去中国最危险的火山！看1000年前被岩浆吞噬的土地如今是什么样？

去中国最危险的火山！看1000年前被岩浆吞噬的土地如今是什么样？

Over 1,000 years ago in Northeast China, a volcano with graceful conical curves stood silently amid forests and snowfields. One day, the earth suddenly trembled violently. The volcano erupted explosively with immense power, destroying its own mountain body along with the colossal energy released. It became one of the most powerful volcanic eruptions in recorded human history. Lava devoured the hundred-li forest sea, and everything in its path turned to ashes. For the following thousand years, the volcano never fell silent and small-scale gas emission activities still occurred as late as 1903. At that time, the volcano had no unified name. People only knew it as a mountain capped with eternal snow, and a forest hiding rare beasts deep within. A thousand years later, we call it Changbai Mountain. Changbai Mountain, located in eastern Jilin Province, is not only the border mountain between China and North Korea, but also a sacred mountain for multiple ethnic groups, and an active volcano in a dormant state. Today, it has become a world-class tourist destination, welcoming over one million visitors every year. It is also home to stories and legends such as “Palace in the Clouds” and “Tianchi Monster”. What does the land once engulfed by lava look like today? Beneath the seemingly calm surface of Tianchi Lake, does the power to destroy heaven and earth still lie hidden? Why is it sleeping? And will it awaken again? This time, let’s explore Changbai Mountain together. We have now arrived at the entrance of Changbai Mountain South Slope Scenic Area. That’s the main gate of the South Slope Scenic Area right ahead. Now we’re at the South Slope Gate and you can see a marker here. It says the altitude here is 1,350 meters. Later, when we reach Tianchi Lake, this number will probably jump to over 2,000 meters. People say that on Changbai Mountain… you can experience four seasons in one day. Of course, it’s already autumn now. So when we reach the top let’s see when the scenery will transform into a winter wonderland. Full-price combination ticket. Okay, full-price combination ticket. OK. This is where we take the scenic shuttle bus up the mountain. Excuse me, I’d like to ask. What’s the last departure time for the buses coming down from the top? You must be down before 5 PM. OK, 5 PM. Please fasten your seatbelt when boarding. Everyone, please fasten your seatbelts after getting on the bus. We sat in the last row of the bus. Because we’re wearing so many clothes and feeling bulky, so it’s a bit hard to fasten the seatbelt. There are many wire fences along the road as well as T-shaped stone piles. Generally, these things are found on border lines. So on the other side of this wire fence, that’s North Korea. Ah. We’re off the bus, guys! Wow, the wind up here is so strong! This is a place to rent coats. The wind on the mountain is really fierce. The rental fee is 30 yuan per coat and the deposit is 150 yuan per coat. The temperature at Tianchi today is between -2°C and 7°C. Although the temperature isn’t that low relatively speaking, the strong wind on the mountain makes it feel cold. It gets chilly as soon as the wind blows. I think if you don’t want to rent a coat up here, you should dress warmly at the foot of the mountain first before coming up. From the drop-off point where we got off the shuttle bus, it’s another 300 meters to the Tianchi viewing platform. Let’s go, we’re heading towards Tianchi now. Now on our right side is the border fence. Border isolation fence. Please do not approach. See that? It looks like a lion lying on the mountain. It is looking towards Tianchi. There are still people waving five-star red flags. The altitude here is 2,540 meters. The sun is in the south now. The scenery over there is quite beautiful, but it’s a bit foggy despite the bright sun. What are you doing with your feet? Are you striking a pose? This is a highly difficult photo pose. Wow, this is Tianchi Lake! We’re currently on the South Slope of Tianchi. That side is the North Slope. And this side is the West Slope. The North, South, and West Slopes are all within China’s borders. That side is the East Slope which lies within North Korea’s territory. That mountain peak over there, the sharp triangular one, the tallest one, It is the highest peak of the entire Changbai Mountain Tianchi main peak. It’s called General Peak (Janggun Peak). That name sounds very North Korean, but Chinese call it Baekdu Peak (White Head Peak). Its altitude is 2,749 meters. Guys, we just heard a noise on that hillside over there. Lots of stones rolled down the mountain and into the waters of Tianchi Lake. Now there’s some dust rising over there. Which means we just witnessed a “volcanic activity” firsthand! It’s a standard setup in tourist attractions They cordon off an area to help you take photos. But you can also go in and stand in front to take photos yourself. However, if you want someone to take the photo for you and have it printed out, it costs 30 yuan per photo. There’s also a commercial area here. I feel like the snacks sold at scenic spots in China nowadays are basically the same everywhere. Grilled sausages are definitely a staple. Right now, almost only the two of us are left in the entire Tianchi South Slope Scenic Area. The total number of tourists here should be less than 10 people. It seems like the staff are almost off work. And it’s only 3 o’clock in the afternoon! Because the Tianchi South Slope Scenic Area stops checking tickets at 2 o’clock in the afternoon, so the number of tourists here will only decrease and no new ones will come in. Being here on the South Slope of Tianchi feels like having the entire lake to ourselves. Tianchi Lake is right behind us. This stone is completely natural. It’s 323 years old, dating back to 1702. When constructing the South Scenic Area of Changbai Mountain, the staff consulted experts, who said that this stone was a mountain-protecting stone and should be preserved. I see. Turtle is a long-lived animal. Longevity turtle! When we staff came up, you see that house over there. It was completely covered in snow. You couldn’t even see the house itself! Huh?! That much snow? Yeah! Right where we’re standing now, the snow used to be over 6 meters deep! Over 6 meters of snow