Jingpo Lake Scenic Area is located in Ning'an City, Mudanjiang City, Heilongjiang Province. It is a national 5A-level tourist attraction, a World Geopark, and also the largest alpine barrier lake in China and the second largest in the world. The scenic area features lake and mountain scenery, volcanic landforms, and Diaoshuilou Waterfall as its core attractions, with a total area of 1,726 square kilometers, including a lake area of 90.3 square kilometers, an average water depth of 40 meters, and a maximum depth of 62 meters. The lake surface is "S"-shaped, 45 kilometers long and 6 kilometers at its widest point, with a water storage capacity of approximately 1.6 billion cubic meters. The scenic area is home to unique geological landscapes such as crater forests and lava tunnels, combining natural landscapes with cultural heritage, making it a comprehensive scenic area integrating sightseeing, summer vacations, and scientific research.
History and Culture
Jingpo Lake was formed in the early Holocene of the Quaternary period about 10,000 years ago. It is a typical alpine barrier lake in China, formed by basalt lava from volcanic eruptions blocking the Mudanjiang River course. It was called "Huhan Sea" in the Tang Dynasty and has been known as "Jingpo Lake" since the Ming Dynasty, named for its calm surface like a mirror.
The area around the scenic spot is one of the birthplaces of the Manchu people, with rich Manchu cultural relics, such as the site of Longquanfu, the upper capital of the Bohai Kingdom in the Tang Dynasty (about 20 kilometers from the scenic area). This site was the political, economic, and cultural center of Northeast Asia at that time, witnessing the rise and fall of ancient border ethnic regimes. In addition, the winter fishing custom of Jingpo Lake has a long history, dating back to the Liao and Jin dynasties. It still retains the traditional method of ice fishing. The winter fishing festival every winter attracts a large number of tourists, becoming an important window to display the northern fishing and hunting culture.
Main Attractions
Diaoshuilou Waterfall
Diaoshuilou Waterfall is a landmark attraction of Jingpo Lake, located at the northern end of the lake. It is a waterfall formed by the outflow of water from the Mudanjiang River into the lake, with a drop of 20 meters and a width of 40 meters (up to more than 300 meters during the flood season). When water is abundant in summer, the waterfall rushes down, its sound echoing for miles, creating a spectacular scene of "like the Milky Way falling from the sky"; in winter, the waterfall freezes, forming a 20-meter-high ice waterfall, crystal clear, which is the core area for winter viewing. Below the waterfall is the Black Dragon Pool, about 60 meters deep. The famous diver Di Huanran has completed cliff diving performances here many times, becoming a major highlight of the scenic area.
Jingpo Lake Main Scenic Area (Lake Surface)
The main scenic area of Jingpo Lake has a vast lake surface, with a total area of 90.3 square kilometers. There are more than 30 islands of various sizes in the lake, among which the largest is Pearl Gate Island, with an area of about 0.5 square kilometers. Tourists can take a cruise ship (the total length of the cruise route is about 40 kilometers) to tour the lake surface, enjoy the scenery of mountains, forests, and villages on both sides, and view natural landscapes such as Mao Gong Mountain (the mountain shape resembles Mao Zedong lying), Big Solitary Mountain, and Small Solitary Mountain along the way. In summer, the lake surface is cool with gentle breezes, making it a popular summer resort; in autumn, the mountains are covered with colorful foliage, reflecting in the lake, presenting a picturesque scene.
Crater National Forest Park
Crater National Forest Park is about 20 kilometers away from the main scenic area of Jingpo Lake, covering an area of 8,965 hectares. It has 12 well-preserved craters formed by volcanic eruptions about 10,000 years ago. The largest of these, Crater No. 3, has a diameter of 500 meters and a depth of 200 meters. The crater is covered with dense primeval forests, known as the "underground forest", which is a rare crater forest wonder in the world. The park also contains geological relics such as lava caves and volcanic bombs, as well as rare tree species like Korean pine and Manchurian ash, making it an ideal place for volcanic geological popular science and forest ecological sightseeing.
