Changbai Mountain Grand Canyon

Changbai Mountain Grand Canyon

In July 1987, Changbai Mountain was hit by a severe storm. For three days and nights, the raging winds, accompanied by lightning, blew away houses, swept up wild animals, snapped trees, and damaged waterways, with flying sand and rolling stones. Nature suddenly changed its face, unleashing its fury upon Changbai Mountain in a thunderous roar. Among the disasters caused by this storm, the forest suffered the most, with thousands of hectares of woodland damaged to varying degrees, affecting seven forestry bureaus. After the storm, to assess the extent of the damage, a Changbai Mountain forest survey team ventured deep into the mountains. It was this team that, while conducting their forest survey, unexpectedly discovered a little-known grand canyon, which later became known as the Changbai Mountain Grand Canyon or the Jinjiang Grand Canyon — another new wonder of Changbai Mountain.

This canyon is a fissure zone formed during a volcanic eruption and is the upper source of the Jinjiang River. The canyon is about 60 kilometers long, with the widest part exceeding 300 meters and the narrowest part just a few meters, and a vertical depth of approximately 150 meters. Dense forests grow on both sides of the canyon, with straight and sturdy trees. Due to the low temperature and humidity in the valley, the old woods are draped with grayish-white moss, mushrooms, and other flora quietly spreading their colors. This is an extremely spectacular grand canyon. Its landform mainly consists of slot canyons and narrow gorges, making the slopes on both sides, especially those along the riverbanks, exceptionally steep. Coupled with years of freeze-thaw weathering, the periglacial rock pillars in the canyon have been eroded by wind and rain over time, forming a diverse and magnificent natural landscape. The shapes of the rhyolite stone forests are truly varied and refreshing. Some resemble the moon, others a golden rooster, a camel, or even Guanyin the Goddess of Mercy. There are formations like a maiden embracing her lover, a mother cradling her beloved child — nature’s craftsmanship is truly miraculous. Deep within Changbai Mountain lies such an extraordinary natural art exhibition. Faced with these clusters of uniquely shaped and intricately arranged stone formations, one cannot help but let their imagination run wild. As a result, these vivid and distinct peaks and rocks have been given various names, such as Five-Finger Peak, Nüwa Peak, Great Wall Peak, Castle Peak, Twin Camel Peaks, Two Bears Climbing, Two Elephants Drinking Water, Rooster and Phoenix Singing in Harmony, and more. There are also scenes named Guanyin Worshiping from Afar, Leopard and Elephant Playing, Gathering of Beasts, and Immortals Meeting. These are all the rich associations people have when faced with the overwhelming natural beauty, as well as heartfelt praises from deep within. On the western side of the canyon, there is also a peculiar rock standing upright halfway up the slope. This strange rock bears the expression of a tiger or leopard, yet also resembles a prehistoric dinosaur, making it difficult to give it an accurate or vivid name. Beside the rock are other stone formations resembling animals — a lying lion, a fierce tiger, a bear, a sika deer — creating a unique landscape. Some speculate that this might be the northernmost surviving dinosaur fossil on the Asian continent, and some even suspect it could be the true form of the legendary Tianchi Monster. People simply call it the “Canyon Dinosaur,” though the associations it evokes go far beyond that.

Some call the Changbai Mountain Grand Canyon the “Valley of Love,” believing it to be a place where fairies once met and fell in love. Others say it was once home to the Eight Immortals, with caves such as the Luminous Cave, Bliss Cave, and Merit Cave hidden among the rock forests, as well as formations named Immortal Platform, Central Army Tent, Council Hall, Love-Reflecting Stone, and Fate-Casting Stone. Of course, these are just legends and imaginations, but they add yet another layer of mystery to the Changbai Mountain Grand Canyon. The forest survey team of those years also discovered many strange traces at the bottom and along the walls of the grand canyon. Among the most mysterious was a row of zigzag footprints uniformly embedded in the steep cliff face. Though they looked like footprints, it was uncertain whether they were human. Each footprint was about a meter in size — what kind of giant could have left them? Were they marks left by aliens for humankind? Traces of the Changbai Mountain wild man or furry creature recorded in ancient texts? Or remnants from ancient times? In any case, it remains an unsolved mystery.

Changbai Mountain

Wangtianhe Scenic Area

Heaven Lake of Changbai Mountain

Chengcha River

Changbai Mountain International Natural Ski Park

Changbai Hot Spring Group

Changbai Stone Forest Scenic Area

Baiyun Peak

Changbai Mountain Plateau Ice and Snow Sports Training Base

Tiger’s Back

Secluded Valley Forest

Changbai Mountain Waterfall

Changbai Mountain Northeast Tiger Forest Park

Niulang Ferry

Changbai Mountain Cold Spring

Little Heaven Lake of Changbai Mountain

Changbai Mountain Volcano Group

Forest Sea at the Bottom of Changbai Mountain Valley