Yanji Mao'er Mountain Forest Park

Below is a detailed introduction to Yanji Mao'er Mountain National Forest Park and Hailan Pearl Tower, combining natural ecology, cultural features, and emerging cultural tourism projects to provide you with comprehensive reference:

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### 🌲 **1. Mao'er Mountain National Forest Park**
**Overview**
- **Location and Status**: Located about 10 kilometers south of Yanji city, covering an area of approximately 1,100 hectares. It was approved as a national forest park in 1992 and is now a national 4A-level scenic area, open to the public for free.
- **Natural Features**: The main peak has an elevation of 517.2 meters and is named for its resemblance to a grass hat. The forest coverage rate ranges from 76.1% to 92.6%, dominated by natural secondary forests of pine, elm, and poplar trees. Wildlife includes pheasants and wild rabbits, with abundant mushrooms and rare plants.
- **Cultural Integration**: It combines Korean ethnic folk customs, forest ecology, and historical sites, serving as the ecological core and leisure landmark of the Yanji-Longjing-Tumen region.

**Core Attractions and Experiences**
| **Attraction Type** | **Representative Projects and Features** |
|--------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| **Natural Scenery** | Shrimp Rice Spring (sweet mountain spring water); Duntai Ruins (Bohai Kingdom beacon tower); Changbai Mountain Botanical Garden (44 hectares, azalea flower sea) |
| **Cultural Experience** | Korean Ethnic Folk Village: rice cake making, seesaw/swing performances, bonfire parties, traditional singing and dancing |
| **Iconic Facilities** | Tiger Sculpture Square ("Tiger Roaring Changbai" stone carving); summit aviation marker frame (pilgrimage route) |
| **Leisure Activities** | Wooden plank trail hiking (about 2 hours to the summit); farmhouse dining (native chicken feast, smoked rabbit); winter ski resort |

**Practical Information**
- **Transportation**: Take bus No. 43 directly from Yanji city center; self-driving via Yanlong Highway southbound.
- **Tips**: The summit is steep, so wear anti-slip shoes; it is recommended to bring drinking water and sun protection; folk village at the foot of the mountain offers accommodation (about 10 yuan/night).

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### 🏙️ **2. Hailan Pearl Tower: Yanji’s New Landmark**
**Background and Positioning**
- **History**: Formerly the Yanji Meteorological Tower (built in 2009, completed in 2014), it was renovated and upgraded in 2024 and opened as the "Hailan Pearl Tower" on April 30, 2025, with a total investment of 500 million yuan.
- **Design Concept**: The tower is 181.2 meters tall with 31 floors, shaped like a "pearl" symbolizing ethnic unity. It retains meteorological monitoring functions and adds cultural tourism experiences, filling the gap in Yanji for high-altitude sightseeing and extreme sports.

**Featured Functional Areas**
| **Floor** | **Functions and Experiences** |
|------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| **1st Floor** | Digital Exhibition Hall: light and shadow technology showcasing Yanbian’s history and future plans |
| **2nd Floor** | Korean Cuisine Collection: cold noodles, barbecue, and other flavors |
| **5th Floor** | Tongxin Market: cultural and creative products and souvenirs |
| **8th Floor** | Meteorological Museum: interactive science popularization of natural mysteries |
| **30th-31st Floors** | High-altitude walk + cloud café: panoramic views of Mao'er Mountain and Hailan River |
| **Tower Top** | "Hailan Eye": 360° observation deck + Northeast China’s first year-round high-altitude bungee jumping (with glass plank road and swings) |

**Events and Collaboration**
- **Annual Events**: International Light Festival, high-altitude concerts, bungee jumping challenges.
- **Regional Coordination**: Forms a "six-star linkage" cultural tourism matrix with Dinosaur Kingdom, Dinosaur Hot Spring Hotel, and others, promoting all-region tourism.

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### 🌄 **3. Unique Linkage Between the Two Scenic Areas**
- **Spatial Interaction**: From the 30th floor of Hailan Pearl Tower, you can overlook the entire Mao'er Mountain, creating a "mountain-tower echo" sightseeing perspective.
- **Complementary Experiences**: Mao'er Mountain emphasizes nature and folk customs (down-to-earth), while Hailan Pearl Tower focuses on technology and high-altitude thrills (modern feel), meeting diverse needs.

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### 🚗 **4. Travel Tips**
- **Best Seasons**:
- Mao'er Mountain: summer for cooling, autumn for red leaves.
- Hailan Pearl Tower: indoor projects open year-round; high-altitude activities are best avoided on windy winter days.
- **Itinerary Planning**:
- Climb Mao'er Mountain in the morning (half day), visit Hailan Pearl Tower in the afternoon (2-3 hours).
- Travel time from Yanji city center to both attractions is within 30 minutes.

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### 💎 **Summary**
Mao'er Mountain National Forest Park centers on pristine ecology and Korean ethnic culture, making it a classic choice for immersive natural and cultural experiences; Hailan Pearl Tower highlights high-altitude sightseeing, technological interaction, and extreme sports, representing Yanji’s innovative cultural tourism direction. The two, one ancient and one modern, one tranquil and one dynamic, together form a three-dimensional picture of Yanji as the "City of Mountains and Waters," ideal for a 1-2 day in-depth tour.