Changbai Mountain Scenic Area is located in Antu County, Yanbian Korean Autonomous Prefecture, and Fusong County, Baishan City, Jilin Province. It is a national 5A-level tourist attraction and one of the Ten Famous Mountains of China. It gets its name from the fact that its main peak, Baitou Mountain, is covered with white pumice and snow, and is known as "the First Mountain in the Northeast". The total area of the scenic area is 1,964 square kilometers, with the core scenic area covering about 758 square kilometers and a forest coverage rate of 87%. It has a temperate continental mountain climate, with distinct scenery in four seasons, featuring diverse landscapes such as volcanic landforms, glacial relics, forest ecosystems, and alpine lakes. As the source of the Songhua River, Tumen River, and Yalu River, Changbai Mountain is renowned for its "majesty, strangeness, danger, beauty, seclusion, and mystery". Its core landscapes include Changbai Mountain Tianchi, waterfalls, hot springs, and underground forests. It is a comprehensive scenic area integrating ecological sightseeing, scientific expedition, and leisure vacations, and was inscribed on the UNESCO World Natural Heritage List in 2010.
History and Culture
Changbai Mountain has historically been the birthplace and cultural sacred mountain of the Manchu people. As early as in the "Classic of Mountains and Seas", it was recorded as "Buxian Mountain". In Manchu mythology, Changbai Mountain is the place where the heavenly maiden bathed and gave birth to the ancestor Bukuli Yongshun, so it is regarded as a national sacred place. During the Qing Dynasty, it was conferred the title of "Sacred Mountain" and a closure policy was implemented for more than 200 years to protect its ecological and cultural sanctity.
The Changbai Mountain area is also a multi-ethnic settlement, where the Korean, Manchu, Mongolian, and other ethnic groups have lived and thrived, forming a unique ethnic culture. The Korean Nongak dance, Manchu shaman culture, traditional hunting customs, etc., are deeply integrated with the natural environment of Changbai Mountain, leaving rich folk heritage. The Neyin Ancient City (Changbai Mountain Manchu Culture Museum) in the scenic area completely restores the living scenes of the Manchu Neyin tribe, showcasing the ethnic history and cultural inheritance of the Changbai Mountain area.
In modern times, due to its unique geographical location and natural resources, Changbai Mountain has become a bond for cultural exchanges between China and the DPRK. The people of both countries jointly protect this land, forming a profound transnational friendship. Meanwhile, Changbai Mountain has a long history of geological scientific research. Since the early 20th century, scholars from many countries have conducted research on volcanoes, ecology, etc. here, providing an important basis for the development of global geological science.
Main Attractions
Changbai Mountain Tianchi
Changbai Mountain Tianchi is the core landscape of Changbai Mountain, located at the top of Baitou Mountain, the main peak of Changbai Mountain. It is the largest crater lake in China and one of the highest volcanic lakes in the world in terms of altitude. Tianchi is 2,189.1 meters above sea level, with a surface area of 9.82 square kilometers, 4.4 kilometers long from north to south, 3.37 kilometers wide from east to west, an average depth of 204 meters, a maximum depth of 373 meters, and a water storage capacity of about 2.04 billion cubic meters. The water of Tianchi is clear and blue, surrounded by 16 peaks with an altitude of more than 2,500 meters. There is only a gap on the north side, forming the Changbai Waterfall. Due to the changeable weather, Tianchi is covered by clouds and fog for about 260 days a year, and the probability of clearly seeing its full view is about 30%, making it a must-see landscape for tourists visiting Changbai Mountain.
Changbai Waterfall
Changbai Waterfall is located between Tianwen Peak and Longmen Peak on the north side of Tianchi. It is the only outlet of Tianchi. The water flows through Chengcha River (1,250 meters long) and then plummets, forming a waterfall with a drop of 68 meters, which is the largest waterfall in Northeast China. The waterfall has a turbulent flow, with a maximum peak flow of 5 cubic meters per second. The water roars and is surrounded by mist, and rainbows often appear under the sunlight. At the bottom of the waterfall, there is a pool about 20 meters deep, named "Erdao Baihe", which is the primary source of the Songhua River. In winter, part of the waterfall freezes, forming a spectacular ice waterfall, which has a unique charm.
