Jilin Huangnihe National Nature Reserve

Jilin Huangnihe National Nature Reserve

The Laobai Mountain Primitive Ecological Scenic Area of the Jilin Huangnihe National Nature Reserve is located in the northwest of Dunhua City, Yanbian Korean Autonomous Prefecture, Jilin Province. The northwest of the reserve borders the Sanhetun Forestry Bureau of Heilongjiang Province, the northeast adjoins the Dahailin and Dongjingcheng Forestry Bureaus of Heilongjiang Province, the west is adjacent to Jiaohe City, while both the southern and eastern boundaries lie within the jurisdiction of the Huangnihe Forestry Bureau. The Laobai Mountain Primitive Ecological Scenic Area is located on the southern slope of the Zhangguangcai Mountain Range, featuring undulating mid-mountain terrain. There are 11 peaks exceeding an elevation of 1,000 meters, with the highest peak, Laobai Mountain, standing at 1,696.2 meters above sea level, making it the third highest peak in Northeast Asia.

The Laobai Mountain Primitive Ecological Scenic Area was established in 1998. In April 2000, the People's Government of Jilin Province approved the creation of the Jilin Huangnihe (provincial-level) Nature Reserve, incorporating the Laobai Mountain Primitive Ecological Scenic Area. In January 2012, it was promoted to a national-level nature reserve with the approval of the State Council, officially named the Jilin Huangnihe National Nature Reserve.

The Laobai Mountain Ecological Scenic Area has a forestry road leading directly to Huangnihe Town, located 35 kilometers from Dunhua City and 70 kilometers from Jiaohe City. It is also served by railways and expressways, providing convenient transportation.

The Laobai Mountain Primitive Ecological Scenic Area belongs to the category of natural ecosystem types, specifically forest ecosystem type.

The scenic area exhibits a distinct vertical distribution of mountain vegetation zones, with diverse vegetation types. It includes one more Korean pine forest zone compared to Changbai Mountain and one more dwarf birch forest zone compared to the Greater Khingan Mountains, reflecting the region’s transitional characteristics from the mid-temperate to the cold-temperate zone. Additionally, the vertical vegetation zones are notable for their relatively narrow belts and fragmented distribution, which are unique features of this area’s mountain vegetation. These characteristics give the area high scientific, conservation, and aesthetic value. Below 800 meters is the summer green forest belt; from 800 to 1,050 meters is the pristine Korean pine–broadleaf mixed forest belt; from 1,050 to 1,350 meters is the dark coniferous spruce forest belt; from 1,350 to 1,640 meters is the dwarf birch krummholz belt; and above 1,640 meters are the Korean pine forest and subalpine meadow zones (which include various plants typical of northern polar regions, such as Korean pine, Rhododendron chrysanthum, Empetrum nigrum, Vaccinium, as well as Siberian species such as Juniperus sibirica and Rhodiola rosea). At the summit of 1,696.2 meters lies a Korean pine–narrowleaf cottongrass–peat moss swamp, the first of its kind discovered in China. The area preserves ancient Tertiary relict plants such as Manchurian ash, Manchurian walnut, and ginseng. Every June and July, the summit of Laobai Mountain transforms into a natural alpine garden, where alpine azaleas bloom in profusion, creating breathtaking scenery. Visitors liken it to the Queen Mother of Heaven’s garden, a heavenly sight rarely seen on Earth.

The scenic area has a healthy habitat and is rich in rare and endangered protected species. The diverse vegetation types provide excellent living environments for a variety of animals. Among the many plants, there are 12 nationally protected species: Korean pine, Manchurian ash, Phellodendron amurense, Tilia amurensis, Chosenia arbutifolia, Manchurian walnut, Eleutherococcus senticosus, Ribes mandshuricum, Rhododendron chrysanthum, Rhododendron ferrugineum, ginseng, and wild soybean. There are three Class I nationally protected animal species: Siberian tiger, sable, and golden eagle. There are also 29 Class II protected animal species, such as black bears and brown bears. Among these, the rare and endangered Siberian tiger has been spotted multiple times in the area. Current statistics indicate there are 7–9 individuals in Jilin Province, with 3–4 residing here.

