Changbai Mountain and Heaven Lake

Changbai Mountain, known in Korean as Paektu, is a volcano on the China-North Korea border in Antu County, Yanbian Korean Autonomous Prefecture, Jilin Province. It is topped by Heaven Lake (Tianchi), a crater lake at about 2,189 m. The north scenic area near Erdaobaihe is the usual entry point for visitors from Yanji, about 270 km away. The drive takes about 3.5 to 4 hours each way. A car with driver costs about CNY 700-1200 per day, a coach from Yanji to Erdaobaihe takes about 3 to 4 hours for CNY 60-100, and day tours from Yanji on Trip.com cost about CNY 400-800. Entrance is about CNY 120-140 in peak season, plus a park shuttle of about CNY 80-90 to the mountain-top car park. The north slope offers waterfalls, hot springs and a boardwalk network through the forest, and the summit road is closed by snow from about mid-October to early June, so the main window is summer. A day trip is tight because of the long drive in both directions, which makes this a hard day, and many visitors choose to stay overnight at Erdaobaihe. A suggested day begins with a pre-dawn departure from Yanji to arrive at the north gate by mid-morning. The first stop is the shuttle to the summit car park and the viewing area over Heaven Lake, weather permitting. Cloud and fog frequently hide the lake, so patience and flexibility help. After the summit, visitors usually continue to the waterfall and the forest boardwalks, with lunch at restaurants near the entrance in Erdaobaihe. The return drive leaves in the afternoon to reach Yanji in the evening. Temperatures at the summit are much colder than at the base even in July, so warm layers and a windproof jacket are essential. The area is a nature reserve, so visitors should stay on marked paths and follow park rules.