Zhalantun Chaihe Tourist Area

Zhalantun Chaihe Tourist Area

Hulunbuir Chaihe Tourist Area

Zhalantun is situated on the eastern foothills of the Greater Khingan Mountains, surrounded by lush forests. To the northwest lies Chaihe, a well-preserved expanse of pristine forest abundant in wildlife. The region’s intense tectonic movements have given rise to a series of volcanic activities, resulting in volcanic landforms and creating a unique natural landscape where mountains, water, forests, and rocks blend seamlessly.

Chaihe Town is a small settlement enveloped by forests. The journey from Zhalantun to here offers picturesque forest scenery along the way. Traveling along the Chaihe River leads to the main scenic photography spots. About 40 kilometers west of the town lies the magical Moon Lake, encircled by secluded hills and dense woods. It resembles a full moon lying peacefully, emitting a faint blue glow. Covering only about 1.5 hectares with a depth of around 6–7 meters, the lake is inaccessible by vehicles and rarely visited by humans, making it a paradise for wildlife. Due to the lake’s high salinity, wild animals such as deer, moose, dogs, and river deer often come here at dusk to lick the salt deposits.

About 45 kilometers northwest of Chaihe Town, upstream of the Chaihe tributary Aoni River, lies a section traversed by the Yunchai Highway. This area features a vast expanse of lava cover formed by volcanic eruptions. Water trickles through cracks in the lava, forming numerous small, scattered waterfalls. Locals refer to this place as Jiulong Spring or Qinglong Spring. During periods of high water flow, the stream can split into dozens of segments, with the main flow cascading about 3–4 meters high.

Approximately 35 kilometers southwest of Chaihe Town, near the forest police station, there is a spot called Shuiliandong, also known as the Honghua’erji River Waterfall. It earned its name due to its resemblance to the legendary “Water Curtain Cave.” Here, the mountain terrain forms a terrace with a drop of over 6 meters. A deep cave is faintly hidden behind the waterfall, surrounded by rugged rocks and towering ancient trees.