐn quán 北饮泉).The water of Beiyin Spring is calcium-magnesium carbonate mineral  and called Magical Water.


Yaoquan Mountain (yào quán shān 药泉山)
Yaoquan Mountain is composed of Erlong Yan (èr lónɡ yǎn 二龙眼), Yaoquan Hill and Zhongling Temple (zhōnɡ línɡ sì 钟灵寺). Erlong Yan is located at the foot of Yaoquan Hill. The water is springwater. In the past, the pressure on the spring is quite strong, and the water squirted as if two silver dragons raised high into the air, so the people named it Erlong Yan. It is said the water of Erlong Yan can make the people sober-minded and eyes clear.

Beautiful scenery of lakes
Five lakes of Wudalianchi are connected like beads. They distribute among 14 volcanoes that form a crescent-shaped. The water never dries up throughout the year. In the third pond, the fish is big and fat. The local anglers said there is a monster in the third pond. It has appeared above the water many times, but it has never hurt people. The legend passes down from the past to today, which makes the third pond a little mysterious.

What is more amazing is that five lakes present different colors. The water of the first and the second pond is light brown with green. The third is blue with purple. The fourth pond is yellow with green and he fifth is green with yellow. According to the study, the result is the lava there contains various mineral, therefore, they show different colors when the minerals are dissolved. Besides, at the bottom of the lakes, the sediment and algae set off one another, which also makes the lakes show various colors.

Another reason is the weather. When the intensity and angle of sunshine are different, the pond will also present different colors. The rising sun adds some orange-red for the ponds in the morning. The blazing sun adds a veil of golden-yellow for the ponds at noon. And the setting sun dyes the sky and the lake red.

Heilong Mountain
Heilong Mountain is also called Laohei Mountain (lǎo hēi shān 老黑山) and has erupted six times. It is the second largest volcano in Wudalianchi. Its landscape is so extraordinary that it is called precious volcano geological museum. Heilong Mountain is composed of Stone Sea, Water Curtain Cave (shuǐ lián dònɡ 水帘洞), Fairy Palace, Volcano Forest, Crater and other scenic spots. The diameter of the crater is 350 meters and the depth 145 meters.

The Stone Sea is rare volcanic lava wonder in the world. There is a continuous stretch of black lava as vast as the sea. When the volcano erupted, the magmata spewed and condensed, then Stone Sea was formed. It is said that Stone Sea can compare with the landscape of the most famous volcano named Mount Vesuvius of Italy in the world.

     

Fairy Palace (xiān nǚ ɡōnɡ 仙女宫)
Fairy Palace is a volcanic lava cave which is 150 meters in length. The volcano, like an architect, constructs a large number of rare scenery. The lava tunnel is one of them. Some of lava caves are hidden on the mountainside or buried under the stratum. They are mysterious and unpredictable with various patterns. There is some ice in several caves and the water flows in other caves throughout the year.

There is a legend about the Palace: Once there lived a mother and her daughter. The mother broke down from hard work, thus the girl came to Heilong Mountain to gather medical herbs. Suddenly it started raining, and the girl went into a cave. However, a huge snake coiled itself inside. The girl was so afraid. Then, a beautiful woman appeared and cut off it. She stayed with the girl at night, but in the morning, the girl couldn't find her any more. After that, in order to remember the kind woman, the cave was called Fairy Palace.
 

Huoshao Mountain (huǒ shāo shān 火烧山)
Huoshao Mountain, which is 4 kilometers away from Heilong Mountain, is also called Lotus Mountain (lián huā shān 莲花山). Huoshao Mountain is low and small, but its volcanic features are very typical. The volcanic bombs, the lapillus and the volcano cinders scatter around the cone of the volcano. Some of volcanic bombs are as round as steamed bread and some are as long as ribbon. Some are oval or spindle-shaped.


Crystal Palace (shuǐ jīnɡ ɡōnɡ 水晶宫)
Crystal Palace, located in the birch forest of Xijiaodebu Mountain (xī jiāo dé bù shān 西焦得布山), is 8 meters under the ground, and 150 meters in length, covering an area of 2500 square meters. There is ice throughout the year and the exotic rocks lying on the walls are all covered with ice flowers. Even if the sun bakes the land in summer, it is still the world of ice.The temperature difference between inside and outside is about 40 degrees centigrade.

Wen Bo (wēn bó 温泊)
Wen Bo is more than 200 meters long, 50 meters wide and 2 meters in depth.There is clean water all the year round. The hydrogeological workers speculate there is a geothermal exit in the north of Wen Bo. The hot water from there blends with the cold water on the basalt, and then flow into Wen Bo. That makes the water maintain above 0℃ and surrounded by the mists and steam throughout the year.

Recommended tours
The first day: Wudalianchi World Geopark – the Museum of Wudalianchi World Geopark – the South and North Yaoquan Spring - Zhongling Temple
The second day: Heilong Mountain - Huoshao Mountain - New Volcanic Sight-seeing Area - Crystal Palace - Longmen Stone Village –Wen Bo 

Tel: Wudalianchi Visitor Center: 0456 - 7222447
Tourist Complaints (Heihe City): 0456 - 8221780
Transportation:
There are buses directly from Harbin, Qiqihar, Daqing, downtown Heihe to Wudalianchi. You can take them at the bus stations in these cities.
Tips: The best time to visit is between June and October when the weather is mildest. And you can take part in a three-day Water-Drinking Festival each year in early June.

Side trips

Da Zhan River (dà zhān hé 大沾河) National Forest Park
It is located 30km away from Wudalianchi and also has the unique landscape left over from volcanic eruptions. There are steep cliffs, high mountains and thick forests. It is more than 200 kilometers long. Da Zhan River, whose whole valley is uninhabited, is the only uncontaminated river in Asia. It is the heaven of forest bath and known as "the Best Land for Drifting in China".
Tel: 0456 - 8224398
Ticket: CNY 100
Opening hours: 7:30 - 17:30; 18:30 - 20:30
Transportation: A short hour-long ride on a Longzhu tour bus takes you from the center of a bustling city to the ski resort at the foot of the mountains.
Tips: The best time to visit is between June and September.


The Heihe Longzhu (lónɡ zhū 龙珠) Far East International Ski Resort
The Longzhu Ski Resort is located at Woniu (wò niú 卧牛) Lake, China’s northernmost provincial-level scenic reserve. The snow season there is long, with snow covering the ground for about 174 days a year. It has four advanced slopes, a children’s skiing area, as well as an area set aside for learning how to ski. Te resort is complemented high quality facilities and an equipment rental center.

Location：Woniu Lake scenic reserve, Heihe
Tel: 0456 - 8298858 
Opening hours: from October to the following April

Transportation: A short hour-long ride on a Longzhu tour bus takes you from the center of a bustling city to the ski resort at the foot of the mountains.
Tips: The best time to visit is between June and September.