Five trips to Baishan: Things you need to know

Who would have thought that after five trips to Baishan, I'd go from "five-star hotel devotee" to "hostel regular"? This city taught me that real travel is about exploring with your feet and experiencing life with your heart.

🌊 Jingyu Maar Lake: A National Geographic-worthy experience for free

I didn't discover this magical place until my fifth trip! Located in the Longwan Forest Farm in Jingyu County, Jingyu Maar Lake is like a sapphire pressed into the forest by God. Hiking around this volcanic crater lake is completely free. I woke up at 4 a.m. to catch the morning mist over the lake, dressed in Hanfu to take some ethereal photos, and posted them online with the caption "Being a celestial being in the eye of the forest." My comments section blew up with people asking for the location! I had iron pot-stewed fish at a lakeside farmhouse restaurant for just CNY 30 per person. The fish soup was so good I almost licked the bowl clean, and the owner even gave me some homemade Schisandra wine. Watching the sunset over the lake with a slight buzz was an experience no five-star hotel could match!

🏮 Manjiang Millennium Cliff City: A journey through time for CNY 68

I used to think man-made scenic spots were boring, until I saw the Millennium Cliff City in Manjiang Town, Fusong County, light up at night! Lanterns illuminated the Balhae Kingdom architecture. The night ticket included a live-action role-playing game, and the NPC handed me a "passport" to start my adventure. I even joined the night watch patrol, and the security guard joked, "This group of tourists is more dedicated than the actors!" The photos I took were as stunning as those from Luoyang's Yingtian Gate. My friends all thought I'd gone to Hengdian World Studios!

🚣 Lushui River Rafting: An unexpected encounter on crystal-clear water

I rented a raft for CNY 150 at the Lushui River Hunting Resort. The water was so clear you could count the pebbles on the riverbed. A forest ranger secretly pointed out a "secret maple forest" to me. In October, the red leaves reflect beautifully in the clear water, perfect for time-lapse photography. I even bumped into a wild deer drinking water while rafting further down the river – a priceless sight!

🍢 Hunjiang Night Market: Authentic Northeast China flavors for CNY 30

A taxi driver recommended the Hunjiang District Night Market to me, and it was the perfect cure for my "fancy food" syndrome:
▪️ CNY 5 for a bowl of noodles with kimchi – a late-night haven for working people, according to a local auntie.
▪️ CNY 10 for 3 skewers of grilled forest frog – like a supercharged version of frog meat!
▪️ CNY 3 for a sticky pancake with red bean filling – so hot it burned my mouth, but so delicious I couldn't stop eating it.

🏡 Guoyuan Village Homestay: Sleeping in a Korean-style painting

I stayed in a Korean-style heated-brick bed room in Guoyuan Village for CNY 80 per night, including a kimchi-making experience. I woke up to the sound of the hostess making rice cakes. The colorful jars of chili sauce drying on the roof looked like a painter's palette, and every corner was Instagram-worthy. It was only a 10-minute drive from the Millennium Cliff City, and the money I saved on transportation was enough for three barbecue meals!

🌌 Longshan Lake Camping: A free guide to the Milky Way

I enjoyed some wild camping at Longshan Lake Scenic Area in Hunjiang District. Tent rental was CNY 50. I brought my own instant noodles and sausages and lay down to watch the Milky Way stretch across the sky. A forest ranger on patrol even pointed out the Big Dipper to us. "There's very little light pollution here," he said, "so you don't even need a tripod to capture star trails!"