here?! –Well… –They had to shovel it all out by hand. The South Slope is only open for 4-5 months a year, mainly because they can’t clear all the snow? Plus, the road is over 30 kilometers long. It’s impossible to keep it clear. As soon as you finish shoveling, more snow comes and the road gets covered again. If there’s snow on the road, no vehicle can get up here. –The driver was really careful when we came up. –Those curves. Exactly! No cars can make it up. See those hexagonal stone blocks? They’re placed where frost heave occurs. If they built concrete or asphalt roads here, they’d just crack and bulge up. But these individual bricks can settle back down even if they bulge. A whole concrete or asphalt roadb would just shatter completely. You’ve worked here for so long. Have you felt any activity from Changbai Mountain as an active volcano? If I could feel it, it would be erupting already! Hahaha. Experts from the country come every year to survey it, it’s fine. There is no earthquake here. So the volcano is basically inactive. If there was an earthquake in this area, then the volcano probably wouldn’t hold. If this volcano erupted so many surrounding areas would be affected. Why doesn’t Changbai Mountain have a conical crater like Mount Fuji in Japan or other volcanoes? The main reason is its last eruption which happened about 1,000 years ago destroyed its conical crater completely. That’s how it formed its current state. Unlike Mount Fuji in Japan which has a very graceful curved, conical shape. This one looks like a bowl. Like a pot. Exactly, like a pot! So now, the Tianchi Lake boasts the largest crater lake among active volcanoes in the world. And its depth reaches over 370 meters at the deepest point. –373 meters. –Yes. If all this water boiled, it would gush out violently. Extremely powerful. So it’s probably fair to call it –China mainland’s most dangerous active volcano, right? –Yeah. Tianchi Lake is also a crucial water source in Northeast China. Known as the “Source of Three Rivers”, it’s the birthplace of three major rivers in Northeast China. These three rivers are the Tumen River, Yalu River, and Songhua River. Apart from precipitation and groundwater, no other water sources flow into Tianchi Lake. Yet it continuously discharges water outward. And its water level remains remarkably stable year-round. That’s one of Tianchi’s most magical features. In terms of territorial division, over 50% of the lake belongs to China and around 40% to North Korea. So this Tianchi Lake is jointly owned by China and North Korea. We just heard from the staff that before the pandemic, when North Korea wasn’t closed off, travelers visiting North Korea could go to the East Slope of Changbai Mountain and get up close to the lake shore. We hope that one day, when we travel to North Korea, we can also experience the East Slope and see Tianchi from a different perspective. As the sun gradually sets, our encounter with Changbai Mountain Tianchi is coming to an end. This beautiful lake is said to reveal its true face only 30% of the year. And this is my first time visiting Changbai Mountain and I’ve already seen such a beautiful Tianchi Lake. I must be extremely lucky! We took the last bus down the mountain together with the South Slope staff. And right at the scenic area gate, we unexpectedly encountered Changbai Mountain’s “mountain guardians”. Guys, do you hear that “V8 engine” purring? Give a pat. That one doesn’t let people touch it. Right here, guarding the South Slope gate of Changbai Mountain. I just went to the bathroom and when I came out, I saw several cats here. We have two cat treats in our bag. Look at San Hua(Our temporary names for the cats). Whoa, hey, easy there! Why are you… How could you… It’s not nice to steal food like that! Can you understand me? Big White is right behind, such a gentleman. He doesn’t fight for food at all. My camera isn’t edible! Who wants this bite? Meow! Meow! Okay, here you go. Hahaha. Big White is really a mature old cat. He can understand human language. Come on, I’m feeding you in order now. Xiao Hua goes first. Okay, next one. Er Hua, you’re Er Hua. Hey, but you can’t steal. I’ll give it to you, but no snatching. Huh?! Okay, you got it. Finally, Big White. Big White, why do you always look so melancholy? Big White, come here, Big White. Who’s meowing? Meow! Meow! Aww~~ Hahahahaha Yes! Good Big White, such a good cat. Big White really knows how to handle social situations perfectly. Big White, you’re the smartest cat in the group! Hmm, this is my camera, not a cat treat. We’re all out. Meowing won’t get you more. No more, we’ve fed you all. No more, no more. Alright. Two cat treats shared among four cats. Goodbye, kitties! Bye-bye, little kitties. Bye-bye! We just had a quick break and now I’m going to show you the hotel we’re staying at in Erdaobaihe Town. As soon as you walk in, there’s a bright and clean sink on the right with tons of storage space underneath. And here’s a mirror. On the left is the toilet and shower area. It even has a dry-wet separation design. It’s like Mr. Lu’s concert venue in here. And when you open this door, it’s Mr. Lu’s thinking space. There’s even a smart toilet! Over here is our resting area. This room is actually a family room. This is a double bed and this one over here is a single bed. At the far end near the window, there’s also a tatami mat. And here’s a mini workspace. The hotel even designed a special area for hanging and drying clothes. I think that’s really thoughtful. When we’ve stayed at other affordable budget hotels before, they rarely have dedicated clothes-drying spaces. So this is the hotel we’re staying at in Erdaobaihe Town. The price is 116 yuan per night. The total area of the room is about 22-23 square meters. When I booked it online, for some reason this room was the cheapest. Even the king rooms and twin rooms were more expensive than this one. So I just booked this family room directly. What do you guys think? We originally planned to visit the North Slope and West Slope to explore this dormant active volcano from different perspectives. But unfortunately, for several days in a row, both the North Slope and West Slope were closed due to bad weather. But our travel motto is “We’re already here, so let’s make the most of it”. So for the next few days, we