Changbaishan Travel Guide

  Basic information Area code: 0433 Fire call: 0433-5718119 Alarm phone: 0433-5714110, 0433-5710110 Weather Station Tel: 0433-5753311 Travel information It is always very cool in Changbai Mountain; bring some thick clothes, such as sweater and overcoat is a perfect choice. […]

 

Basic information

Area code: 0433
Fire call: 0433-5718119
Alarm phone: 0433-5714110, 0433-5710110
Weather Station Tel: 0433-5753311

Travel information

• It is always very cool in Changbai Mountain; bring some thick clothes, such as sweater and overcoat is a perfect choice. For the unexpected weather, visitors are highly recommended to bring water-proof clothes and skid-proof shoes.
• Please carry your garbage bag with you to keep the area clean.
• Feeding animals is prohibited .
• There are many forests in Changbai Mountain. Fireworks and fire in the wild are strictly prohibited in the area to avoid fire.
• Don’t leave your partner too far in the forest, and don’t go alone into the depths of the jungle. Be aware of obvious landmarks along the way to avoid losing your way.
• Do not use umbrellas in Changbai Mountain in the summer, because it is easy to lead thunder in high mountain areas (there are cases where umbrellas lead to death), and there are wind on the mountains. The umbrellas are not easy to grasp. It is recommended to use raincoats.
• Visitors are not allowed to enter the scenic area by self driving.

Destination overview

 

Destination sketch

Covering an area of 2,000 km², the Changbai Mountains National Reserve is a large natural zoo and botanical garden, part of the UNESCO’s Man and Biosphere Program. The Tianchi Lake (Heaven Lake), vertical scenery, aerial park, hot springs, and waterfalls are among the six local natural wonders. The mountains, covered with primitive forests, make an excellent tourist destination.
TianChi Lake is 13 km in circumference but cannot be walked around owing to the border with North Korea (Mount Paektu).
Changbaishan has two separate areas- the northern slope and the western slope. Heaven Lake is accessible from both sides of the reserve. The north and west entrances are separated by 100 km.
If you want to hike besides the tourist routes you have to have a guide. Just don’t hike alone, and bring food and medical supply. It should be strongly noted that the border with North Korea is not clearly marked and there have been arrests by North Korean border guards of foreigners.

Local festival

Changbai Mountain Ice and Snow Festival held in mid-to late December
The winter of Changbai Mountain is a typical example of the scenery of the Northland. It has low temperature, no pollution, thick snow, good snow quality, different mountains and slopes, and is a perfect place for skiing and other snow sports. So every year in late December Changbai Mountain will hold ice and snow festivals, and here can also provide the necessary ski equipment and winter winter clothes.

Best Travel season

From June to September in a year is the best time to visit Changbaishan Mountain, when the view is beautiful and the climate is comfortable. The weather is very cold in winter in Changbaishan area from November to March in following year, and sometimes the scenic spots would be close when snowstorm happens. But you can ski in winter if you do mind the coldness. Tianchi lake is usually frozen over until late June or July.

Consumption level

The consumption levels around Changbai Mountain Scenic Area are relatively low, and tickets and transportation are the biggest expenses. Accommodation is generally around 100 yuan.

The North Slope tickets 125 yuan, sightseeing bus is 80 yuan, 85 yuan for SUV vehicles, these three items must be consumed.
There are 110 yuan for tickets to the floating stone forest outside the Shanmen, 80 yuan for the Grand River, 100 yuan for hot springs, and 40 yuan for the Changbai Mountain Museum on the White River.
The West Slope tickets 125 yuan, 80 yuan for sightseeing bus, get off and then walk around 1400 meters, arrived at the Tianchi viewing platform.
The South Slope tickets 125 yuan, 80 yuan sightseeing bus, the 15th valley need buy tickets separately, tickets 100 yuan.
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Intercity traffic

 

Aircraft

Chang Bai Shan International Airport, NBS
Address: Chixi District, Changbai Mountain Protection and Development Zone, Songjianghe Town, Fusong County, Baishan City
Tel: 0439-6259777

Yanji Chaoyangchuan International Airport, YNJ
Address: 6666 Changbai Road, Yanji City, Yanbian Korean Autonomous Prefecture
Tel: 0433-2234433

Train

White River Station
Address: Erdaobaihe Town, Antu County, Yanji City (Near Long-distance Bus Terminal)

