Snow Mountain Lake

Snow Mountain Lake

Snow Mountain Lake is located in Liangjiang Town, Antu County—the first county at the foot of Changbai Mountain. It lies in the upper reaches of the Second Songhua River, with its source being the Tianchi (Heavenly Lake) of Changbai Mountain. The abundant hydropower resources are the main driving force behind the formation of Snow Mountain Lake. The lake was created by the construction of the Liangjiang Hydropower Station, making it an artificial reservoir.

The martial arts novels penned by the renowned author Jin Yong are household names, celebrated across the globe. One of them, titled "Fox Volant of the Snowy Mountain," tells the story of the hero Hu Fei performing chivalrous deeds in the Changbai Mountain region. The Liangjiang Hydropower Station is situated just a stone’s throw away from Changbai Mountain and is the largest power station on the upper reaches of the Songhua River. Its picturesque landscapes of lake and mountain are breathtaking, especially in winter when the area is blanketed in glistening snow, thus earning the name Snow Mountain Lake.

The dam of Snow Mountain Lake stands 55 meters high. There are three entrances to explore the lake: one is by traveling upstream from the dam; the other two involve going downstream from the source, either at Shakouzi or Sandaobaihe.

The most famous site on Snow Mountain Lake is the Yanglian Mountain Fortress. This ancient fortress served as both an offensive stronghold and a defensive stronghold, acting as a key military post of the Bohai Kingdom (equivalent to the Tang Dynasty era) along the Songhua River. In ancient times, when land routes were treacherous, waterways provided a highly convenient passage. People from the Changbai Mountain area would travel downstream along the Songhua River, transporting the region’s rare treasures as tributes to the Bohai capital and the Central Plains dynasties. This river became the most direct tribute route connecting Changbai Mountain to the Central Plains. Yanglian Mountain Fortress marks the first strategic chokepoint at the source of the Songhua River. It earned the name “Yanglian” (which means “to look up”) because there is a drop of seventy to eighty meters between the fortress and the river surface, alongside a spectacular waterfall. Boaters on the river had to look upward to see the waterfall, hence its name “Yanglian Waterfall,” and the fortress came to be known as Yanglian Mountain Fortress.

Liangjiang Town: Situated in the heart of the northern slope forest area of Changbai Mountain, along the banks of the Erdao Songhua River, Liangjiang Town lies 108 kilometers east of Antu, 120 kilometers north of Dunhua City, 30 kilometers south of Baihe Railway Station, and 160 kilometers west of Huadian City. The town covers an area of 560 square kilometers, with a forest coverage rate of 93%. It administers 12 administrative villages and 19 natural hamlets, with a population of over 20,000. The people of Liangjiang are known for their simplicity, warmth, and hospitality, and the town has been recognized for many years as an advanced township in terms of public security.

Liangjiang Town enjoys a favorable natural ecological environment. Common wildlife species in the area include wild boar, roe deer, leopard, red deer, badger, black... More details about Liangjiang Town ++