Wangchi

Wangchi

The surface of Wangchi Lake sits at an altitude of 1,850 meters, covering an area of about 2,000 square meters. The water is crystal clear, and the shores are covered with bulrushes and cattails, accompanied by beautiful dwarf birch and tall pine trees. There are small fish in the lake, many frogs, and a variety of birds in the forest. The clear surface of the lake is often filled with the “croak—croak” of frogs and the “chirp—chirp” of birds. The water is a blue-green hue, serene as a precious mirror, reflecting the clouds in the sky and the trees on the shore. Dragonflies are often seen dancing over the lake. There is a little story behind the origin of the name Wangchi. Legend has it that Nurhaci, also known as the Little Khan, fell ill while digging for ginseng in the Changbai Mountains. He recovered and survived thanks to drinking the water from this lake. Grateful for the life-saving water, when Nurhaci rose to power and unified the north, he returned to the Changbai Mountains and visited the lake. He said, “The common folk call me the Old Khan, so I shall call this life-saving pool the King!”