Jilin is a province in northeast China bordering North Korea and Russia, known for Changbai Mountain and its Heaven Lake crater, Changchun's Manchukuo-era palace and film heritage, Jilin City's winter rime ice, and the Korean-Chinese culture of Yanbian. The Tumen and Yalu rivers form its southern frontier, and Goguryeo tombs at Ji'an are UNESCO World Heritage sites. Winters are long and cold, with excellent skiing.
Top attractions
The most popular and significant attractions in Jilin.
-
1
Changbai Mountain North Slope and Heaven Lake (长白山北坡·天池)
The crater lake of Changbai Mountain (Baekdu), at 2,189 m the highest lake in China on a volcanic summit shared with North Korea; reached by shuttle bus and jeep from the North Scenic Area gate, with the lake often fogged in even in summer.
Tip: Weather at the summit changes within minutes: bring a windproof jacket even in July · Entry, the mandatory shuttle bus and the summit jeep are ticketed separately; allow about CNY 250 in total · Reserve entry slots on the official WeChat mini-program with a passport
-
2
Changbai Waterfall (长白瀑布)
A 68 m waterfall that drops from the Heaven Lake outlet into the Songhua River headwaters, with a viewing deck and a boardwalk to the hot-spring streams below.
Tip: Reach it by the scenic-area shuttle bus; the boardwalk to the base is short but steep · Hot-spring eggs are sold beside the stream near the falls
-
3
Changbai Mountain Grand Canyon (长白山大峡谷)
A volcanic gorge of eroded pumice pillars and forested cliffs northwest of the summit, walked on a looping boardwalk.
Tip: The boardwalk loop is about 1.5 km; rainy days make the steps slick · Often visited as a half-day add-on to the Heaven Lake day
-
4
Puppet Emperor's Palace Museum (伪满皇宫博物院)
The residence of Puyi, the last Qing emperor, during the Japanese-controlled state of Manchukuo (1932-1945), with the Jixi Building, the Qingyin Pavilion and the emperor's bomb shelter, now run as a museum.
Tip: Bring a passport to the ticket window; audio guides are offered at the entrance · Combine with the nearby Eight Great Ministries site · Pick up the free map showing the Inner Court and Outer Court
-
5
Jingyuetan National Forest Park (净月潭国家森林公园)
A forest park on the southeast edge of Changchun around the Jingyue reservoir, known for its man-made pine plantations, summer cycling and the winter Snow and Ice festival.
Tip: Rent a bike at the gate to ride the lakeside loop · Changchun Metro Line 1 or light rail serves the Jingyuetan stop · Winter ice activities are ticketed separately
-
6
Eight Great Ministries of the Puppet State (伪满八大部)
Ministry buildings of the Manchukuo regime in Changchun's former Xinjing administrative core, built in the 1930s in the Japanese-influenced 'Imperial Crown' style; several now serve as hospital and offices and can only be viewed from outside.
Tip: Walk the avenue from the Puppet Emperor's Palace towards Xinmin Street · Most interiors are active hospital buildings, so photograph only from the street
-
7
Wusong Island (雾凇岛)
A Songhua River islet where warm water from the Fengman reservoir makes thick rime frost coat the trees from late December to early March; one of China's most photographed winter scenes.
Tip: Check the rime forecast on local WeChat accounts; fog is needed the night before · Dress for -25 C and carry spare gloves for the camera · Tour buses from Jilin City leave before sunrise
-
8
Songhua Lake (松花湖)
A large reservoir behind the Fengman Dam on the Songhua River, with boat cruises, ski resorts nearby and, in winter, ice fishing and rime-viewing walks.
Tip: Cruise operators sell tickets at the pier · Ski packages are sold at the resorts around the lake
-
9
Jilin Confucian Temple (吉林文庙)
A 1920s temple of Confucius built in the Qing and Republic-era style and now a local history exhibition space, one of the better-preserved Confucian temples in northeast China.
Tip: Check the temple's mini-program for seasonal closing days · Walk on to Beishan Park afterwards
-
10
Longtan Mountain Park (龙潭山)
A hill park east of Jilin City, home to the Longtan Mountain Fortress, an early Goguryeo-period hill fortress, along with a dragon-pool legend site and city viewpoints.
Tip: Fortress walls and the dragon-pool relic sit on different paths; follow the signboards · Pair with a visit to the Jilin Meteorite Museum
Attractions by category
Explore by your interests.
Landmarks
Puppet Emperor's Palace Museum (伪满皇宫博物院)
The residence of Puyi, the last Qing emperor, during the Japanese-controlled state of Manchukuo (1932-1945), with the Jixi Building, the Qingyin Pavilion and the emperor's bomb shelter, now run as a museum.
Yanji Xishichang Market (延吉西市场)
The main open-air market of Yanbian's Korean-Chinese community in Yanji, famous for kimchi, cold noodles, rice cakes and barbecue stalls.
Fangchuan Scenic Area (防川风景区)
The border tip of China at Hunchun where the Tumen River meets China, Russia and North Korea; a viewing tower and the Dragon-Tiger Pavilion (龙虎阁) look across to three countries.
Tumen Riverside Border Promenade (图们江边境景观)
A riverfront promenade at Tumen City where the Tumen River marks the China-North Korea border, with a viewing area facing the far bank.
Museums
Puppet Emperor's Palace Museum (伪满皇宫博物院)
The residence of Puyi, the last Qing emperor, during the Japanese-controlled state of Manchukuo (1932-1945), with the Jixi Building, the Qingyin Pavilion and the emperor's bomb shelter, now run as a museum.
Nature
Changbai Mountain North Slope and Heaven Lake (长白山北坡·天池)
The crater lake of Changbai Mountain (Baekdu), at 2,189 m the highest lake in China on a volcanic summit shared with North Korea; reached by shuttle bus and jeep from the North Scenic Area gate, with the lake often fogged in even in summer.