Songjianghe Station
Address: Songjianghe Town, Fusong County, Baishan City

Long-distance bus

Erdaobaihe Passenger Station
Address: South-east corner of the intersection of Sanjiang Street and Provincial Highway 203 in Erdaobaihe Town
Tel: 0433-5712564

Songjiang River Terminal
Address: Songjianghe Town, Fusong County, Baishan City
Tel: 0439-6313425

Traffic in the city

 

Chartered bus

After arriving at Erdaobaihe Town, there is a need to charter for Changbai Mountain Scenic Area. There are currently no tourist routes available.
The chartered carriage from Erdaobaihe Town to the West Slope and the South Slope will cost 300 yuan per person and will need to live near the west slope that night.

Taxi

Erdaobaihe taxi started in the town 6 yuan, to the railway station, bus station 10 yuan, will not play the table.

Attractions

 

Mount Changbaishan

Mount Changbaishan( Paektu Mountain) is located in Jilin Province, on the border between China and North Korea. It capped with snow all year round. The mountain covers a total area of 2000 square km, and has a height of 2,744 meters at its highest peak. Changbaishan Nature Reserve was listed by UNESCO as a nature reserve in 1979. Changbaishan is famous for its waterfalls, hot springs, canyons, lava forests, alpine garden, underground rivers, forests, clouds, snow view and other beautiful views, it is a veritable paradise on earth.

In Chinese, “Changbai” translates as Perpetually White and “Shan” as mountain. Mount Changbaishan is quite popular with Chinese travelers, as well as foreign visitors from Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia and other Southeast Asia’s countries. Heaven Lake, water sprite and ginseng has already become a synonym of Changbai Mountain.

Changbai Mountain is a dormant volcano. It was recorded several eruptions in history. So unique landscape formed by volcano volcano is quite magical and majestic. The famous Heavenly Lake is sited at the top of the main volcano peak cone. It is the largest crater lake in China, as well as the highest crater lake in the world. Pouring down from Heaven Lake, Changbai waterfall is a crater lake waterfall with the largest water drop. It is quite worth having a trip to this place.

North Slope

North Slope is the most popular classic route line with the least resistance for tourists, for it enjoys more convenient transport and is set with the most completed tourist facilities. More importantly, most of main well-known attractions are located in the North Slope area. The regional development is perfect, with rich landscape and beautiful scenery along the way. Most first-time visitors will choose to go to the Northern Slope for Changbai Mountain tour. However, due to a number of large rocks up the mountain, Northern Slope is not the most perfect choice to get a good view of Heavenly Lake.

Main attractions in Northern Slope includes Heavenly Lake, Changbai Waterfall, Julong Spring, Little Heavenly Lake, valleys, woodlands, etc.. If you choose to visit the slope, you’d better take train or bus to reach Erdao Baihe Town first.

West Slope

West Slope is reachable from Songjianghe Town. The shuttle bus there will take you directly to parking lot of Heavenly Lake, then you need to walk up along the steps to see the Heavenly Lake, which is a challenge to your physical strength. West Slope contains better angle to have a bird view of Heavenly Lake compared with the North Slope. But the view along the way is quite different, with fewer trees. You will be able to see alpine botanical, Jinjiang Grand Canyon, boundary tablet of China-North Korea, etc..

South Slope

The view of Heavenly Lake from South Slope is more beautiful. You should get access through Changbai County. This route is quite closed to Sino-North Korean border, and you can see China’s boundary tablet. The view in South Slope is well protected with less tourists. Yalu River Canyon and Heavenly Lake are two main attractions.

Tianchi (Heavenly Lake)

The lake was formed in the crater of the mountain, and it is the source of the Songhua, Tumen and Yalu Rivers. The mountain is also the cradle of Manchu, Korean and Han nationalities. The altitude of the Heavenly Lake is 2,189 meters (about 7,182 ft), and so the average temperature is 7.3C (45.14 F). With clouds everywhere, Heavenly Lake is like a jade in the sky. You can find a very interesting phenomenon while walking along the Heavenly Lake. On many occasions it is common for sunshine and rain to occur at the same time. It may rain very hard one minute, but you may soon find the sun shining warmly the next minute. Sometimes, you can even watch it rain in the west and shine in the east. Besides the wonderful scenery and astonishing climate, many witnesses have claimed that there are monsters in the lake! Some witnesses even took photos as proof, but there is still no conclusive evidence.

