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Hailed as the northeast China (Jilin
Province), the Mt. Changbaishan attracts
thousands of visitors every year. Due to its latitude and altitude, it
has long and extremely cold winter. Although the onset of spring is
evidence in most parts of China after the Chinese Spring Festival, Changbaishan still seems to be in the embrace of ice and snow.
The Mt. Changbaishan at this time is an alabaster world, blanketed
with thick ice and snow. The branches and sprays turn white, the valleys
are filled to the brim with snow, the famous Tianchi Lake is frozen, and
icicles cluster on the great Changbaishan Waterfall, reducing it to a
width of 3 to 4 metres. Against the backdrop of ice and snow, the rising
vapour from Julongquan Hot Spring, at the foot of the waterfall looks
extraordinary.
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Endowed with a superb natural environment, the Changbaishan Mountain is
the ideal place for snow-related activities. There are about dozen
different sking grounds, including the Lesser Tianchi Lake Skiing
Grounds and the Hot Spring Skiing Grounds, which captivate groups of
skiers in the winter. Speeding through the pine forest on skis offers
you thrills, sleigh and motor-riding on the snow make you fairly
relaxed, and a bath in the hot spring in the bleak weather requires a
bit of courage.
Located 900 meters north of Changbaishan Waterfall, the Julongquan Hot
Spring has dozens mouths, which are scattered throughout an area of 1
square km and gush hot water continuously. The temperature fluctuates a
little in different sections of the spring, but remains within the scope
of 62 to 82 degrees centigrade. An extremely hot spring, the water can
cook an egg in 20 minutes. Because of Chemical gases contained in the
spring water, the volcanic rocks surrounding the spring are of different
colors, including golden, blue, red and green. Favourable elements and
minerals in the water bestow the spring medicinal values. Both in the
hot spring in cold weather proves to be refreshing and enjoyable.
A visit to the famous Tianchi Lake at the top of the main peak is a must
for tourists all year. If you choose the northern round, you will have
the chance to appreciate the Heifengkou Pass, well known for its wild
whirlwinds. People can hardly stand straight in this wild wind, which
sends sand and stones in all directions. The only way to reach the pass
is by crawling, yet no one avoids the Hefengkou Pass, as it is the only
place where you can have a full view of the magnificent Changbaishan
Waterfall.
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The trees coated in ice crystals also provide marvellous natural
scenery. The damp climate in the Changbaishan mountainous area makes
this beautiful scene quite common. Near the Tianchi Lake, the
Changbaishan Waterfall, the Julongquan Hot Spring, and the Baihe River,
rising vapours condense on rocks and trees, like petals of white
flowers. With pieces of ice flowers dropping on your head, a walk
through the misty tree is just like wandering through a fairyland.
Although the pace of spring slows down at the food of the Changbaishan
Mountain, its arrival is inevitable. Melting snow and rains that flow
into the river shove up thick ice layers, which in turn form huge ice
steaks floating down the river with thundering noise.
Although spring has arrived, a trace of winter still lingers a bit. The
snow and ice on the hillside have melted while the peaks are still all
white. Take a stroll around the mountain, and you will find that
sometimes your feet will fall on budding grass and sometimes on
remaining snow. In this season, the alpine azaleas thrive throughout the
valleys and slopes. Their fragrant, creamy flowers form a sharp contrast
with the remaining snow and ice.
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