Changbai Mountains (cháng bái shān 长白山) 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. There are mountains vertically and horizontally. Sixteen mountains among them are over 2500 meters above the sea-level, 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. Changbai Mountain is famous as same as Five Sacred Mountain in China. Because of the white pumice and snow, it is known as "Millennium loose snow for the years, until the first peak on the earth".

 

The Changbai Mountains Scenic Area (cháng bái shān fēng jǐng qū 长白山风景区) is a national 5A scenic tourist area which is covered in Antu, Fusong and Changbai Korean Autonomous County (cháng bái cháo xiān zú zì zhì xiàn 长白山朝鲜族自治县). Changbai Mountains is the highest elevation in the territory of Northeast China as well as the largest volcano vents. Changbai Mountains is a fascinating mountain where has mysterious forest, strange peaks, magnificent waterfalls, huge mountain lake, unique volcanic landscape and rare plants and animals so that it is an endless treasure and a natural museum.

Influenced by the vertical topography of the hilly areas, Changbai Mountains forms four scenery belts from temperate zone to Frigid Zone from the foot of the mountain to the top. A colorful natural and vertical scenery belt like this is rare even in the world. There are four seasons in the mountain and the weather varies from one place to another. It has nine wonderful spots: Heavenly Lake (tiān chí 天池), Jiechuo River (chéng chá hé 乘槎河), Changbai Waterfall, Julong Spring (jù lóng quán 聚龙泉), Changbai Lake, Underground Forest, Mountain Birch Forest Landscape (yuè huà lín jǐng guān dài 岳桦林景观带), Alpine Tundra Landscape (gāo shān tái yuán jǐng guān dài 高山苔原景观带) and Heifengkou (hēi fēng kǒu 黑风口)

 

Changbai Mountains is century-old in human culture where it is the home of Guandong (guān dōng 关东) People and also the birthplace of the Manchu, so in the Qing Dynasty as "holy" reputation. For the emperors of the past dynasties paid much attention to it. Especially, in Jin (jīn 金) dynasty, Yuan (yuán 元) dynasty and Qing (qīng 清) dynasty, the emperors regarded Changbai Mountains as the cradle of their ancestors and cried it up as a divine mountain, which was the representation of thriving and flourishing.        

Changbai Mountains is a dormant volcano and is the highest volcanic cone with the biggest spout in the Northeast of China. It was formed about 2 million years ago. According to the historical materials, it has broken forth three times since the sixteenth century. Changbai Mountains has a unique and particular geographic conformation and intriguing sceneries. There are more than 30 wonderful scenes which are famous at home and abroad. Ascending on the top of the mountain ranges, you can realize by yourself what was described in a Chinese poem: "Looking on the top of Changbai Mountains, you will feel all the other mountains are so small compared with it." It widens your visual field, and you cannot help acclaiming it as the peak of perfection.

Changbai Nature Reserve, established in 1960, was involved in the UNESCO's "Man and Biosphere" program in 1980 and becomes part of the world's biosphere reserves. Approved by the State Council in 1986, it becomes a State-level reserve.

 

The climate of the Scenic Area is continental temperate climate with obvious vertical climate-changing features. The winter is long and nippy, the summer is transitory and warm, the spring is blustery and dry and the autumn is foggy and cool. The annual average temperature is between 7℃ below zero and 3℃. The temperature in July does not top 10℃; and the average temperature in January, the coldest month, is around 20℃ below zero. Up to now, the lowest temperature is 44℃ below zero. Its annual sunshine accounts to no more than 2,300 hours. There are about 100 frost-free days and only 60 days or so on the peak. The depth of firm is commonly about 50 centimeters; in some places it can reach 70 centimeters. The annual precipitation is between 700-1,400 millimeters; the precipitation between June and September accounts for 60%-70% of the whole year.

 

Changbai Mountains is both magical and sublime; there are many wonderful and moving legends, such as "Goddess bath pool bow". The vertical natural landscape is more varied which travelers enjoy four seasons in the same day. Now travel Changbai Mountain in the winter is no longer a myth. So the miraculous attracts many visitors come to pay homage. There are three tourist routes or areas in the Changbai Mountains Scenic Area in which there are different spots but all of them are wonderful and attractive.

 

This scenic area is open up earliest and the infrastructure is much better.

 

When traveler arrive the Luyuan Pond, the whole green sight is coming to you which makes you couldn’t help breathing deeply. The knifed cliffs what are covered the green moss, and the deep poll is filled with the green water. Travelers could see the water flowing between steep peaks. All of these make travelers felt like a paradise.

 

Water from Heavenly Lake forms the Changbai Grand Waterfall which is about 1000 meters below the mountaintop. The spectacular waterfall is over 60 meters high and its roar can be heard as far as 200 meters away. The water ends up flowing into the Songhua River, one of the most important rivers in northeast China.

 

It is formed by the vocational eruption. A varied topography, weather, soil and other natural conditions in here result in rich biodiversity and vertical zonal distribution of vegetation. Spruce, mangrove, white birth, elm trees and other timber trees can be found in here as well as some famous and precious medicinal plants in the Reserve such as ginseng.

 

Location: Erdao Baihe (èr dào bái hé 二道白河) Town, An’tu (ān tú 安图) County, Yanbian (yán biān 延边) City

Transportation: take train or bus to An’tu County at Yanbian City and then take special tourist minibus to Erdao Baihe Town.

Admission Fee: CNY 168 (including the bus ticket in the Scenic Area)

 

It is not more convenient than the North Slope Scenic Area, but the scenery is more natural and special.

In this area, travelers also could enjoy the beauty of the Heavenly Lake. And it is said that this area is the nearest to the Heavenly Lake.

 

When July or August is coming, the flowers would be full bloom. There are numerous points in the west slop scenic area to enjoy the sea of flowers. It is said that when the flowers are blooming, the celestial people would come to here to enjoy it.

 

Jinjiang Grand Canyon is formed by the earthquake because of the volcano’s eruption in the Mountain Changbai, and there are many rocks what is formed by canyon streams and volcano ash. Overlooking the deep and quiet canyon, travelers would enjoy the strange rocks and thick trees.

 

Location: Songjianghe (sōng jiāng hé 松江河) Town, Fusong (fǔ sōng 抚松) County, Hunjiang (hún jiāng 浑江) City

Transportation: take train or bus to Fusong County at Hunjiang City and then take special tourist minibus to Songjianghe Town.

Admission: CNY 168 (including the bus ticket in the Scenic Area)

 

This area is opened up latest, but the nature scenery is more beautiful. It is a national 4A level scenic tourist area. It is famous for "Changbai Immense Forest" "Ginseng Town" "Natural Oxygen Bar" and "Green Treasure House".

In this area, it also could appreciate the wonderful spot of Heavenly Lake.

 

There's a large variety of plant species on the mountainside, different kinds of plants from the Temperate Zone and the Frigid Zone. At the foot of the mountain, you'll find a forest of broad-leaved trees. At 1000 meters, there is a mixed forest of broad-leaved trees and conifers. At 1800 meters, you'll come across a solely coniferous forest where the trees are straight and strong and have a high economic value. Above 2000-meters, only lichen can survive. In May and June every year, you'll find countless flowers at this level, adding color and fragrance to the mountain.

 

Location: Changbai Korean 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)