Baishan City (bái shān shì 白山市) is located in the west of Mount Changbai (cháng bái shān 长白山) where the natural scene is extremely beautiful, southeast of Jilin province, adjacent to Korean Nationality Autonomous State on the east border, next to Jilin City in the north and lying on the Democratic People's Republic of Korea and having Yalu River (yā lǜ jiāng 鸭绿江) between them. The total area of the city is 1388 square kilometers and the total population over 1.3 million. Baishan city takes the natural sceneries of Mount Changbai, the sights of the upper and middle reaches of Yalu River, numerous historical sites and the cross-national tourism on the border of China and Korea as its main contents. Meanwhile, it explores five scenic spots for travelling: Fusong (fǔ sōng 抚松) Scenic Spot, the Badaojiang (bā dào jiāng 八道江) district scenic spot, Linjiang (lín jiāng 临江) scenic spot, Mount Changbai scenic spot and Jingyu (jìng yǔ 靖宇) scenic spot.

 

History
According to the historical record, human beings first appeared in the region since the Neolithic Age. In 1902 during the Qing (qīng 清) Dynasty (1644 - 1911), this region was set up as the Linjiang (lín jiāng 临江) County by the imperial government. It once belonged to different provinces including Fengtian (fèng tiān 奉天), Tonghua (tōng huà 通化), Liaoning in the early 20th century. In March 1959, Jilin provincial government promoted Linjiang County to a county-level city and renamed it as Hunjiang (hún jiāng 浑江) City, starting the history of its belonging to Jilin Province. In 1985, Hunjiang City developed into a prefecture-level city. Till April in 1994, Hunjiang City was renamed as Baishan City, with the approval of the State of Council.

 

Baishan is 180 kilometers (111.8 miles) from east to west and is 163 kilometers (101 miles) from north to south. The China-North Korea boundary along Baishan is 454 kilometers (282 miles) long. The Longgang (lóng gǎng 龙岗) mountain range in this area has an altitude of 800 to 1,200 meters (2,624.6 to 3,937 feet); the Laoling (lǎo lǐng 老岭) mountain range is higher with an altitude of 1,000 to 1,300 meters (3,281 to 4,265 miles). The highest peak of Changbai Mountains, namely the Bayun (bái yún 白云) (White Cloud) Peak also lies in this region, with an elevation of 2691 meters (8,828.7 feet). The major rivers within this area include the Yalu River, the Songhua River and the Hun River (hún jiāng 浑江).
Baishan belongs to the temperate continental monsoon climate zone. It is the coldest city of Jilin with the annual average temperature of 4.6 C (40.3 F). In spring, the temperature difference between day time and night is quite high. Summer is very short and rainy which the highest temperature in summer is 36.5 degrees Centigrade (97.7 degrees Fahrenheit) while winter is long and dry which the lowest temperature of winter is -42.2 degrees Centigrade (-43.9 degrees Fahrenheit). Autumn has the most pleasant weather with more cool and sunny days.

 

Changbai Mountain Maze (cháng bái shān mí gōng 长白山迷宫)

Changbai Mountain Maze Cavern scenic area is at the edge of Karst geomorphology. With 2000m extended caverns explored, there equipped with recreational facilities such as shooting range, bar and ballroom. It is an excellent place integrating cavern viewing, scientific exploration and recreation. According to research, Changbai Mountain Maze Cavern is formed 600million years ago. The cavern has two levels, connecting winding and amazing. It is warm in winter and cool in summer in the cavern. Various stalactite sculptures with different shapes are formed by the stalactites and stalagmites, such as the Great Wall, Turtle Fighting Crocodile, etc. As there are caves inside caves, interweaving and winding, it is hard to return without a guide, so it is named maze cavern. There are underground caves which give out mysterious sound of running water but hide the appearance of the river, enlisted as a mystery unsolved.

Location: Hengdao Village (héng dào cūn 横道村), Liudaojiang County (liù dào jiāng zhèn 六道江镇), Badaojiang District (bā dào jiāng qū 八道江区)

Transportation: take special tourist minibus to the Changbai Mountain Maze at Beishan Bus Station

Tel: 0439-3538111

Admission Fee: CNY 10

 

Mount Changbai Scenic Area (cháng bái shān fēng jǐng qū 长白山风景区)

Mount Changbai is named so because its main peak, the White-head Mountain is covered with white rocks and thick snow. It is the highest hilly area in the Northeast of China. The highest peak in the mountain range is as high as 2691 meters. There are mountains vertically and horizontally, with a total area of more than 8000 square kilometers. It starts with An'tu (ān tú 安图) County in Jilin province in the north, originates from Fusong (fǔ sōng 抚松) County in the west and extends to the realm of Korea in the south. The Mount Changbai Scenic Area is covered in Antu, Fusong and Changbai County. And the one is located in Changbai Koren Autonomous County is called the Changbai Mountain Nanpo Scenic Area (cháng bái shān nán pō fēng jǐng qū 长白山南坡风景区) which is a national 4A level scenic tourist area. It is famous for "Changbai Immense Forest" "Ginseng Town" "Natural Oxygen Bar" and "Green Treasure House". It is the Southern Slope Entrance which is one of four gates to enter Mount Changbai.