plan to wander around the forests at the foot of Changbai Mountain. Guys, we’re now at Lushuihe Park in Erdaobaihe Town. We’re going rafting later. I wonder if we’ll end up soaking wet after the rafting. There’s a wooden plank road along the water. The rafting spot should be ahead. And along the way to the rafting area, there are many small wooden houses with pointed roofs that look really beautiful. It feels like a place where elves would live. I bought a “raincoat” to wear for rafting later. Otherwise, I might get completely soaked. This “raincoat” covers even the feet. And this pack costs 25 yuan. Mr. Lu and I each bought one. Total 50 yuan. Oh. It’s like this. It’s just a big bag for the legs. I feel like it’ll tear after taking a few steps on land. We’re going rafting now. This is the starting point of the rafting. We get on the raft here. Yeah. Take it easy, lady. Don’t split the crotch. This disposable thing isn’t strong. Hahaha. I mean the raincoat’s crotch. I mean the raincoat’s crotch. I know, I know. Hahaha. A torn raincoat crotch makes it a wasted buy. Which side should I sit on? Where do you want to sit? Anywhere, anywhere. It’ll spin around, yeah. I think mine’s torn. No, no, it’s not. –It is torn! –I just checked, it’s not. Isn’t this a hole here? Ah, mine’s torn! Hahaha. So I told you to take it easy. Hahaha, there’s a big hole there. Hahaha. Take it easy, don’t stretch it so hard. The harder you pull, the bigger the tear will get. Okay, okay Oh~~ Whoa! Damn, water’s already getting in. Wow, this water is freezing cold right now. We’re rafting here right now The backdrop is really beautiful. Uh-oh, the raft got stuck here. Gives us a chance to catch our breath. The water is gurgling by the side. It’s extremely clear here. The water is really super clear. At Lushuihe Park in late October, most of the autumn colors have faded, but Changbai Mountain seems to haven’t put away its paint palette yet. The trees in the mountains are still dotted with golden and orange leaves, as if stubbornly waiting for our arrival. At the start of the rafting, the river is very calm. Our raft is like a lonely boat, slowly swirling in the clear water, quietly drifting through the folds of Changbai Mountain’s dense forests. Right now, the two of us are in this river, it’s like a classic Errenzhuan performance! We’re just here listening to the gurgling water weave natural white noise around us, it feels so comfortable and relaxing. Looking up, the dense branches and colorful autumn leaves adorn the lead-gray sky with a touch of vivid color. Closing my eyes, I can’t even feel the raft moving on the water. It’s like merging with the river and the forest, becoming a swimming fish, wandering in Changbai Mountain’s embrace. Are we moving? Yeah, we are. Wow, I can’t feel it at all. I only get a little thrill when the raft bumps against the rocky shore. But actually, when I close my eyes, I don’t feel it moving at all. I’ve merged with this forest… this river… Oh shit! Hahahahahahahaha. Hahahahahahahaha. I was just about to say that I’ve merged with this river and this forest, and nature immediately gave me a reality check, huh? I thought this tranquility would last until the end, but little did I know nature always hides surprises in its gentleness. After enjoying a moment of peace, the Lushui River revealed its wild side. Whoa whoa whoa whoa! It suddenly got rough here! ♪ Fast fast fast! ♪ ♪ Baby baby baby! ♪ Now it’s getting all thrilling and exciting! Guys! I just suddenly felt a chill on my butt, so I touched it with my hand. Hahaha. The entire back of my pants is soaked! Oh~~ Whoa~~ Wow, this is actually pretty fun! Oh no~ My butt is getting colder and colder. Hahaha. The wet area is getting bigger and bigger. Oh shit! Whoa whoa whoa! Hahahaha. That water just now splashed right onto my face! Hahaha. I even drank a little. And let me tell you, this water is sweet! Oh no. We’re stuck! This water is sweet. Take the camera, let me fix this. It’s okay, it’s okay. Let me handle it. We’re gonna… we’re gonna get ourselves unstuck! We’re gonna get ourselves unstuck! Okay, successfully freed! Wow, here we go again! Whoa! It’s getting… pretty rough here. Hold up the camera!! Whoa whoa whoa! Hahaha. This is starting to get really fun! It’s freezing cold! Oh my god. I think if you have the chance or if you can do your homework in advance. you should buy your own raincoat in advance— one with better quality. For the rest of the trip, we alternated between rapids and calm waters. Sometimes the raft got stuck on shoals, and we had to paddle hard to free it. Other times we raced down rapids, our butts having “close encounters” with riverbed rocks. As we passed over these rocks, we could feel them— the rocks below, our butts above, and the raft in between. The rocks rubbed against our butts as we floated by! Hahaha. Whoa whoa whoa! Ahaha~ My butt hit another rock! We just got hit by a big wave of water! We finally reached the destination! Even though the hole of your crotch is getting bigger and bigger, look down! It’s already this big! I feel like I could raise fish in here! Amidst thrills and surprises, we completed the exciting yet safe Lushui River rafting. Of course, what left the deepest impression on me was the heavy chill of Changbai Mountain’s autumn lingering in my cotton pants. Overall, I think this rafting experience was amazing! Truly fantastic. As long as you don’t get completely soaked, it’s totally worth it. Guys, we just took the shuttle bus behind us back to the starting point from the rafting finish line. We need to change clothes urgently now! But when we were on the shuttle bus coming back from the finish line, I noticed all the other tourists with us also had wet butts! They were wearing the exact same “raincoats” as we were for the rafting! I think the quality of these “raincoats”… definitely deserves a bad review! Guys, we’re heading back to the hotel now. It’s already 4:30 PM, and the sun sets here between 4:30 and 5:00 PM. It’s getting dark gradually, so we can’t really see much more. That’s why we decided to go back to the hotel first, change clothes, and rest for a bit. Tonight, we’re going to try Gaoli Huopen (a Korean-style hot pot) in Erdaobaihe Town, it’s a specialty dish of the Korean ethnic group. Guys, we’re now on a street and ready