Hot Spring Group
Changbai Mountain Hot Spring Group is distributed about 900 meters below the Changbai Waterfall, and is a product of volcanic activity. There are 13 hot spring eyes, with the highest water temperature reaching 83℃, belonging to high-temperature hot springs. The hot spring water is rich in minerals such as hydrogen sulfide and radon, which have high medical value. There are hot spring bathing venues in the scenic area where tourists can experience volcanic hot springs. Among them, "Julongquan" is the most famous hot spring spot, with dense spring eyes and the highest water temperature. The surrounding rocks show red, yellow, brown and other colors due to long-term immersion in minerals. Bathing in hot springs in the snow in winter is a unique experience in Changbai Mountain.
Underground Forest
Underground Forest, also known as "Valley Bottom Forest", is located on the north slope of Changbai Mountain. It is a valley primeval forest formed by stratum collapse caused by volcanic activities, with an altitude of about 1,200 meters and a total area of about 50 hectares. The depth of the forest is about 30 meters from the ground. The valley is full of towering ancient trees, mainly including Korean pine, larch, spruce, etc., with an average tree age of more than 300 years and the tallest tree reaching more than 40 meters. Wild animals such as black bears, wild boars, and sika deer inhabit the forest, and the content of negative oxygen ions in the air is extremely high. The scenic area has built a 2,500-meter-long wooden plank road, along which tourists can go deep into the valley to feel the tranquility and mystery of the primeval forest.
Small Tianchi
Small Tianchi is located on the north slope of Changbai Mountain, about 3 kilometers away from Tianchi. It is two crater lakes only 300 meters apart, also known as "Duihuan Lake". The western lake covers an area of about 5,380 square meters, with a depth of more than 10 meters. The lake water is green, reflecting the surrounding birch forests, creating a quiet environment. The eastern lake is smaller, only about 1,000 square meters, with water in the rainy season and dry in the dry season. Small Tianchi is famous as a filming location for film and television works such as "The Snowy Mountain Flying Fox" and "Journey to the West". Rare "living fossils of the plant world" — Alnus sibirica var. hirsuta grow by the lake, which has high ecological and scientific research value.
Lvyuan Tan (Green Abyss Pond)
Lvyuan Tan (Green Abyss Pond) is located on the north slope of Changbai Mountain. It gets its name from the deep green color of its water, and is a deep pond formed by the impact of the Yuehua Forest Waterfall. The pond covers an area of about 500 square meters, with a maximum depth of 10 meters. The waterfall has a drop of 26 meters, and its water cascades down from the cliff into the pond, creating ripples layer upon layer. Surrounded by green trees and jagged rocks, the pond's water is so clear in summer that cold-water fish can be seen swimming in it. In winter, the waterfall freezes into an ice cascade and the pond turns into an ice pool, resembling a fairy-tale world of ice and snow. There are viewing platforms and wooden boardwalks by the pond, making it an excellent spot for landscape photography.
Food
Changbai Mountain Delicacy Feast
Changbai Mountain Delicacy Feast is the most characteristic feast in the local area, using Changbai Mountain's specialty mountain delicacies as the main ingredients, including ginseng, deer antler, bear's paw (artificially raised), forest frog, matsutake, wild vegetables, etc. Representative dishes include ginseng stewed chicken (using wild ginseng from Changbai Mountain stewed with local free-range chickens, rich in nutrition), matsutake stir-fried with pork slices (fresh matsutake with tenderloin, rich in umami), forest frog oil soup (made from forest frog oviduct, known as "soft gold"), etc. A table of mountain delicacy feast costs about 800-1,500 yuan, suitable for 6-8 people to share. It can be tasted in Changbai Mountain Hotel in the scenic area and high-end restaurants in Antu County and Fusong County.
