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Changbai Mountain, also known as Paektu Mountain, is located on the China-North Korea border. It is a sacred mountain for the Korean people and a "mountain of friendship" between China and North Korea. Changbai Mountain also symbolizes "staying together until old age," adding a touch of romance to travelers.
In this article, Xiaoye will give you a detailed introduction to the summer and autumn travel guide to Changbai Mountain area to provide a reference for your travel.
In the summer vacation season when flowers are in full bloom and the colorful autumn colors when frost dyes red leaves, the frozen Changbai Mountain has faded, and there are more and wider areas for activities!
Changbai Mountain, in a broad sense, refers to the main peak of Changbai Mountain (Tianchi Peak) and its remaining range at the junction of Liaoning, Jilin, Heilongjiang and Chaoxian provinces. It extends southward to Jin*zheng*shu County of Chaoxian, westward through Wangtian'e Shiwudaogou to Kuandian of Liaoning, northwestward to Baishan Lake, eastward to Baiyan County of Chaoxian, and northward to Jingpo Lake. The entire area covers an area of 1,964 square kilometers.
The most well-known of these are the "West Slope of Changbai Mountain" and "North Slope of Changbai Mountain" scenic areas (the East Slope of Changbai Mountain is located in Chaoxian territory, and the tourism resources on the South Slope of Changbai Mountain are relatively unstable).
This article will focus on the Changbai Mountain Snow Ridge, Wangtian'e Fifteen Valleys, Songling Snow Village, Changbai Mountain Primeval Forest, and two satellite towns within the entire scenic area to supplement the winter guide.
Tianchi Lake, the main peak of Changbai Mountain
Autumn scenery of Baishan Lake
Around the main peak of Changbai Mountain, there are four satellite towns in the Baishan area, namely Erdaobaihe Town on the north slope, Songjianghe and Wanda Resort Town on the west slope, and Manjiang on the south slope.
The four towns complete the supply of food, clothing, housing and transportation for the entire Changbai Mountain area. Throughout the summer and autumn, the four towns welcome guests from all over the world. Due to the direct influence of the popularity of the scenic area, Erdao Baihe Town and Wanda Resort Town are the two main tourist distribution centers.
(Overview of the Changbai Mountain Scenic Area and its surroundings)
The North Slope of Changbai Mountain falls under the jurisdiction of Erdaobaihe Town. With the North Slope's winter surge, Erdaobaihe naturally becomes the largest winter distribution center for Changbai Mountain. Consequently, it boasts a wealth of amenities, including hotels, restaurants, train stations, and supermarkets. Generally, travelers first arrive in Erdaobaihe and then choose a transportation option to reach the North Slope.
Erdaobaihe is a transportation hub connecting Baishan, Dunhua, and Yanji. Even before its tourism development, due to its high traffic volume, it already had excellent transportation facilities. The Northeast's G201 expressway, located just 25 kilometers from the Songjiang Town exit, is a major transportation artery in Northeast China. Furthermore, the Changbai Mountain Scenic Area has constructed an outer ring road that connects to the S202 Provincial Highway, making transportation very convenient.
/Public Transportation/
There are two options for you to choose from in Erdaobaihe Town: Erdaobaihe Passenger Station and Baihe Railway Station. There are more train and bus routes in winter.
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You can take the high-speed rail from Changchun to Tonghua, and then take a bus from Tonghua to Erdaobaihe Station. There are many buses, which is very convenient.
Erdaobaihe Town is the place with the most accommodation options in the entire Changbai Mountain area. Due to its proximity to the Changbai Mountain Scenic Area, the hot spring resources of Changbai Mountain have been well utilized in Erdaobaihe. Hot spring hotels of all sizes can be found throughout the town, ranging from farmhouses to five-star accommodations!
We will focus on introducing two hot spring hotels, which are common and cost-effective hotels in Erdaobaihe, namely Yuluxun and Baoshi Town Hot Spring Hotel. The hotels are equipped with hot spring facilities. The average price in summer is 300-600 yuan per room, and around 800 yuan during the National Day holiday. The overall price is lower than in winter.