to have dinner. There’s also a restaurant serving Shazhu Cai (pork offal stew) nearby. Have any of you tried that before? I’ve only had this delicacy in Northeast China. The Gaoli Huopen we’re having tonight is at this restaurant—Chaozu Gaoli Huopen. Let’s go inside and check it out! It’s just dinner time, and customers are starting to arrive. Another table of 8 just came in! The uncle making the hot pot definitely has a lot of experience! Guys! We finally got our Gaoli Huopen! Essentially, this dish is cooked on a hot pot over charcoal. Though they’ve already removed the hot pot base now. If we kept cooking it over the fire, the meat would dry out, and wouldn’t taste good. All the ingredients are already fully cooked. We ordered a mix of beef and pork stir-fried together, so there’s beef and pork here. The side dishes include tofu, onions, green peppers, bean sprouts, beef tendons, and black rice sausage. Those are basically all the ingredients. Those are basically all the ingredients. “Gaoli” is the old name for Korea. The cooking method of Gaoli Huopen is also charcoal-grilled, similar to the Luoguo (iron plate barbecue) we had in Liupanshui. Those of you who watched our Liupanshui video might remember, we tried a dish called “Luoguo” there. I think this Korean specialty Gaoli Huopen and the Luoguo from Guizhou’s Liupanshui are quite similar in style. Both are cooked in a large flat pan container with various ingredients. For example, you can add seafood, beef and mutton, or vegetables. Add some oil on top, then roast or stir-fry everything until cooked. Guys, we just ordered an extra portion of suan cai (pickled Chinese cabbage) and enoki mushrooms. It tastes even better with the suan cai! Because the sourness of the suan cai neutralizes the greasiness to a certain extent. And with the extra seasonings they added specifically for us, it’s even more delicious and savory. Everything is fully cooked now, so we’ll take the charcoal out first. Okay, go ahead and remove it. Mmm~~ The young guy is taking the charcoal away for us. Thank you! Enjoy your meal! Thank you! As someone from Northeast China, I highly recommend the pickled cabbage cooked in this hot pot. Whether you’re from Northeast China or not, you must try pickled cabbage when you come here. It’ll truly unlock a whole new taste experience for you. Especially this pickled cabbage, the longer it simmers, the more delicious it gets. Because pickled cabbage is super absorbent of oil. The more you heat it, the more it soaks up the oil from the meat, and the cooking oil used for stir-frying, soaking it all up. That makes it incredibly fragrant—so, so aromatic! Plus, it has its own tangy, sour kick that cranks up the overall taste excitement and that satisfying zing. You know what I mean? So like… One bite has both meat and pickled cabbage, total bliss! As for the origin of Gaoli Fire Pot, I checked online. Legend has it that during the Goguryeo period, the 14th king, King Bongsang, was extremely cruel. Suspecting his little brother of plotting a rebellion, he had him killed. Then his brother’s son, King Bongsang’s nephew, Let’s just call him “the young prince” for simplicity. Fearing for his life, the young prince worried his uncle would have him killed too, so he fled the palace and went into exile. During his exile, the young prince had to do manual labor and odd jobs to survive. When hungry, he’d hunt wild game and boil it in a pot to satisfy his hunger. Once the local villagers learned of his true identity, they began bringing food from their homes to offer him. Over time, the young prince got used to combining these various ingredients and cooking them together. Later, the 14th king was deposed, and the young prince was supported by all the officials to become the new king, the 15th ruler of Goguryeo, King Micheon. Even after taking the throne, he still stuck to his old way of eating: cooking wild game by boiling or pan-frying it all together. All the civil and military officials followed his lead, and this culinary style gradually spread among the common people. Once it reached the folk, this way of cooking gradually evolved into the Gaoli Huopen we know today. Today, this dish has come a long way, it’s more than just food, it’s a cornerstone of Korean ethnic culture. What’s more, Gaoli Huopen carries profound cultural significance. During major festivals and special occasions, like weddings in local families, people will set up a hot pot, symbolizing prosperity and good fortune. To everyone still watching this video, may this “blazing hot” Gaoli Huopen bring you prosperity too! We’ve finished our Gaoli Huopen feast, and we’re totally stuffed! The total cost for dinner was 190 RMB (around $26 USD). We ordered tons of extra dishes, and there’s just a tiny bit left, but we pretty much cleaned the plate! And we’re absolutely stuffed—like, *super* full! We even packed up the leftover Hongbaolai (a popular Northeast Chinese soda). Now we’re heading to Yunding Market for a walk. Right at the entrance of Yunding Market, there’s a sculpture of a character from “The Grave Robbers’ Chronicles” (A famous Chinese novel). We’re now inside Yunding Market! There’s an iron pot stew restaurant here, and its name is “Gaga Xiang”—literally “super delicious”! In Northeast China, a lot of adverbs are reduplicated words, like “kuku eat” (chow heartily) or “gaga fragrant” (super tasty). Yunding Market feels like a pedestrian street with shops and eateries. There are all kinds of stores selling goods and places to eat. There’s even a Russian import store here! Guys, does every city in Northeast China have some Russian elements, or at least one Russian import shop? Both Hunchun and Liaoyuan, which we visited earlier, had Russian import stores too. On both sides are market stalls selling cultural and creative products, food, drinks, toys, and daily necessities. There’s a “Trendy Person’s Street Spot” here! And another store called “The Grave Robbers’ Chronicles”. It’s a cultural and creative shop. Look, there’s a KFC! Even though Erdaobaihe is just a small town, it actually has a KFC! Changbai County, which we explored in the previous episode, does not have a KFC. Ginseng tea? Yes, Ginseng tea. Have a taste! Thanks! Oh, that’s good! Want a cup? I’ll take two, please. Is this Changbai Mountain ginseng? – Yes!