Site of Longquanfu, Upper Capital of Bohai Kingdom
The site of Longquanfu, Upper Capital of Bohai Kingdom, is located in Bohai Town, Ning'an City, about 20 kilometers from the main scenic area of Jingpo Lake. It is the site of the capital of the Bohai Kingdom in the Tang Dynasty, with a total area of approximately 16 square kilometers. The site preserves relics such as palaces, temples, city walls, and tombs, among which the palace site platform is 3 meters high, showing the grand scale of the buildings at that time. Cultural relics such as chiwen (mythical animal ornaments) and eaves tiles unearthed from the site are now collected in the Bohai Kingdom Museum, witnessing the glorious history of the Bohai Kingdom as the "Flourishing Nation East of the Sea" and serving as important material for studying ancient civilizations in Northeast Asia.
Cuisine
Jingpo Lake Whole Fish Feast
The Jingpo Lake Whole Fish Feast uses fish abundant in the lake as the main ingredients, including more than 20 kinds such as crucian carp, common carp, silver carp, and mandarin fish (mandarin fish is known as the "king of freshwater fish" with tender meat). The whole fish feast includes various cooking methods such as steaming, braising, frying, and sauce braising. Representative dishes include steamed mandarin fish, fried lake shrimp, and milk soup crucian carp. A feast can present 10-20 fish dishes with rich umami, reflecting the dietary characteristics of northern water towns.
Manchu Eight Bowls
Manchu Eight Bowls is a traditional Manchu feast around the scenic area, consisting of eight stewed dishes, including braised pork, braised chicken, braised pork ribs, braised beans, braised vermicelli, etc. The ingredients are mostly local agricultural products, served in traditional pottery bowls with a mellow taste and strong local flavor. Common dishes include shredded pork with potherb mustard, stir-fried pork with bracken, and braised chicken with mushrooms, which are must-try foods to experience Manchu dietary culture.
Jingpo Lake Farmhouse Dishes
Farmhouse restaurants around Jingpo Lake offer a variety of characteristic farmhouse dishes, such as pancake sticks, vegetable dumplings, and stir-fried wild vegetables (dandelion, aralia elata, bracken, etc.) with meat. The wild vegetables come from the surrounding mountains, are pure natural and pollution-free, with a unique taste. When eaten with corn pancake sticks, they show the simple flavor of Northeast farmhouses, with an average consumption of about 50-80 yuan per person.
Tickets
The ticket price is 100 yuan per person. Additional fees or package tickets are required for amusement items.
You can search for the official WeChat public account "镜泊湖旅游集团" to get the latest updates or buy tickets online. As of July 2, 2025, the ticket purchase entrance of this official WeChat public account is the "畅游镜泊湖" option in the service menu.
Opening Hours
The main scenic area of Jingpo Lake is open from 7:00 to 18:00 during the peak season (May 1 - October 31); and from 8:00 to 17:00 during the off-season (November 1 - April 30 of the following year). The opening hours of Crater National Forest Park are the same as those of the main scenic area. The cruise ship project operates only in the peak season and is suspended in winter due to the freezing of the lake surface; winter fishing activities are usually held from December to February of the following year, and the specific time is subject to the announcement of the year.
Tour Routes
Recommended two-day tour route: On the first day, arrive at the main scenic area in the morning, visit Diaoshuilou Waterfall (about 1 hour), and watch the diving performance (10:00 and 14:00 daily in summer); then take a cruise to visit the lake surface and surrounding islands (about 3 hours), and have lunch at a restaurant by the lake. In the afternoon, go to Crater National Forest Park to visit the underground forest (about 2.5 hours), and return to the main scenic area for accommodation in the evening. On the second day, visit the site of Longquanfu, Upper Capital of Bohai Kingdom in the morning (about 2 hours) to learn about history and culture; in the afternoon, experience other leisure activities in the scenic area (such as fishing, forest hiking), and end the trip in the evening. In winter, the focus can be on Diaoshuilou Ice Waterfall and winter fishing activities, and it is recommended to arrange 1-2 days.