The primitive quality of the scenic area’s natural landscapes is prominently reflected in its periglacial landform types, continuous clusters of canyons and waterfalls, dense forests, and largely preserved original state. Due to the steep terrain, human presence is scarce, resulting in picturesque and pleasant scenery. The area contains 22 scenic spots; the northern part is a pristine, undisturbed natural landscape, while the southern part consists of secondary forest scenery. The Laobai Mountain Scenic Area has abundant hydroelectric resources. Over a horizontal distance of 1,200 meters from north to south, the elevation drops over 1,400 meters, with peak-to-valley heights reaching 600–800 meters. The steep mountains and narrow valleys collect abundant bedrock fissure water, forming rapid streams that converge into rivers such as the Zhuoduo, Deer Valley, Northeast Fork, and Northwest Fork. Due to the periglacial landforms, the summit of Laobai Mountain has undergone extensive weathering and frost heaving, forming large areas of stone seas and debris slopes, once rumored to be UFO landing sites, adding a mysterious allure. The most representative feature is the Laobai Mountain Grand Canyon, approximately 6 km long, featuring nine classic stepped waterfalls cascading down over 2,000 meters, creating a spectacular sight. The canyon is flanked by dense forest vegetation, offering varied scenery throughout the seasons. Additionally, the national key project—the Xiaobai Pumped Storage Power Station—is located in the experimental zone of the reserve. Once completed, it will be developed into a tourist scenic area. Along the road to Laobai Mountain, the Northwest Fork Forest Farm has developed a tourism rafting project utilizing the abundant water resources of the Northwest Fork River. Historical records indicate that this region—Northwest Fork, Birch Grove, Ma’ershan, and Zhangguangcai Mountain Range—was known as Seqi Wojie during the late Ming and early Qing dynasties. Five ancient city ruins from the Jin and Bohai periods have been discovered in recent years, along with numerous ancient knives and household utensils excavated by the forest farm, now displayed in an exhibition room for visitors to view.

A new tourism route is taking shape: Laobai Mountain Primitive Ecological Scenic Area – Xiaobai Pumped Storage Power Station – Northwest Fork Rafting.

Development status of the Laobai Mountain Scenic Area: The Laobai Mountain Ecotourism Zone is the core area of the Jilin Huangnihe Nature Reserve. Given the area’s rich biological resources and unique landscapes, the Huangnihe Forestry Bureau and the Dunhua Municipal Government began investing over 5 million yuan starting in 2006, constructing 10 kilometers of gravel roads, mountain trails, and scenic area gates, among other infrastructure. As the Laobai Mountain Scenic Area is a primitive ecological site with intact vegetation, to avoid damaging its originality and to achieve a balance between conservation and development, developers are strictly required to operate without affecting the natural environment and resources of the reserve, adhering to regulations and managing construction and tourism development accordingly. Fixed routes must be used for maintaining and building mountain trails, and all construction metrics must not exceed set standards. Cable cars and permanent buildings are prohibited within the area; any related service facilities must be built outside the reserve near forest farms at the foot of the mountain. Meanwhile, training programs for conservation and guide personnel have been implemented. To date, we have successfully held three Laobai Mountain Alpine Azalea Festivals, aiming to enhance the visibility of the Laobai Mountain Ecotourism Zone through this event. Aligning with the Yanbian forestry initiative of “expanding volume, strengthening foundations, adjusting structures, and increasing benefits,” this effort creates new economic growth points for enterprises, stimulates related service industries, generates employment opportunities, and boosts overall economic output.

The tourism development of Phoenix Mountain in Heilongjiang Province has been quite successful. Phoenix Mountain and Laobai Mountain are part of the same range, serving as the border mountain between Jilin and Heilongjiang provinces. While the same mountain has achieved fame and prosperity in Heilongjiang, the Jilin side remains in its initial stages of development. Therefore, we can draw on the advanced concepts and experiences from Phoenix Mountain’s tourism development to transform Huanglin’s Laobai Mountain into another renowned mountain in Jilin Province.