– Can I see it? – Wow!
– I’ll find you a nicely-shaped ginseng in a minute! Gotta pick a nice-looking one for your photo! Haha. Thanks so much! Wow, this ginseng looks like a little baby! Hold on, I’ll pour you some hot water. Won’t this ginseng tea pack too strong a punch after drinking it? No, it actually helps with sleep. Does it look better for your photo? Much better! An old man who usually comes here isn’t around today. He picks these ginsengs himself from the mountains. Pure wild ginseng—straight from the mountains! The bigger ones you see for sale, those are cultivated. Changbai Mountain is currently an active volcano, right? Yep! So have there been any volcanic activities that people here can actually feel? Nope! If there were, you’d be in big trouble! Hahaha! So living here, do you ever worry about it erupting someday? Never thought about it! Hahaha! There are seismologists and experts here. If there’s any abnormal activity, we’ll get notified. If a volcano is going to erupt, there will definitely be warning signs beforehand. It won’t just erupt out of nowhere. Like any major change, there’ll be heat or other signals. And why does Tianchi never dry up? If it were to erupt, the water would disappear. -Oh~ This is one of Changbai Mountain’s “Ten Strange Phenomena”. Tianchi sits atop a mountain peak, and water flows down from it year-round, but it never runs dry. I heard the water level always stays the same. – Exactly!
– Never changes. Yes, hahaha! Do you know why that is? No idea! But it’s definitely one of the “Ten Strange Phenomena”! Guys! “Suddenly, as spring breeze blows overnight, thousands of trees and pear blossoms bloom!” (A classic Chinese poem that describes the scene of heavy snow covering everything overnight.) Yesterday we were in autumn, and today winter is here! This video was filmed on October 19th. Today is not only the 75th anniversary of the Chinese People’s Volunteers crossing the Yalu River, but also the first snowfall in Erdaobaihe before winter officially arrives! Guys, the snow is getting heavier and heavier, I can barely keep my eyes open! We just ran into two friends from southern China. They even opened their umbrellas and took photos excitedly in the snow! Since both of us are from northern China, we don’t have the habit of using umbrellas when it snows. So I’m curious—for all of you watching, do you use umbrellas in the snow? The snow here on Changbai Mountain is mostly “powder snow.” Because Changbai Mountain’s winters are dry and cold, the low temperatures mean the snowflakes have extremely low moisture content as they form and fall. This gives them a very intact crystal structure— light, fluffy, and feels just like flour to the touch. Hence the name “powder snow”! Thanks to its fluffiness, powder snow has low friction and great elasticity— it’s the “golden snow quality” for skiing! If you ever visit a ski resort, take a close look— whether it’s natural or man-made snow, it almost always mimics the texture of powder snow. But because it doesn’t clump easily, you can’t use powder snow to build snowmen or have snowball fights. The leaves on both sides of the road are still yellow and red, dusted with a layer of white snow, it looks absolutely beautiful! Now we’re heading to Měirén Sōng Forest Park in Erdaobaihe. Měirén Sōng Forest Park in Erdaobaihe. (Měirén Sōng means Beauty Pine) Guys! We’ve arrived at Beauty Pine Park! The lake next to me is the park’s main lake. Beauty Pine Lake. Look! There are little animals playing and frolicking on the water. It stopped chirping! It’s not making a sound anymore. Refusing to communicate with me, huh? Those little ducks are taking a bath! Those little ducks are taking a bath! “Electric” little bouncing butts— too cute for words! The ducks are just bathing in the lake, and here we are—two humans spying on them from the shore! Wow, look at the sun! Gotta say, God was right— “Let there be light!” Erdaobaihe truly lives up to its reputation as an international tourist destination. Even this stone tablet is pure English— not a single Chinese character! It says “Changbai Mountain” and “Beauty Pine International S…what Park” I can’t pronounce the second-to-last English word. but that’s the gist! Basically, it’s Changbai Mountain Beauty Pine International Sculpture Plaza. Park. Up ahead is the primeval forest section of Beauty Pine Park. we’re about to go in! Whoa, the stone path ends here, it’s all dirt roads from now on. There’s a stone tablet by the forest trail recording data about several trees. 20 years ago, the oldest one was 380 years old, and the youngest was 350. Today, this tree is around 400 years old. It’s 400 years young! You might not tell from the camera, but when I stand next to it, the size difference is striking! The trees around me are a plant species unique to China: Changbai Pine. Locals call them “Beauty Pines”. They only grow in the Changbai Mountain area and nowhere else in China. Each trunk is roughly 20 to 30 meters tall, and the entire trunk is yellowish-gold. They all have “long legs”—tall, slender trunks! Many trees in this forest are 100-200 or even 200-300 years old. Now we’re going to see an even older one. It is the “Pine King” of the Beauty Pines. And so far, it is the oldest tree in the entire forest. Pine King Plaza! Here! Pine King Plaza! Here! Guys! We’re about to pay our respects to the Changbai Mountain Pine King! Here we are! Showed up empty-handed—didn’t prepare anything special! It’s a bit last-minute! Here we are! Here we are! This is the Pine King’s “name card” (information plaque). Paying homage