It was one of the travel plans made a long time before returning to China – Changbai Mountain!
I remember when I was a teenager, I went to Changbai Mountain with my family once. That year we chose the North Slope. We reached the top by taking a mountain-climbing bus with a centrifugal force of more than 300%. I can’t remember exactly what the Tianchi we saw was like, but I still vividly remember the uncomfortable feeling of my stomach churning.
This time, following my dad’s advice, we chose the West Slope and climbed up the stairs – I heard there are more than 1,440 steps. Mike and I thought this was a good opportunity to exercise, so we readily agreed.
I remember when I was a teenager, I went to Changbai Mountain with my family once. That year we chose the North Slope. We reached the top by taking a mountain-climbing bus with a centrifugal force of more than 300%. I can’t remember exactly what the Tianchi we saw was like, but I still vividly remember the uncomfortable feeling of my stomach churning.
This time, following my dad’s advice, we chose the West Slope and climbed up the stairs – I heard there are more than 1,440 steps. Mike and I thought this was a good opportunity to exercise, so we readily agreed.
We drove to Legomei Hotel in Songjianghe Town one day in advance. On that day, we soaked in hot springs, lay on the sauna heated kang in the hotel, and had a comfortable sleep. The next morning, after having breakfast, the four of us walked to the Changbai Mountain West Slope tourist center and took a bus up the mountain.
Unexpectedly, except for me and my parents, all the people in the whole bus were foreigners – a nearly twenty-person South Korean tourist group and British Mike. So unsurprisingly, “思密达 (simida)” was heard everywhere in the bus.
The fog was extremely heavy that day, and we were not sure if we could see Tianchi. After arriving at the stairway entrance of the West Slope, our group got off and started climbing the stairs slowly. Although each step of these stairs is not high, climbing them is really a high-intensity aerobic exercise. When climbing to more than 800 steps, my dad resolutely gave up and turned around and left. When climbing to more than 810 steps, my mom couldn’t hold on anymore and waved her hand repeatedly indicating surrender.
Well, only the two of us were left. Mike’s physical fitness is much better than mine. After all, he is a former soldier. Coupled with his good fitness habits at ordinary times, after climbing more than 1,000 stairs, his face didn’t turn red and his heart didn’t beat fast. He could even run a few steps from time to time. I was extremely envious.
Climbing and climbing, we encountered the check-in point at an altitude of 2,420 meters. A group of South Korean aunties asked us to take pictures for them. So Mike turned into a photographer, composing various shots and directing, making the aunties laugh and bow and say “감사합니다 (gamsahamnida)” to Mike constantly.
Unexpectedly, except for me and my parents, all the people in the whole bus were foreigners – a nearly twenty-person South Korean tourist group and British Mike. So unsurprisingly, “思密达 (simida)” was heard everywhere in the bus.
The fog was extremely heavy that day, and we were not sure if we could see Tianchi. After arriving at the stairway entrance of the West Slope, our group got off and started climbing the stairs slowly. Although each step of these stairs is not high, climbing them is really a high-intensity aerobic exercise. When climbing to more than 800 steps, my dad resolutely gave up and turned around and left. When climbing to more than 810 steps, my mom couldn’t hold on anymore and waved her hand repeatedly indicating surrender.
Well, only the two of us were left. Mike’s physical fitness is much better than mine. After all, he is a former soldier. Coupled with his good fitness habits at ordinary times, after climbing more than 1,000 stairs, his face didn’t turn red and his heart didn’t beat fast. He could even run a few steps from time to time. I was extremely envious.
Climbing and climbing, we encountered the check-in point at an altitude of 2,420 meters. A group of South Korean aunties asked us to take pictures for them. So Mike turned into a photographer, composing various shots and directing, making the aunties laugh and bow and say “감사합니다 (gamsahamnida)” to Mike constantly.
Finally reaching the top.
The fog covered the top of the mountain and even Tianchi. We couldn’t see anything. We paced back and forth between the China-North Korea boundary marker and the viewing platform, praying for the fog to disperse quickly so that we could see the magnificent scenery of Tianchi. After waiting for about half an hour, the fog moved faster. Amid the cheers of the South Koreans, we finally saw the frozen Tianchi under the broken thin fog.
After going down the mountain, we took a short rest and replenished energy at the tourist transfer center and then took the bus to Jinjiang Grand Canyon. In the afternoon, the fog dispersed and the sun was shining brightly. The scenery of Jinjiang Grand Canyon is not inferior to that of Tianchi. Along the way, we encountered chipmunks. Paired with these strange peaks and deep valleys with the bold and generous character of Northeast China, it is really unforgettable.
The fog covered the top of the mountain and even Tianchi. We couldn’t see anything. We paced back and forth between the China-North Korea boundary marker and the viewing platform, praying for the fog to disperse quickly so that we could see the magnificent scenery of Tianchi. After waiting for about half an hour, the fog moved faster. Amid the cheers of the South Koreans, we finally saw the frozen Tianchi under the broken thin fog.
After going down the mountain, we took a short rest and replenished energy at the tourist transfer center and then took the bus to Jinjiang Grand Canyon. In the afternoon, the fog dispersed and the sun was shining brightly. The scenery of Jinjiang Grand Canyon is not inferior to that of Tianchi. Along the way, we encountered chipmunks. Paired with these strange peaks and deep valleys with the bold and generous character of Northeast China, it is really unforgettable.
After watching “Breaking Ice” (a bad movie!), I realized that I also got the same experience😅
Buy tickets on the official Changbai Mountain mini program. Tickets are released 7 days in advance. The full-price ticket for the West Slope is 214 yuan. It is recommended to visit in July and August. At other times, if the weather is bad, the scenic area is very likely to be closed.
Buy tickets on the official Changbai Mountain mini program. Tickets are released 7 days in advance. The full-price ticket for the West Slope is 214 yuan. It is recommended to visit in July and August. At other times, if the weather is bad, the scenic area is very likely to be closed.
“The milk tea of ‘I see Tianchi on the West Slope of Changbai Mountain'” – it is sold at the tourist transfer center.