Taking Heaven Lake as the center, Changbaishan is geographically divided into the North Slope, West Slope, and South Slope three core tourist regions in territory of China (also known as Northern Scenic Area, Western Scenic Area and Southern Scenic Area). Entrance tickets of the three different scenic areas are sold separately. The Eastern Slope lies in the territory of North Korea, and it is not reachable from the side of China. Generally speaking, the Erdao Baihe Town near to Northern Scenic Area and Donggang Town and Songjianghe Town are normal tourist bases for travelers. These towns are main strongholds in Changbaishan area, with accommodation, eating and transportation. You may reach one of the towns first according to which scenic area or slope you want to see, then transfer to visit Changbaishan Mountain.

Changbai Waterfall

The waterfall is sited in North Slope. It is a crater lake waterfall with the largest water drop – 68 meters. Heaven Lake is usually frozen over until late June or July, thus, the water flowing over is reduced in winter months, but it is never completely frozen over as the lake drains from depth below the ice and the water is geothermally heated beneath all year around. The walking path from the waterfall to the Heaven Lake is closed, so you can walk directly to reach there after your Heaven Lake. It is less crowded in the afternoon hours.

Julong Spring

Julong Hot Springs below the waterfalls create pools full of colorful algae that thrive in the geothermal water upwelling. It is sited about 900 meters north of Changbai Waterfall. This contributes headwater flowing to the young Songhua River. The Songhua flows northward into the Amur, forming China’s border with Russia, and eventually into the Sea of Okhotsk facing Sakhalin Island and the northern Pacific. Julong Spring is a hot spring with the largest amount of water, the highest temperature and the most widely distributed area in Changbaishan area. You may take a hot spring bath in the bathhouse. And The springs are hot enough to boil eggs and corn, most people do not believe this. You can have a try and buy some from the vendors.

Forest

There are many varieties of plant species on the mountainside; different kinds of plants from the Temperate Zone and the Frigid Zone. At the foot of the mountain, there’s a forest of broad-leaved trees. At 1000 metres, there is a mixed forest of broad-leaved trees and conifers. At 1800 meters, it is a solely coniferous forest where the trees are straight and strong. Above 2000-meters, only lichen can survive.

Thermal springs are another attraction for visitors. Not far from the Grand Changbai Waterfall, there is an area of about 1000 square metres with 13 thermal springs. The hot waters contain hydrogen sulphide and are claimed to have high medical value.

Attractions Nearby

 

Trigonal Bay National Forest Park

In the central part of Jingyu County in the southeast of Jilin Province, there are more than 260 volcanic cones in the southeast of Huinan County and the northeast of Liuhe County. These volcano cones are called the Longgang Group. Trigonal Bay National Forest Park is located in the volcanic forests of the original forest.

Activities

 

Skiing

Natural ski parks, there is no reason for visitors here not to experience the Changbai Mountain unique features of skiing, snowmobiling and other entertainment projects.

Hot springs

Changbai Medicine Spring
Address: The west coast of Touhoubaihe is about 17 kilometers from Erdaohe Railway Station. There are five outlets in the syrup spring, and the water temperature is maintained at around 8°C all year round.

Food

The shops inside the park and along the road might be closed during low season (September–June) – you might need to bring your own provisions for the trip e.g. fruit, bread, nuts, cereal bars, chocolate and drinks.

During high season you can buy small snacks (e.g. boiled eggs) and drinks inside the park and at the gates – prices are high. There are no restaurants inside the park. You might want to bring some provisions.

Accommodation

Northern Slope: Several hotels operate within the park, e.g. International Tourist Hotel (Guoji Lüyou Binguan) Tel. 0433 5746001 or the Grand Dynasty Hotel/Changbaishan Daewoo Hotel Tel. 0433 5746666. Prices for a double room start at ¥700. In Baihe you can find inexpensive and mid-range lodging (from Baihe to the Northgate 20 km; 40 km to the waterfall and 45 minutes/80 km to the West Gate)
Western Slope: Several hotels are located outside the park gate (e.g. Days Hotel Landscape Resort – 5 minutes’ walk to the gate). In Songjianghe you can find inexpensive and midrange lodging (around 40 minutes from Songjianghe to the Westgate ).

Shopping

Woodcarving, Wild blueberry

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