to the Pine King! Long live the Pine King! Long live! Long live! This is the oldest tree in Beauty Pine Park. It stands over 30 meters tall. I can’t even wrap my arms around its trunk alone. It’d take two or three of me to hug it completely! It’s over 400 years old, since the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), it has taken root and sprouted here, growing from a tiny sapling. Today, it has witnessed four centuries of seasons in the Changbai Mountain area. Guys, in the plant kingdom, seniority rules— whoever is the oldest gets to be the king. This one is the oldest, so it’s the Pine King! After paying our respects to the Pine King at Beauty Pine Park, we’re heading back now. Just had an intimate meeting with the Pine King! Now I’m friends with the king—hahaha! A tributary originating from Tianchi flows through the town center, locally known as “Erdaobaihe” , which is how the town got its name. Many people come here planning to rest before climbing Changbai Mountain, but end up being captivated by the charm of this northern volcanic town. Guys, the weather in the Changbai Mountain area has been unpredictable lately, so scenic spots decide whether to open based on the daily weather conditions. We’ve waited a few days, and the North Slope Scenic Area finally opened this morning! Though only the attractions below Tianchi are accessible right now. Let’s go check them out! Entrance to the ticket checking hall. We’re at the ticket gate! There’s even a “Cloud Top Heavenly Palace” here. Changbai Mountain Global Geopark. Guys, I never used to understand why elderly people always take photos with stone tablets covered in characters at scenic spot entrances. But as I get older, I’ve come to understand this travel habit more and more. I think it’s a form of… geographical check-in, a travel ritual. If you don’t take a photo with the stone tablet covered in characters, who’ll know where you’ve been, right? Let’s go to Changbai Mountain! Tourist Center. We’ll go through ticket checking here. Full-price combined ticket. Guys, we’ve finished ticket checking! It’s about a few dozen meters from the ticket gate— now we’re off to take the shuttle bus. I read a news report online earlier— someone just a couple of days ago spotted a wild Siberian tiger by the roadside in this forest on the North Slope. Taking the shuttle bus uphill from the North Slope Scenic Area takes about 50 minutes. That’s why I can already hear snores echoing all around me. We’re here, everyone! Wow! This is the Cloud-Top Heavenly Palace! Guys, we’ve now walked onto Changbai Mountain’s plank road. There’s a stream running alongside this plank road, and this stream is steaming as it flows. So I want to touch it to see if it’s a hot spring. So I want to touch it to see if it’s a hot spring. Oh! The water is warm! From the feel of it, I think by the time this hot spring water flows here, its temperature is probably around 30 degrees Celsius. This hot spring has turned into a wishing pool— because at the bottom of this pool, you can always see some coins people have thrown in. It feels quite interesting. In many scenic spots, as long as there’s a hollow filled with water, someone will definitely throw coins into it. The wind at Cloud-Top Heavenly Palace is so strong! It’s blowing fiercely! Blowing fiercely! Ah! I read a news report before that South Koreans love traveling to Zhangjiajie in China more than any other place. They say taking your parents to Zhangjiajie is a sign of filial piety. I’ve never really understood how Zhangjiajie and filial piety are connected. But I can’t help but think— wouldn’t traveling to Changbai Mountain be more culturally relatable for them? Guys! Look at that river “smoking” furiously— it’s steaming! There’s also a sign here warning “Geological Hazard Prone Area—Do Not Approach.” This shows that the geological activity around Changbai Mountain isn’t very stable. Wow! It’s like a fairyland! All the water flowing down here is hot spring water, steaming away. A paradise on earth! As a dormant volcano, Changbai Mountain has created unique volcanic hot spring landscapes. At Julong Hot Springs in the North Scenic Area, there are 47 hot spring eyes nestled in lava cracks. The highest water temperature here can reach 82 degrees Celsius. The energy that heats the water to such high temperatures comes from volcanic heat 2,000 meters underground. Nurtured by volcanic lava, the hot spring water is rich in over 20 minerals including hydrogen sulfide and lithium. These hot springs are not only living geological specimens, but their steady gushing also signifies the gentle release of volcanic energy— the best proof that Changbai Mountain is an active volcano. The ground here is colorful! So beautiful! These vibrant surface formations are called sinter. Because the hot spring water contains a lot of hydrogen sulfide gas, and the sulfuric water carries mineral ions like iron and copper. So when the hot spring water overflows and deposits on the ground, it forms mineralized layers in reddish-brown, emerald green, deep purple, or golden yellow. This is what’s known as “sinter.” There’s a very famous local snack here— hot spring-boiled eggs. Let’s buy some to try! That blue-green house up ahead is the main spot selling hot spring-boiled eggs. It’s basically a specialty of Changbai Mountain! There’s even a line. Let’s see what’s going on. Let’s see what’s going on. Eggs are 10 yuan for 3. Corn is 10 yuan each. Duck eggs are 10 yuan for 2. These three big pits are filled with water, this must be hot spring water. Hello, I’d like three hot