Erdaobaihe Town is located at the east-west intersection of Jilin Province. 200 km to the west, it reaches Yanbian Chaoxian Autonomous Prefecture and is separated from North Korea by the Yalu River.
Heading east from Erdaobaihe, the scenic avenue through the Changbai Mountain virgin forest offers stops at numerous viewing platforms, the most famous of which is the "Xueling" viewing platform, offering a distant view of Changbai Mountain's Tianchi Lake. The Tumen Port in Yanbian Korean Autonomous Prefecture, a border crossing between China and North Korea, allows entry to Nanyang District.
Wanda Resort Town is located near the Changbai Mountain West Scenic Area and Songjianghe Town, administratively located on the west slope of Changbai Mountain. However, due to the rise of Wanda Resort Town, Songjianghe Town has not experienced the same rapid development as Erdaobaihe. Instead, Wanda Resort Town has gained greater fame. Its more comprehensive hot springs, water park, and golf course facilities make it more suitable for high-end enthusiasts. However, the overall consumer demand at Wanda Resort Town is significantly higher than that at Erdaobaihe. While enjoying a wider range of recreational experiences, budget considerations should be kept in mind.
The transportation in Wanda Resort Town is also very convenient. The road traffic was fully improved when the resort town was built. The S26 Fuchang Expressway can be directly exited at Wanda Resort Town.
Changbaishan Airport is located about a 30-minute drive from the town. Wanda Resort Town provides shuttle buses to and from Changbaishan Airport every day. At the same time, if you book a five-star hotel at the Wanda Resort Hotel, there will basically be a supporting airport pick-up service, which is very convenient.
Currently, Tianjin, Dalian, Changchun, Harbin and Beijing have opened direct flights from China United Airlines to Changbaishan Airport, and major cities across the country such as Shanghai, Hangzhou, Guangzhou and Xi'an can all transfer to Changbaishan Airport.
The hotel accommodations in Changbaishan Wanda Resort Town basically gather the highest accommodation levels in the three northeastern provinces. The Changbaishan Park Hyatt Hotel and the Hyatt Grand Hyatt Changbaishan Hotel of the Hyatt Park Hyatt Group are international five-star hotels and have been located in the Wanda Resort Town since the beginning of its construction.
Four-star hotels such as Holiday Inn Express and Ibis Holiday Inn have also improved their accommodation facilities in the resort town. In the summer, Hallasan Hot Springs and the constant temperature water park in the resort town are open to guests free of charge!
Tips:
Hotel price reference:
The price of Hyatt Hotel is 1,200-2,000 yuan per room, while the price of Ibis and Holiday Inn Express is 800-1,600 yuan per room.
Free heated water park in summer
Halla Mountain Hot Springs provided by the hotel in summer
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There are all kinds of restaurants in Erdaobaihe and Wanda Resort Town. Northeastern cuisine is generally known for its large portions, while Korean cuisine is mainly cold food. The more distinctive ones are Northeastern iron pot stew, Korean barbecue, Northeastern barbecue and other categories.
Similar tours can be seen everywhere in the town. With the increase in restaurants and the development of the Internet, prices are basically transparent. Being ripped off here is a thing of the past. Prices are basically higher than those in Northeastern provincial capitals such as Harbin and Changchun.
In terms of clothing, the average daily temperature of Changbai Mountain (except the main peak of Tianchi) in summer is 20 degrees Celsius, which is a good place to escape the heat and cool down. The clothing is mainly summer clothes + early autumn outerwear; while in the northeast in autumn, the temperature drops sharply, with the average daily temperature around 5 degrees Celsius, so the clothing is mainly autumn clothes + early winter clothes. It is best to bring a three-piece jacket.
Changbai Mountain's North Slope, located in Erdaobaihe Town, Baishan City, is the most popular destination for travelers. It's about a 40-minute drive from Erdaobaihe Town to the foot of the North Slope, where you can transfer to a scenic shuttle bus and ascend the mountain.
