When coming to Jilin for summer retreat, Changbai Mountain is an unmissable destination.

As the highest mountain range on the eastern edge of the Eurasian continent, Changbai Mountain itself is a vast cool sanctuary. Summer (June to August) is the best time to visit Changbai Mountain for escaping the heat, with temperatures around 20°C. The ice on Tianchi (Heavenly Lake) completely melts, and under clear skies, the lake glows sapphire blue—this is the period with the highest probability of seeing the lake in its full glory.

Tianchi is the highlight of this journey.

It is a volcanic crater lake formed by water accumulation over a long geological period after volcanic eruptions. With a circumference of 13.17 kilometers and an average depth of over 200 meters, it is the world's highest and deepest volcanic lake, and the source of three major rivers: the Songhua River, the Yalu River, and the Tumen River.

Changbai Mountain Tianchi (Heavenly Lake). Source: tuchong

However, the weather on the mountain is highly changeable. For most of the time, Tianchi is shrouded in clouds and mist, with only about a 30% chance of seeing it clearly. Precisely because it is so rare, when the wind tears open a gap in the clouds and that lake, deeper blue than sapphire, suddenly appears before your eyes, every moment of waiting becomes worthwhile.

Changbai Mountain has three sightseeing routes: the North Slope, the West Slope, and the South Slope.

North Slope: Developed early with dense attractions, and shuttle buses are available throughout, making it suitable for seniors and children. To reach Tianchi, you need to transfer to a shuttle van to the main peak, offering a classic view with slight obstruction. Tickets, including eco-bus and shuttle van, cost approximately RMB 300.

West Slope: Requires climbing 1,442 steps to reach the summit, offering a wide, unobstructed panoramic view of Tianchi. In summer, you can enjoy alpine flower meadows along the way. Tickets, including eco-bus, cost approximately RMB 190.

South Slope: Open only from June to October each year with limited visitors. It offers a closer view of Tianchi's water surface, and you can also see the Yalu River Grand Canyon and the China-North Korea boundary marker. Tickets, including eco-bus, cost approximately RMB 190.

Tips for viewing Tianchi: From 8 to 10 a.m., there are fewer clouds, increasing your chances of seeing the lake. The main peak is very windy; even in summer, bring a windbreaker or a light down jacket. Due to strong winds that can easily cause loss of balance and falls, umbrellas are prohibited at the summit; it is recommended to bring a raincoat.

After viewing Tianchi, there are several other attractions worth visiting on the North Slope: Changbai Waterfall plunges from a 68-meter cliff between Tianhuo Peak and Longmen Peak; Julong Hot Springs are the largest, most widely distributed, and hottest hot springs on Changbai Mountain, with water temperatures reaching 82°C. The hard-boiled eggs cooked in the hot springs are a must-try specialty—the yolks are firm while the whites have a translucent jelly-like texture, smooth and tender; Lüyuan Pool features crystal-clear streams cascading from a 20-meter cliff into an emerald-green pool; and the Underground Forest is an ecological specimen of volcanic activity, with a vertical drop of 70 meters, making it the lowest-altitude attraction on Changbai Mountain.

Editor Ⅰ: Zhang Congxiao

Editor Ⅱ: Zhang Wenwen

Editor Ⅲ: Pan Kaiyue