Changbai Waterfall (长白瀑布)
A 68 m waterfall that drops from the Heaven Lake outlet into the Songhua River headwaters, with a viewing deck and a boardwalk to the hot-spring streams below.
Changbai Mountain Grand Canyon (长白山大峡谷)
A volcanic gorge of eroded pumice pillars and forested cliffs northwest of the summit, walked on a looping boardwalk.
Jingyuetan National Forest Park (净月潭国家森林公园)
A forest park on the southeast edge of Changchun around the Jingyue reservoir, known for its man-made pine plantations, summer cycling and the winter Snow and Ice festival.
Wusong Island (雾凇岛)
A Songhua River islet where warm water from the Fengman reservoir makes thick rime frost coat the trees from late December to early March; one of China's most photographed winter scenes.
Songhua Lake (松花湖)
A large reservoir behind the Fengman Dam on the Songhua River, with boat cruises, ski resorts nearby and, in winter, ice fishing and rime-viewing walks.
Xianghai National Nature Reserve (向海国家级自然保护区)
A Ramsar wetland of lakes, reed beds and grassland in Tongyu County, famed for migrating red-crowned cranes and white cranes in April and October.
Chagan Lake (查干湖)
A large lake in Songyuan famed for winter ice fishing with horse-drawn nets, a Mongol-led tradition recognised as national intangible heritage, and a lakeside Lamaist temple.
Cultural
Eight Great Ministries of the Puppet State (伪满八大部)
Ministry buildings of the Manchukuo regime in Changchun's former Xinjing administrative core, built in the 1930s in the Japanese-influenced 'Imperial Crown' style; several now serve as hospital and offices and can only be viewed from outside.
Jilin Confucian Temple (吉林文庙)
A 1920s temple of Confucius built in the Qing and Republic-era style and now a local history exhibition space, one of the better-preserved Confucian temples in northeast China.
Longtan Mountain Park (龙潭山)
A hill park east of Jilin City, home to the Longtan Mountain Fortress, an early Goguryeo-period hill fortress, along with a dragon-pool legend site and city viewpoints.
Gonnei City Site (Guonei City) (国内城遗址)
The ruined plains capital of the Goguryeo kingdom from 3 AD to 427 AD, now partly built over by Ji'an town; stone wall sections survive and form one component of the UNESCO Goguryeo World Heritage property.
Hotaiwang Stele (Gwanggaeto Stele) (好太王碑)
A 6.4 m inscribed granite stele erected in 414 AD for King Gwanggaeto (Hotaiwang) with about 1,775 characters recording Goguryeo history; housed in a glass pavilion near the king's tomb.
Wandu Mountain City (丸都山城)
A Goguryeo mountain fortress from 3 AD on Mount Wandu north of Ji'an, paired with Gonnei City, with sections of stone wall, a palace foundation and gate sites.
Chagan Lake (查干湖)
A large lake in Songyuan famed for winter ice fishing with horse-drawn nets, a Mongol-led tradition recognised as national intangible heritage, and a lakeside Lamaist temple.
Liuding Mountain Scenic Area (六鼎山)
A hill park near Dunhua that holds the tomb of Princess Zhenhui of the Bohai kingdom and the Zhengjue Temple, with a large seated Buddha.
Practical information
What you need to know before you go.
- Hours
- Most museums and palaces are open daily about 8:30-17:30 with last entry 30-60 minutes earlier; Changbai Mountain scenic areas open fully only in the warm season and close the summit road in heavy snow
- Fees
- Changbai Mountain North Slope CNY 125 (approx USD 19) plus shuttle bus; Puppet Emperor's Palace CNY 70 (approx USD 10); smaller heritage sites CNY 20-60 (approx USD 3-9)
- Best Times
- June-September for Changbai Mountain and Chagan Lake; late December to early March for rime frost and ice fishing; October for foliage and crane migration
- Booking
- Foreign visitors can buy tickets with a passport at the window; book Changbai Mountain entry and shuttle on the official WeChat mini-program or through Trip.com with English support
- Emergency
- Police 110, ambulance 120, tourist complaint hotline 12301
Tips for visiting attractions
Make the most of your sightseeing time.
Carry the passport everywhere in China: it is required for ticket purchase and hotel check-in
Install Alipay or WeChat Pay and link an international card, as many vendors prefer mobile payment
Use Didi (滴滴) or Amap (高德) for taxis and show the Chinese name from this guide to the driver
Book Changchun-Jilin-Yanji high-speed trains on the 12306 app or Trip.com; the Changchun-Jilin intercity line takes under an hour
Winter in Jilin drops below -20 C: dress in layers and check the opening status of mountain sites before going
Changbai Mountain summit roads close in bad weather: build a spare day into the plan
Frequently asked questions
What is the best time to visit Jilin attractions?
June to September suits Changbai Mountain, Chagan Lake and Fangchuan; late December to early March suits rime frost at Wusong Island and ice fishing at Chagan Lake.
How do I get to Changbai Mountain?
Fly or take the high-speed train to Changbaishan or Baihe, then take a taxi or shuttle to the North Scenic Area gate about 20-40 minutes away; reserve entry on the WeChat mini-program.
Is there a UNESCO site in Jilin?
Yes; the Capital Cities and Tombs of the Ancient Koguryo Kingdom in Ji'an were inscribed in 2004, including Gonnei City, Wandu Mountain City, the Hotaiwang Stele and the Great King's Tomb.
How much do major sights cost?
Changbai Mountain North Slope is about CNY 125 (approx USD 19) in season, the Puppet Emperor's Palace about CNY 70 (approx USD 10), and the Ji'an heritage sites about CNY 60 (approx USD 9).