Changbai Mountain, situated on the border between China and North Korea, is the source of the Songhua River, Tumen River, and Yalu River. It is one of the few remaining pristine ecological reserves on Earth, boasting vast expanses of virgin forests and serving as a natural treasure trove of wild flora and fauna.
In the summer, Changbai Mountain’s landscape is magnificent and peculiar, making me realize the great lengths nature has gone to create this astonishing wonder. As far as the eye can see, the towering and majestic peaks, the lush and verdant forests, and the vibrant flowers blooming across the mountains combine to form a dazzling and dreamlike scene.
Changbai Mountain is a typical volcanic landform, with its entire body consisting of basalt plateaus, basalt highlands, and volcanic cones that rise with the elevation. The mountain was formed during ancient times due to crustal movement and has been sculpted by wind and rain erosion over hundreds of millions of years, resulting in a spectacular landscape.
As the car ascends Changbai Mountain, gazing out the window, one can see the mountain range stretching like a colossal dragon beneath the blue sky. Wispy white clouds brush against its cheeks, while the azure sky serves as a backdrop. The lush green and elongated silhouette showcases the mountain range’s grandeur and beauty, with its colorful and enchanting ridges.
Tianchi (Heavenly Lake), located at the top of the main peak’s volcanic cone, is a cooled volcanic crater that has formed over a long period. Upon reaching the crater, one is greeted by the sight of a clear blue lake, pristine and gently rippling, like a magnificent jade embedded among the majestic and picturesque peaks.
During my visit to Changbai Mountain, I consider myself quite fortunate to have not only witnessed the true face of Tianchi but also experienced its graceful and tranquil nature, reminiscent of a pure and innocent maiden. It is said that many who have visited Tianchi claim it is difficult to catch a glimpse of its true appearance.
This is because Changbai Mountain, with an altitude of over 2,000 meters, has a variable climate characterized by strong winds, heavy rain, and abundant snow. The mountain experiences approximately 270 days of strong winds annually, and it is often cloudy, rainy, and foggy. Sometimes, the mountain is shrouded in a gloomy, iron-gray face for days without clearing up, while at other times, it alternates between overcast and clear skies, making Tianchi appear like a fairy realm, sometimes hidden and sometimes visible.
The beautiful Tianchi is like an innocent, lively, and capricious young girl. When she is happy, she reveals her stunning beauty. But when she is unwilling, she shyly draws a veil of clouds to cover her face. When I reached the summit, the weather was clear and pleasant, and Tianchi presented her full appearance before my eyes without reservation.
Gazing at Tianchi, its beauty renders one’s words inadequate, and its tranquility leaves one speechless. Standing atop the mountain, it is impossible to gather one’s thoughts, as Tianchi seems to whisk away one’s soul with the clouds and disperse one’s spirit into the lake. I try my best to collect myself and greedily indulge in the unique scenery of Tianchi, savoring the extraordinary sensation of being in the heavens.
Tianchi possesses a breathtaking beauty that takes one’s breath away. The slightly elliptical lake resembles a lotus flower just emerging from the water’s surface. The surface is a sapphire blue, gently rippling, clear and translucent like a crystal mirror, reflecting the blue sky and white clouds, creating a kaleidoscope of colors that is enchanting and captivating.
Changbai Mountain’s Tianchi is the lake that haunts my dreams. Once a volcanic crater, it is now a clear blue lake suspended in the sky. Against the backdrop of blue skies and white clouds, the azure lake water resembles a dazzling jade, and one cannot help but marvel at this stunning creation of nature.
The deep, clear, and cool lake water shimmers with a gentle glow, its surface tranquil and unperturbed, exuding an unadorned elegance like unpolished jade, pure and blue. Tianchi is like a graceful and gentle woman, while the surrounding mountains are like a valiant lover, embracing the lake with their strong arms. The mountains are reflected in the azure lake water, merging with the water, inseparable as one.
Here, one does not feel a sense of looking down upon the world. Gazing down from the mountain, not a trace of worldly affairs can be seen. White mist and cloudy haze envelop the surroundings, with only Tianchi remaining clear and lucid. The stillness of Tianchi, the coldness of the encircling mountains, and the movement of the clouds around the waist of the mountain add to the lake’s ethereal and mysterious aura, creating an ever-changing and enchanting spectacle.
The mountains surrounding Tianchi compete in their splendor, and the wilderness is as pristine as if freshly washed. Nestled in the embrace of the mountains, Tianchi appears gentle and serene, pure and beautiful, without any deliberate embellishment or forced mystery. Its entire being radiates a natural purity and elegance, an unattainable grace and refinement.
White clouds drift in the colorful depths of the lake, floating among the reflections of the extraordinary peaks. In an instant, the seventy-square-kilometer oval water surface becomes a kaleidoscope of colors, competing in their brilliance, weaving an unparalleled and dazzling embroidery and brocade.
Whenever a cloud passes by, the lake’s surface ripples with shimmering light, reflecting the majestic peaks, creating a spectacular sight. The crystal-clear water of Tianchi resembles a freshly bathed beauty, radiant and glowing, with captivating eyes that enchant all who behold her. The inherent beauty of Tianchi overflows, making one fall in love at first sight, intoxicated without wine.
At the summit, grotesque rocks stand tall and rugged, each with its unique color, as if skillfully crafted by nature. The blue lake water reflects the various peaks in shades of pink, bronze, light gray, and orange. The peaks facing away from the sun are steep cliffs and precipices, staggered and lively, with verdant mountain light, surrounded by rosy clouds. Their reflections in the lake water transform into a deep green hue.
Witnessing the breathtaking beauty of Tianchi for the first time in my life, I cannot help but feel as if I have drifted into a fairy realm. It’s no wonder people say, “Changbai Mountain is not a fairy land, but it surpasses one.”
