Qian'an Clay Forest

Qian'an Clay Forest

China's Qian'an Clay Forest is located within Qian'an County, Jilin Province. The clay forest is also known as "Wolf Teeth Dam." The Wolf Teeth Dam rises 50 meters above the lake surface/Dabusu Lake/, stretches 15 kilometers from north to south, and covers an area of 58 square kilometers. It features crisscrossing gullies, undulating ridges, forests of mud pillars, continuous peaks and ridges, steep earthen walls in various shapes, and gives the strong impression of a deep, secluded valley, as if one were in a primeval park. The earthen pillars and clay formations resemble saw teeth and wolf fangs, connected in a chain and lying across the north and south, hence locals call it "Wolf Teeth Dam." On June 9, 2007, amidst a busy schedule, I arranged to drive there together with photography friends Old Han, Blue Sky North, Olive Tree, Old Man, and several others from the Northeast Family.

The clay forest is about 300 kilometers from Changchun. The road conditions are very good. Starting from Changchun, you pass through Nong'an County, Songyuan City, and Qian'an County before arriving directly at the clay forest scenic area. There are few tourists. The scenic area has no hotels, but you can stay with local families and eat northeastern cuisine. Meals and lodging cost 30 yuan per person per day for two meals and accommodation. Changchun has buses and trains to Songyuan City, and from Songyuan, you can take a bus to Qian'an County. Transportation is convenient. The "Wolf Teeth Dam" has endured years of wind and rain, yet the towering clay forest landscape has been well preserved throughout long historical changes, retaining its original charm. Vertebrate fossils of thirteen species excavated by Chinese and foreign archaeologists prove that tens of thousands of years ago, this area was home to large populations of mammoths and woolly rhinoceroses. Many ancient stone tools, pottery, bronzeware, weapons, ancient coins, fossil decorations, and other artifacts unearthed subsequently prove that thousands of years ago, during the Neolithic Age, people lived here and engaged in productive activities. The ancient city of the "Wolf Teeth Dam" later sank underground due to crustal movements and river disruptions. Scholars believe that Dabusu Lake is a remnant lake of the lower reaches of the Holin River. The lake has rippling blue waters and abundant fish. The surrounding area is densely vegetated and home to a large number of wild animals, making it a great place for hunting, fishing, and grazing. Later, due to changes in river courses, the water flow was cut off, and the area became sandy and solidified. Relying on surface runoff, a lot of sodium, magnesium, and other minerals flowed in from the surrounding saline-alkali land, turning the freshwater lake into a highly concentrated salt-alkali lake.