Transportation
- Train: You can take a train to Mudanjiang Station, then take a tourist special line bus or long-distance bus from Mudanjiang Station to Jingpo Lake Scenic Area, with a journey of about 2 hours and a fare of about 25 yuan per person; you can also directly reach Jingpo Lake Station (high-speed railway station), which is about 8 kilometers from the scenic area. After getting off, you can take a taxi (about 20 yuan) or a bus special line to the scenic area.
- Bus: Mudanjiang Long-distance Bus Station has direct buses to Jingpo Lake Scenic Area, with one bus per hour from 6:30 to 15:30 every day, a journey of about 2 hours, and a fare of 25 yuan per person; there are also long-distance buses from Harbin to the scenic area, with a journey of about 5 hours and a fare of about 80 yuan per person.
- Self-driving: Starting from Mudanjiang City, drive along Heda Expressway (G11) towards Ning'an, exit at Jingpo Lake, with a total distance of about 90 kilometers and a journey of 1.5 hours; starting from Harbin City, drive along Suiman Expressway (G10) and then transfer to Heda Expressway (G11), with a total distance of about 380 kilometers and a journey of 4.5 hours. There are multiple parking lots in the scenic area, with a charging standard of 10 yuan per day for small cars and 20 yuan per day for large cars.
- Transportation within the scenic area: Battery cars are available in the main scenic area, with a fare of 10 yuan per trip, connecting major attractions such as Diaoshuilou Waterfall and the cruise terminal; there are sightseeing cars in Crater National Forest Park, with a fare of 25 yuan per person, which can travel between various craters.
Must-visit Attractions
- Diaoshuilou Waterfall: The landmark of Jingpo Lake, enjoy the rushing waterfall in summer and the ice waterfall wonder in winter, and watch cliff diving performances (in summer).
- Jingpo Lake Cruise: Take a cruise to visit the 90.3-square-kilometer lake surface, enjoy the landscape of mountains and waters on both sides and island views, with a total length of about 40 kilometers, and experience the beauty of lakes and mountains.
- Crater National Forest Park: Explore 12 craters and the "underground forest", feel the volcanic geological wonders, with a forest coverage rate of over 90% and an excellent ecological environment.
Travel Tips
- Best travel seasons: Summer (June - August) with cool weather, suitable for summer vacations and water activities; autumn (September - October) with the most beautiful scenery, full of colorful foliage; winter (December - February) to enjoy ice waterfalls and winter fishing, and experience the fun of ice and snow.
- The scenic area is large, so it is recommended to wear comfortable sports shoes; in summer, you need to bring sun protection products, mosquito repellent, and a thin coat (large temperature difference between morning and evening); in winter, you need to wear down jackets, snow boots, gloves, and other cold-proof equipment, and the lake surface and ice surface are slippery, so pay attention to anti-slip.
- It is recommended to choose regular restaurants in the scenic area for the whole fish feast, with transparent prices and fresh ingredients, with an average consumption of about 100-150 yuan per person; if you want to save costs, you can choose farmhouse restaurants.
- For watching winter fishing in winter, it is recommended to check the time in advance (usually in the morning) and keep warm. You can rent cold-proof clothing provided by the scenic area (about 50 yuan per piece).
- It is recommended to book accommodation in advance, especially during the summer and winter tourist seasons. There are various hotels and farmhouses in and around the scenic area, with prices ranging from 200 yuan/night to 1,000 yuan/night.
Precautions
- For cruises, choose regularly operated ships, wear life jackets, and follow the safety guidelines of the crew; the lake surface may have wind and waves in summer, and those prone to seasickness are advised to take seasickness medicine in advance.
- The mountain roads in Crater National Forest Park are steep, and some areas have no guardrails. When visiting, pay attention to safety under your feet and do not leave the plank road without permission.
- Winter ice activities must be carried out in designated areas, follow the arrangements of staff, do not enter unopened ice surfaces at will, and prevent the danger of ice cracking.
- Respect local Manchu cultural customs, abide by the visiting regulations in historical sites such as the Bohai Kingdom site, and do not touch or damage cultural relics.
- Protect the ecological environment of the scenic area, do not litter, do not fish in the lake (except in regular fishing areas), and do not pick wild animals and plants.