Korean Cold Noodles
Korean cold noodles are a classic food in the Changbai Mountain area, made from buckwheat noodles, paired with beef soup, spicy cabbage, eggs, cucumber shreds, pear slices and other ingredients, with a sweet and sour taste. The soup base of cold noodles in Changbai Mountain is mostly simmered with beef bones for a long time. It is cool and refreshing to eat in summer, and hot soup cold noodles can be chosen in winter. A bowl of cold noodles costs about 15-25 yuan. It is most authentic in Korean villages around the scenic area (such as Hongqi Village) and restaurants in Erdao Baihe Town, among which "Jindalai Cold Noodle Restaurant" is a local time-honored brand.
Iron Pot Stewed Changbai Mountain Fish
Iron Pot Stewed Changbai Mountain Fish uses cold-water fish from Changbai Mountain Tianchi and surrounding lakes (such as lenok, taimen, willow root fish, etc.), paired with corn cakes, potatoes, tofu, etc., and slowly stewed in an iron pot. The fish meat is tender and firm, the soup is rich, and the corn cakes by the pot absorb the umami of the fish, with a unique flavor. A portion of iron pot stewed fish (about 2-3 catties of fish) costs about 120-180 yuan, suitable for 3-4 people. It has an excellent reputation in restaurants such as "Shanli Renjia Iron Pot Stew" in Erdao Baihe Town.
Dalgona (Korean Rice Cake)
Dalgona is a traditional Korean food, made by steaming glutinous rice and then pounding it with a wooden mallet until it is soft and glutinous, then dipping it in soybean powder or white sugar. It tastes sticky, soft and sweet. Dalgona in the Changbai Mountain area is mostly made and sold on the spot, and tourists can watch the making process in Korean folk villages. A portion of dalgona costs about 10-15 yuan, and can be bought in the folk custom garden in the scenic area and surrounding markets, which is a popular specialty snack among tourists.
Tickets
Time-sharing reservation for tickets is implemented throughout the year, please make reservations in advance.
The ticket price is 105 yuan per person, the shuttle bus is 85 yuan per person, and the ticket for the main peak of Tianchi is 80 yuan per person. Changbai Mountain is divided into the North Scenic Area, West Scenic Area, and South Scenic Area. Please take the bus at the corresponding scenic area visitor center.
You can search for the official WeChat public account "长白山" to get the latest news or buy tickets online.
Opening Hours
The opening hours of Changbai Mountain Scenic Area are adjusted according to the season:
- North Slope (North Scenic Area): Peak season (July 1 - August 31): 6:30 - 17:00 (admission stops at 15:00); Flat season (June 1 - June 30, September 1 - October 7): 7:00 - 16:30 (admission stops at 14:30); Off-season (October 8 - May 31 of the next year): 8:00 - 15:30 (admission stops at 13:30).
- West Slope (West Scenic Area): Peak season (July 1 - August 31): 7:00 - 17:00 (admission stops at 15:00); Flat season (June 1 - June 30, September 1 - October 7): 7:30 - 16:30 (admission stops at 14:30); Off-season (October 8 - May 31 of the next year): 8:30 - 15:30 (admission stops at 13:30).
- South Slope (South Scenic Area): Due to ecological protection, the South Slope is only open from June to October every year, with opening hours from 8:00 to 15:00 (admission stops at 13:00), and the daily number of visitors is limited to 500.
The scenic area may be temporarily closed in case of extreme weather such as heavy rain, typhoon, and volcanic activity warning. For details, please refer to the official notice.