spring-boiled eggs. Sure! Scan the code and show me the payment confirmation. Okay, got it! This chicken never dreamed its eggs would become a hot-selling product on Changbai Mountain. The egg yolk inside isn’t fully cooked, I actually prefer soft-boiled eggs like this. Because the hot spring water here is over 80 degrees Celsius, not reaching 100 degrees. They don’t use firewood to heat it either, it’s just placed directly in these big pits with 80-plus-degree hot spring water flowing through. In terms of taste, the egg is very bouncy and smooth. The yolk is perfectly cooked— soft, glutinous, and delicious. It has a slight salty flavor, along with a hint of sulfur from the hot spring water. So it actually has more flavor than regular boiled eggs. Guys! Next, we’re going to visit Changbai Waterfall. The waterfall is also fed by water from Tianchi. Stepping quietly on the wet stairs… Oh my god! Why are these stairs so steep? Guys, we’ve reached Changbai Waterfall! This is the source of the Songhua River. Water from Tianchi plunges off the cliff, roaring down to form Changbai Waterfall. The waterfall has a drop of 68 meters. When it hits the ground, it sprays up waves several meters high. So spectacular! At this moment, the sun is flickering above the waterfall cliff, and crystal-clear powder snowflakes are floating in the air. This must be the charm of the Cloud-Top Heavenly Palace! Guys! We’re now by the side of Little Tianchi. The origin of Little Tianchi remains a mystery to this day. Tianchi has only an outlet but no inlet, while Little Tianchi has only an inlet but no outlet. Both Tianchi and Little Tianchi never dry up all year round— which is a very magical phenomenon. Another magical thing about Little Tianchi is that in this water, lives an amphibian that can only survive in the Arctic region. Salamandrella keyserlingii. So why these salamanders live in the Little Tianchi of Changbai Mountain remains a mystery to this day. Guys, now we’re heading to Lvyuan Pool in the Erman’s Birch Forest Scenic Viewing Area. Wow! There’s even a waterfall here! People say that in summer, when the waterfall is in full flow, this Lvyuan Pool is known as the “Little Jiuzhaigou.” There’s Lvyuan Pool ahead! Though it’s smaller than Changbai Waterfall, it’s still extremely beautiful and spectacular. What’s more, parts of the waterfall have frozen solid. Lvyuan Pool gets its name because its water is crystal clear with very few impurities, showing an emerald green color under sunlight refraction. That’s how it got the name “Lvyuan Pool.” However, the water surface is now covered with a thick layer of ice. But in a corner of the pool, there’s a small patch of water not covered by ice and snow. And we can clearly see that this water is indeed emerald green. Guys, we’re getting ready to head back. It’s almost four o’clock now. The sun will set at half past four soon. Except for Tianchi, which is closed today due to the weather, we’ve basically visited all the other spots on the North Slope. Only the Valley Forest is left, and we don’t plan to go there. Because it’s getting dark, the scenery there won’t be as enjoyable to see. Besides, it’ll be half past four soon, and the entire scenic area will close. We can’t let this over 200-yuan ticket go to waste! Over 200 yuan for two tickets? For one ticket. Over 200 yuan for just one ticket?! This chipmunk is so cold it’s runny-nosed! Many years ago, geological changes and volcanic eruptions formed canyons here. After countless years of nature’s craftsmanship, it has become the forest we see today. We’re now walking in the Valley Forest at the foot of Changbai Mountain. Right now, there’s no one else in this forest— just the two of us. It’s absolutely quiet. It’s so beautiful—like a hidden paradise, a secret forest. Truly stunning! Every time I come to Northeast China, it gives me new feelings, new experiences, and new surprises. That’s the charm of Northeast China, and the charm of Changbai Mountain. Before the snow was cleared, animals passed through here, leaving their footprints behind. Changbai Mountain Global Geopark is also home to vast expanses of primeval forest, so there are many wild animals here. Animals like brown bears, wild boars, and Siberian tigers. There’s a folk saying in Northeast China’s forested areas: “First boars, second bears, third tigers.” This means that in the wild, for humans, wild boars are the most dangerous, followed by bears, and then tigers. Bears generally don’t attack humans actively. Their eyesight is relatively poor, but their sense of smell and hearing are extremely sharp. So if you’re downwind from a bear, it might be hard for it to detect you. But if you accidentally bump into a bear face-to-face, it may attack humans to protect its territory or its cubs. Even so, when we encounter wild animals in the wild, we should keep our distance. You might have no idea that you’ve stepped into their territory, or why they might suddenly attack. Wow! After walking along the forest plank road for so long, we finally see the light of day! And it’s just in time for the sunset glow. Hahaha, very good. Thank you, thank you. Hahaha. Where are you from？ Russia. –Russia？ — Yeah –Oh Where you have to go？ Hunchun. Oh Hunchun. Yanji. This Erdaobaihe. Oh. Then…… Haerbin. We went to HunChun last year . Ah Hunchun okay okay okay. So many Russian titles everywhere. Yeah yeah yeah. –Russian people everywhere. –Yes. In China have a place can see three countries. This is China and it’s North Korea and Russia. Oh yes. I visited North Korea two weeks ago. Two weeks ago ？ Yeah. Pyongyang. Oh Pyongyang. You can go to Pyongyang？！ Yeah. Wow. We want to go to Pyongyang, but we don’t know how to go there. How did you go there？ From Vladivostok. There’s a tour agency. And I got visa first. So Russia people can have a visa to North Korea？ Yes. –For travel？ –Yes. Wow Cool. We don’t have travel visa to the North Korea. Yes, not yet. For now they opened only for Russian people, yeah. Maybe later they can open it for other countries. For now only a lot of Russian tourists in Pyongyang. Everywhere. Wow. That’s very cool. Yeah, it’s really cool, yeah. So how do you see the Pyongyang is…… It’s um…… Very empty, no cars, No cars, just …… Bicycle？ Yes！Bicycle. No motorbike. But there are big big roads like five lanes. So five lanes, this way five lanes. That way five lanes, so ten lanes, ten lanes. But empty. –Empty. –And no car. Why？ Because it was forbidden to buy cars for people. Only for companies. But maybe it’s expensive. I don’t know, but people quite poor, yeah. And they wear different costumes. So you can see. Oh, these are students. Oh，this is children like from school. Oh, these are workers. Oh，these are engineers. They all wear the special suit and they all walk together. That’s like in a computer game, so funny. So you travel alone or …？ No no no. Only by bus, only with a tourist group. And you cannot… walk just by yourself. So you need to wait. So if someone is in the museum, but you don’t want to go to museum. You can wait only in the bus. For example, security is staying here you cannot go in the corner. OK OK. So he should see you all the time. It’s very strict. But people…… People simple but happy. Smiling waving you all the time. And we went to golf club so we also see on the way. But they didn’t stop in the village. And we don’t know how people live. So we haven’t seen apartment or something like. I saw that there is a very small light. So not that much light probably. Maybe not everyone has electricity so…… Inside of the window which I could see. It’s very very simple. Very simple. Like in The Soviet Union. Like 40 years ago like same. So private conversation with the local people… –It’s completely forbidden. –OK. First of all, I don’t speak Korean. So I cannot，but if I would speak Korean. No, they’re afraid. So we tried to buy flowers we give them five dollar. And she returned, said no no no. Can’t use dollar？ Only in a special store. How about the internet in North Korea？ No internet. No internet？！ No internet. For one week no internet. In the hotel you can pay two dollar. –Two dollar？！ — Two dollar for ten minutes. –That’s so expensive. –Yes. But maybe you need just to check email or write message. So how much about your Russia group? So in dollar. It could be…… One thousand seven hundred dollar for seven days. Wow. It’s hotel transportation tours food everything. You don’t need to spend anything else. So only maybe souvenirs. –Ok. –All included. Okay, nice to meet you guys. Nice to meet you. Let’s take a selfie. What？ Picture. OK OK OK. Driver, are there any Siberian tigers in the forests of Changbai Mountain North Scenic Area? Yes, this area used to be vast primeval forest. It’s been developed artificially— these roads are man-made. The deep mountains and old forests go far beyond here. –Oh~~ –Right. Do people see tigers often? Yeah, quite often. Wow, really often?! When is the best time to spot them? They come out when they’re hungry. (The driver’s Northeast Chinese accent made us smile knowingly.) (The driver’s Northeast Chinese accent made us smile knowingly.) If they’re not hungry, they won’t wander out. So what do they come to the road for? To find food, of course. Looking for food. What food is there on the road? Brother, when you’re starving, you’ll wander around aimlessly too! Hahaha! So generally speaking, how often do people see them? Is it frequent? It varies. Some people see one once a year, others two or three times a year. –Oh~~ –Animals, you know, they’re scared of cars. Loud noises scare them away. They hide when there’s too much commotion. Changbai Mountain lies quietly on the vast land of Northeast China. Here, two different kinds of time are preserved. One belongs to geology— long and explosive. The hot springs gushing from the ground are the best proof that its destructive power has never cooled. The other belongs to life— vibrant and resilient. As the source of the Songhua, Tumen, and Yalu rivers, it nurtures countless lives and civilizations in Northeast Asia. To the world, it’s a sacred place for volcanic scenery. To the nations, it’s a cross-border totem of faith. Changbai Mountain is no longer just a mountain. It’s a community of life carrying the power of nature and the warmth of human life. It nurtures fertile soil with volcanic ash, and sustains all living things with Tianchi’s water. It lets prosperity and tranquility coexist here, and ancient legends blend with modern vitality. That’s all for this video! If you enjoyed it, thank you for Liking, Commenting, Sharing, and Subscription! I’m Niu Meili. See you in the next video! Bye-bye!

长白山不仅是中朝两国的界山，更是一座休眠期的活火山。这次我们一起到长白山的山顶，看看世界上海拔最高的火山口湖——天池，据说一年只有30%的时间能够见到它的真容。然后我们在长白山脚下的森林和小镇上逛了逛，这里有世界上仅在中国长白山地区生长的植物物种“长白松”，400多年的参天大树见证历史变迁。除此之外，还有朝鲜族特色美食、森林里漂流、听俄罗斯小哥讲述朝鲜旅行趣闻等等精彩内容。

❤ 您可能感兴趣的部分 ↓↓↓

00:00 开场
01:39 初见天池
13:26 长白山漂流
23:21 朝族高丽火盆
34:43 长白山松王
42:16 云顶天宫
53:12 邂逅俄国小哥
01:02:45 结尾

✿ 你还可以在这里找到我们 ↓↓↓

① Instagram https://www.instagram.com/niu.meili
② 小红书 https://www.xiaohongshu.com/user/profile/6187b41a00000000100096b6

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#中国 #中国美食 #旅行 #travel #长白山 #火山