The operation of the scenic shuttle bus in Changbai Mountain Scenic Area is very regular, with dispatchers in charge at each small scenic spot. Since the main peak of Changbai Mountain is more than 1,300 meters above sea level, there are strong winds of level 8 to 9 or above at the main peak Tianchi all year round. If the main peak Tianchi is not open due to weather reasons, the tourist center of the scenic area at the foot of the mountain will announce it.
If Tianchi is open, the scenic shuttle bus will first arrive at the Tianchi Transfer Station, where you can transfer to a 4x4 (scenic area operating vehicle) to reach the summit of Tianchi. If you choose not to visit Tianchi, you can continue to transfer to the scenic shuttle bus to the Blue View Restaurant Central Station and transfer to another branch scenic shuttle bus to continue your tour. Whether you can see Tianchi or not depends on your luck.
Map of Changbai Mountain North Scenic Area
The Changbai Mountain North Scenic Area mainly consists of four attractions: Luyuantan, Valley Forest, Changbai Mountain Tianchi and Changbai Waterfall.
Within the North Slope Scenic Area, the only means of transportation is the scenic shuttle bus. To reach the North Slope Tianchi, an off-road vehicle guide station is available for an additional 80 yuan per person. In summer, the North Slope forests are lush green, creating a natural oxygen bar. In autumn, the vibrant golden colors of the mountains create a photography paradise.
Green Abyss Pond
Changbai Waterfall
Scenery of the north slope of Changbai Mountain
Compared with the north slope, the west slope of Changbai Mountain is less visited in summer, mainly because it was developed later. However, the west slope is a "holy mountain" that Koreans love to climb.
However, the lack of crowds is a natural advantage! Compared to the north slope, the west slope offers a panoramic view of Tianchi Lake. The scenic shuttle bus to Tianchi Lake only takes you to the foot of the lake, followed by a climb of 1,236 steps, which is quite physically demanding.
The beauty of the west slope lies more in its pristine beauty. The "Jinjiang Grand Canyon" and "Alpine Garden" on the west slope are also very popular. Compared with the north slope, the west slope Tianchi is more suitable for tourists who want a little outdoor experience.
Around the Changbai Mountain forest area, there are many scenic spots worth experiencing, with different scenery in spring, summer, autumn and winter. Many places are beautiful and sparsely populated, and you can also appreciate the local customs and culture of the Northeast people in the Changbai Mountain area.
Wangtian'e Shiwudaogou, located in Changbai County, is approximately 155 kilometers from the western slopes of Changbai Mountain. Formed by volcanic eruptions, these gullies are known for their "strange rock waterfalls" and "stone murals." The scenery is truly breathtaking, with gurgling water in summer and vibrant forests in autumn.
Songling Snow Village, located in Linjiang City, Jilin Province, 140 kilometers from Changbai Mountain, is another Shandong immigrant village. Upon its discovery, Songling Snow Village quickly attracted photographers from across the country. Compared to Xuexiang, in winter, it offers a more tranquil and leisurely experience of rural Northeast China. During heavy snowfall, the scenery evokes the line from an ancient poem: "Behind the wooden gate, I hear the barking of a dog; a man returns home in a snowy night." This year, China-TravelNote has launched an autumn photography program in Songling. The terraced fields, colorful forests, and Wuhua Mountain are a true photography paradise! In summer, the ancient pear trees blossom in abundance, creating a vibrant "Pear Blossom Festival."
The Nongfu Spring water source, located in the Changbai Mountain forest area, opens a new path for exploring the mountains! Tracing the gurgling stream to its source, the journey brings us not only the clarity of the spring water, but also the magical wonders of nature, vividly displayed here!
Located at the northernmost tip of China, Northeast China is known as a summer resort and the country's earliest autumn! Changbai Mountain, Mohe River, and the Red Sea Beach are among Northeast China's three major tourist destinations! Our motherland boasts magnificent landscapes, including the Baishan and Heishui Rivers, the Sanjiang and Songnen Plains, and countless other poetic and distant destinations! We look forward to welcoming you to the Northeast!
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