Tour Routes
Classic One-Day Tour of the North Slope (about 8 hours in total)
Enter from the gate of the North Scenic Area of Changbai Mountain, take the environmental protection vehicle to the Tianchi transfer center, transfer to an off-road vehicle (80 yuan per person) to the Tianchi viewing platform (visit for 1 hour); then take the vehicle to the Changbai Waterfall (visit for 1.5 hours, you can walk to the bottom of the waterfall or take a cable car to overlook); then go to the hot spring group (experience hot spring boiled eggs, 10 yuan for 3); have lunch at the hot spring restaurant; in the afternoon, visit the Small Tianchi (40 minutes), Lvyuan Tan (1 hour), and Underground Forest (1.5 hours) in turn, and finally take the environmental protection vehicle back to the gate. This route covers the core attractions of the North Slope, suitable for first-time visitors.
Panoramic One-Day Tour of the West Slope (about 9 hours in total)
Enter from the gate of the West Scenic Area, take the environmental protection vehicle to the Tianchi parking lot, walk up 1,442 steps (about 30 minutes) to the West Slope viewing platform of Tianchi (visit for 1.5 hours); after going down the mountain, go to the Iris Garden (enjoy flowers in summer, 30 minutes); have lunch at the Alpine Garden Service Area; in the afternoon, visit the Jinjiang Grand Canyon (walk 2 kilometers on the plank road, 1.5 hours), Wangchi (3 kilometers round trip, 1 hour), and finally visit the Ladder River (30 minutes), then take the environmental protection vehicle back to the gate. This route allows you to enjoy the panoramic view of Tianchi and the primeval canyon scenery, suitable for tourists with good physical strength.
Two-Day Ecological Scientific Expedition Tour
Day 1: Visit Tianchi, waterfalls, and hot spring groups on the North Slope, and stay in Erdao Baihe Town; Day 2: Go to Neyin Ancient City (learn about Manchu culture, 1.5 hours), then go to the Changbai Mountain Nature Reserve (need to apply for scientific expedition permission in advance), go deep into the Underground Forest for ecological observation, identify rare animals and plants (such as Korean pine, sable, Changbai Mountain fir, etc.), and return in the evening. This route is suitable for tourists interested in natural ecology, and it is necessary to contact the local scientific research institution in advance to arrange a guide.
Transportation
- Plane: The nearest airport to Changbai Mountain is Changbai Mountain Airport (located in Songjianghe Town, Fusong County), about 15 kilometers from the West Slope Scenic Area and approximately 100 kilometers from the North Slope Scenic Area. The airport operates flights to cities such as Beijing, Shanghai, Shenyang, and Changchun, with 10-15 flights per day during peak seasons. From the airport to the West Slope Scenic Area, you can take an airport shuttle bus (20 yuan per person, 30 minutes). To reach the North Slope Scenic Area, you need to take a bus to Songjianghe Town and then transfer to a shuttle bus to Erdao Baihe Town (30 yuan per person, 1.5 hours).
- Train: The nearest railway stations are Baihe Station (about 35 kilometers from the North Slope Scenic Area) and Songjianghe Station (about 30 kilometers from the West Slope Scenic Area). There is a direct train from Changchun to Baihe Station (Train K7388, departs at 19:30 and arrives at 6:00 the next day, with a hard seat fare of 62 yuan); there is a Train K7511 from Shenyang to Songjianghe Station (departs at 17:00 and arrives at 5:30 the next day, with a hard seat fare of 81 yuan). After arriving at the station, you can take a taxi to the scenic area (about 50 yuan from Baihe Station to the North Slope, and about 40 yuan from Songjianghe Station to the West Slope).
- Self-driving: Starting from Changchun, drive along Fuchang Expressway (G1212) to Changbai Mountain North Scenic Area (approximately 410 kilometers, 5 hours); starting from Shenyang, drive along Shenji Expressway (G1212) and transfer to Hedong Expressway (G11) to Changbai Mountain West Scenic Area (approximately 550 kilometers, 6.5 hours). Both the North Slope and West Slope of the scenic area have parking lots, with a charging standard of 20 yuan per day for small vehicles and 30 yuan per day for large vehicles.
