Every winter, the auspicious snow on Changbai Mountain adorns the vast land in a sacred white, the roaring waterfalls turn into crystal-clear icefalls, and the trees become jade-like branches—truly picturesque and romantic. That’s why visiting Changbai Mountain in winter is the best time—not only can you go skiing, but you can also admire the frozen world illuminated by colorful light in the grand Changbai Mountain Grand Canyon.
Heaven Lake on Changbai Mountain, located in the southeastern part of Jilin Province, is a border lake between China and North Korea. The northern part of the lake lies within Jilin Province and is the source of the Songhua River. Due to its high elevation, with the water surface at an altitude of 2,150 meters, it is also known as "Heaven Lake."
Changbai Mountain in winter is covered in pristine white snow, presenting a frozen world. (Image source / ultrahd4kwallpaper)
Changbai Mountain was originally a volcano that erupted three times since the 16th century. The massive lava ejected during the eruptions cooled around the crater, forming a basin shape. Over time, water accumulated to form the lake, which is today’s Heaven Lake.
As the highest peak in Northeast China, Changbai Mountain is regarded as a “sacred mountain” and the birthplace of various northern ethnic groups in many myths. (Image source / 51766)
Heaven Lake is oval-shaped, covering an area of 9.165 square kilometers, with a circumference of 14.4 kilometers. Its average depth is 204 meters, and the maximum depth reaches 373 meters, making it the deepest lake in China.Due to its high altitude and latitude, the lake water remains cold year-round. In summer, the temperature generally stays between 8 and 10 degrees Celsius, and the freezing period lasts from November until mid-June of the following year.In winter, the frozen surface of Heaven Lake has an ice layer that can be as thick as about 1 meter. The surrounding cliffs of the lake are steep, with towering peaks. The massive volcanic body of Baiyun Mountain acts as a barrier between the Pacific oceanic airflow and the Siberian continental airflow, forcing the two air masses to rise and converge near the crater. This results in much higher precipitation and relative humidity on Baiyun Mountain compared to areas at lower elevations. Additionally, although Heaven Lake receives abundant rainfall and has pure water quality, there are very few fish. This is mainly because the summer season on the lake is cool and short, while the winters are harsh with long periods of ice cover. The water has extremely low oxygen levels, and the surrounding rocks are exposed with sparse vegetation—conditions that are not suitable for fish survival.
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