The water of Songhua (sōng huā 松花) Lake is derived from the second Songhua River of Changbai Mountain (cháng bái shān 长白山). It is formed by the water which is held up by the Fengman (fēng mǎn 丰满) water power dam. Songhua Lake is as wide as 480 square km and as long as over 200 km. The lake has a narrow and long shape which is 10 km wide upside and only half a km downside, winding along the mountains all the way. The green seems to drip from the mountains and the green water appears graceful, the mountains are painted with five colors and the lake products are a feast for eyes. The surrounding forests are luxuriant and dense distributed with more than 600 kinds of plants and abundant wild animals. The lake is also abundant in fishes which are mainly famous for white fish and curia. The biggest winter sports training center- Green Mountain Skiing Ground is located here.

 

Songhua Lake, 14km away from Jilin City District, is a National Grade AAAA Tourist Attraction. This national-level scenic spot is highly praised by Jiang Zemin (jiāng zé mín 江泽民), the former General Secretary of the Communist Party of China, who said "Songhua Lake: verdant hills and green waters". The Fengman Power Station was firstly built in 1937, when the northeast region was invaded by Japanese armies. The 1080m-long and 91m-tall dam has 12 hydro turbines and an installed gross capacity of 1 million kilowatts. At the time of its completion, Fengman Power Station was the only hydropower station in China and the biggest power station in Asia. The station has multiple functions: generation of electricity, flood prevention, irrigation, shipping, cultivation, and is the water supply for urban areas and industry uses. Meanwhile, the Fengman Power Station has fostered a large number of Chinese specialists in hydroelectric power field and so is referred to as "the cradle of hydroelectric power in China". The power station cuts off the flow of Songhua River. Now below the dam lies the billowing Songhua River, while the Songhua Lake is on the upper side of the dam.

　　

The Songhua Lake is a slender type, with a total length of 180km or more. The physical feature of the banks is extremely complex. Many streams, bays and harbors lie in the Lake District. This lake is shaped like a shining dragon lying on the vast land of Jilin Province, from southeast to northwest. The Songhua Lake drainage area is 3620 square kilometers, in which the Lake District covers 550 square kilometers. Its maximum storage amounts to 10.8 billion cubic meters and the depth reaches to 77.5m below the surface at the deepest point. This super-large manmade lake produces more than 50 kinds of fresh-water fish, including Mandarin Fish, whitefish and carp, all of these being specialties of Songhua River. The ecological resource is abundant in the Songhua River region. On the islands and mountainous area grow Changbai Mountain mixed coniferous broad leaved forests, including at least 30 types of trees, such as Korean pine and white pine. In addition, there are more than 1000 types of wild animals and birds, such as sika deer (méi huā lù 梅花鹿), red deer, bear, sable, boar and tree frog as well as more than 100 types of traditional Chinese medical herbs and wild fruits. As the saying goes, a verdant mountain surrounded by the green water must be rich in resource. The picturesque Songhua Lake is entitled with elegant environment, in which stones of amazing shapes stand like a forest and steep cliffs become common sights. The thriving trees on the mountains, the clouds in the azure sky are all reflected on the mirror-like lake, making it even more charming. The numerous wonderful sights make up 9 scenery zones, 18 scenic spots and 4 tourism villages. Songhua Lake not only provides a good place for visitors to go boating, but also serves as an ideal choice for holiday spending. In the Lake District that runs for fifty kilometers or more, at least 200 farm houses made especially for visitors to spend holidays have been constructed. All kinds of hotels are found here, ranging from 3 star hotels to smaller hotels to summer houses. Sail on the lake and enjoy the surrounding mountains. The mountains and waters are the best landscape one can find. In the daylight it seems as if the lake extends to the sky, while in the evening the setting sun reddens the clouds on the horizon. Near the banks, grass bloom on the beach, while the water washes the golden sands. It is true to say "the best scenery is at one's door and the lake is a natural summer palace."

　　

The WuHu (wǔ hǔ 五虎) Island Tourist Attraction is located at the mid-south part of the Songhua Lake. The 17.6 square kilometers area is surrounded by the lake water and the lakeshore is winding and complicated. Watched from above, the Wuhu Island Looks like five tigers in different directions. On the island is a double-eave, four-angle pavilion, which links the two corridors of opposite sides. On the left of the bridge is a reception hall in which stands a scenery-viewing platform, built for visitors to have a better view of the sceneries on the lake. The right side of the bridge is the brightly-colored Wuhu Pavilion. Speaking of Wuhu Island, an enchanting legend has to be told. It is said that in the middle of the Ming (míng 明) Dynasty, in a small village behind the Wuhu Island today, lived an old man who had 5 sons, each of them strong and robust. The five brothers were friendly and kind to the villagers, who deeply loved the brothers in return. Later, this small village was struck by floods in successive years, the water washing away all the houses and farmlands. Rumor said an evil dragon had arrived and brought all the disasters here. One day, the river flashed to a critical level and in the water appeared a monster. "That is the evil dragon." one old man said. Hearing this, the five brothers bravely took their spears and plunged at the beast. In the water they fought against the monster heroically and the fight lasted for seven days and nights. After that, the river returned to its former peaceful state and the body of the evil dragon surfaced. The five brothers, however, never came back. The villagers fished out their bodies and buried them in five nearby hills. In order to commemorate them, these hills were named as the "Wuhu Hills" (meaning Five Tiger Hills).

 

Location: Jiaohe City (jiāo hé shì 蛟河市)

Transportation: take 30 to 40 minutes special line bus at the Jilin City Bus Station

Opening Time: 8:00-17:00

Tel: 0432-7160198

Admission Fee: CNY 40 (including the boat ticket)