- Tourist bus: Changchun Huanghe Road Passenger Station and Shenyang SK Passenger Station have daily tourist buses to Erdao Baihe Town (North Slope) and Songjianghe Town (West Slope). The fares are 120 yuan per person (Changchun to Erdao Baihe, 5.5 hours) and 150 yuan per person (Shenyang to Songjianghe, 7 hours) respectively.
Must-Visit Attractions
- Changbai Mountain Tianchi: At an altitude of 2189.1 meters, it is one of the highest volcanic lakes in the world. The lake water is deep blue and surrounded by peaks, being the iconic landscape of Changbai Mountain. It is advisable to check the weather forecast in advance to increase the probability of a clear view.
- Changbai Waterfall: With a drop of 68 meters, it is the source of the Songhua River. The water roars and is surrounded by mist, often with rainbows in summer and spectacular ice waterfalls in winter, perfectly showcasing nature's power.
- Underground Forest: A primeval forest in the valley at an altitude of 1200 meters, with towering ancient trees and fresh air. The plank road goes deep into the valley, allowing visitors to experience the primitive ecology up close, suitable for hiking and scientific research.
- Jinjiang Grand Canyon: About 70 kilometers long and 300 meters at its widest point, the canyon features jagged rocks and overhanging ancient trees. It is the most spectacular canyon landscape in Changbai Mountain and can only be viewed from the West Slope.
Travel Suggestions
- Best visiting season: Summer (July-August) with cool weather and lush vegetation, ideal for viewing Tianchi and alpine flowers; autumn (September-October) with colorful mountains and fewer tourists, perfect for photography; winter (December-February) for skiing and hot springs, but Tianchi may be closed due to heavy snow.
- Equipment suggestions: Changbai Mountain has changeable weather, so bring windproof and rainproof jackets (even in summer); hiking shoes are a must (especially with many steps on the West Slope); sun protection is needed in summer (strong ultraviolet rays); in winter, wear down jackets and non-slip boots (temperatures range from -20℃ to -30℃); carry high-calorie snacks (such as chocolate and beef jerky) to replenish energy.
- Accommodation suggestions: For the North Slope, stay in Erdao Baihe Town (30 kilometers from the North Slope, with many hotels at moderate prices, about 200-500 yuan per night); for the West Slope, stay in Songjianghe Town (25 kilometers from the West Slope, cost-effective); to experience hot springs, choose Lan Jing Hot Spring Resort Hotel on the North Slope (including hot spring tickets, 800-1200 yuan per night).
- Cost budget: The average daily consumption per person is about 500-800 yuan (including tickets, transportation, catering, and accommodation). Prices may increase by 30%-50% during peak seasons, so it is recommended to book in advance.
Matters Needing Attention
- Safety warnings: The Tianchi viewing platform has steep terrain with some sections without guardrails; stand firm and hold on, and do not get close to the edge; Changbai Mountain is a volcanic activity area, so entering unopened areas is prohibited; in winter, the roads are icy, so wear crampons (available for rent at the scenic area entrance, 10 yuan per pair).
- Ecological protection: Picking wild plants (such as ginseng and matsutake) and catching wild animals are strictly prohibited, with violators facing heavy fines; smoking is forbidden in the scenic area, and garbage must be taken to designated trash cans; Changbai Mountain is a water source protection area, so washing in streams and lakes is prohibited.
- Document carrying: Bring an ID card (required for ticket purchase and entry); tourists eligible for preferential policies need to bring student IDs, senior citizen cards, and other valid documents; self-driving tourists must carry vehicle driving licenses and insurance policies.
- Others: Mobile phone signals in the Changbai Mountain area are unstable, and there is no signal in some parts of the scenic area; it is recommended to agree on a meeting time and place with companions; during peak seasons (July-August), there are a large number of tourists, so it is advisable to arrive at the scenic area before 6:30 a.m. to avoid the peak; catering prices in the scenic area are relatively high, so you can bring simple meals (non-glass packaging).