Location: Changbai Koren Autonomous County (cháng bái cháo xiān zú zì zhì xiàn 长白山朝鲜族自治县)

Transportation: take bus or train to Changbai Koren Autonomous County at Beishan Bus Station or Beishan Train Station

Admission Fee: CNY 168/each entrance (including the tourist bus ticket)

 

The Longshanhu Scenic Area (lóng shān hú fēng jǐng qū 龙山湖风景区)

The Longshanhu Scenic Area is 55km away from Beishan City. It is formed by interception of Yalu River. The lake area is wide and blue waves, the two sides of lake are filled with green and immense forest. Under the bright and high sky, boating on the clear and limpid lake, travelers can enjoy themselves in the wonderful nature. There are many unique spots, such as the Fairy Cave (xiān rén dòng 仙人洞), Goddess Peak (shén nǚ fēng 神女峰), and Horse-faced Rock (mǎ miàn shí 马面石) and so on. Every spots would have its beautiful legend which make travelers had a feast of Chinese long meaningful culture and history. And the perfect edible wild herbs never let you down.

Location: Sandaogou County (sān dào gōu zhèn 三道沟镇), Badaojiang District (bā dào jiāng qū 八道江区)

Transportation: take bus No.1, 34

Admission Fee: CNY 10

 

The Hot Spring Vocational Village (cháng bái shān wēn quán dù jiǎ cūn 长白山温泉度假村)

The Hot Spring Vocational Village is a famous mineral spring sanitaria for travelers of our country. The mineral spring was spitted out of the cranny of the granites of the riverside of Tanghe (tāng hé 汤河) River, with abundant and invariable water. The temperature of the water is up to 60ºC, which is the outcome of the terrestrial heat. The spring of the fountain is of high temperature containing many chemical elements and rare elements, like carbonate, which can be absorbed through skin and drunk to diminish inflammation and kill pain. The spring water also has the function of nerves-soothing, sedation, incretion-regulating etc.

Location: Xianrenqiao Town (xiān rén qiáo zhèn 仙人桥镇), Fusong County (fú sōng xiàn 扶松县)

Transportation: take bus to Fusong County at Beishan Bus Station and take special minibus to the hot spring vocational village.

Best Time to Go: June - August

Admission Fee: CNY 100

 

The Qingshanhu Scenic Area (qīng shān hú fēng jǐng qū 青山湖风景区)

The Green Mountain Lake is an artificial lake by holding up a river, whose water is pure and clean, with a placid water surface. There are numerous mountains standing aloft on both sides of the lake. All of this constitutes picturesque scenery. The vegetation is complete and forest is graceful. Therefore, it is a good place to prevent sunstroke and go traveling and fishing. For you can not only swim but also fish in the lake. There are many devious pavilions and passages over the lake water. And the temples on the mountain appear gleaming. This scenic spot is really worth your visit for having a rest and spending your holiday where all kinds of service facilities are provided, such as parking lot, shopping place, yachts, restaurants and entertainment facilities.

Location: Badaojiang District (bā dào jiāng qū 八道江区)

Transportation: take bus to the Green Mountain Lake at Beishan Bus Station

Admission Fee: CNY 10

 

Wang Swan Scenic Area (wàng tiān é fēng jǐng qū 望天鹅风景区)

Wang Swan Scenic Area is a national AA level scenic tourist area, has been approved "National Nature Reserve on the Yalu River" by the State Council, and it is declared the "Changbai Mountain Wang Swan National Geological Park". The spot is 50km away from the Changbai Koren Autonomous County, is located in the Changbai Mountain swan valley and is full of 38 kilometers, the lowest of 450 meters and the highest at 1100 meters above sea level. It is the second peak in the Northeast and is 32km from the Heavenly Lake. These take the volcanic peak of Changbai Mountain ridge. Wang Swan Hill is a great central eruption and overflow of basaltic volcanic cone, is a huge caldera, formed by the trench because of the volcanic caldera and the landscape remains a very unique spot.

Location: Changbai Koren Autonomous County

Transportation: take bus to Changbai Koren Autonomous County at Beishan Bus Station. And then take the special tourist minibus (CNY 20) to Wang Swan Scenic Area.

Admission Fee: CNY 100

 

Frog Oil: The dishes cooked with frog oil are very popular with people. Characteristics: The frog oil tastes sweet and dainty with handsome sculpt after being braised.     

    

Yulong (yù long 玉龙) Kidney: Its characteristics Yulong kidney is sliced quite refined. The sliced kidney is in the shape of chrysanthemum and it tastes salty, fresh and dainty.        

 

Pine Nut: Sweetened bean paste mixed with pine kernel is fragrant and sweet, tasty to the mouth after being deep-fried.

 

There are airports in the surrounding cities, like Changchun, Tonghua, Jilin and Yanji (yán jí 延吉), among which, Yanji Airport is the nearest one, located in the west part of Yanji city. If travelers want to go to Mount Changbai by air, generally, travelers should first arrive in Yanji city and transfer to Mount Changbai in Yanji in a coach, which is to take about four hours to the destination.

There are flights to municipalities like Beijing and Shanghai taking off every day from Yanji city. Meanwhile, there are four to five flights every day from Beijing to Yanji in mid-season and at least one flight every day in low-season. The plains usually take off in the afternoon.

Baihe Railway Station is the nearest one from Mount Changbai Scenic Spot, from which there are trains to Changchun and Tonghua. And from Changchun, travelers can take the train k953 to Baihe (bái hé 北河) departing at 13:52 and getting to the destination at 4:30 in the next morning. While from Tonghua, the train 4241 is bound for Baihe from 10:36 to 16:55 on the same day. Also, travelers can first get to Dunhua (dùn huà 钝化) Railway Station and transfer to a coach bound for Baihe along the national line 201, which is to take them about 3 hours and to cost travelers 25 Yuan RMB.

If travelers set off in Beijing, travelers can choose to take the train k215 departing at 14:42 and getting arrived in Dunhua at 12:24 of the next day. To the same destination, if travelers start from Changchun, then Travelers can take the train k655 whose departure time is 10:05 and arriving time is 16:46 on the same day.