Jilin's jewels worth the journey - Heavenly Lake
Heavenly Lake on top of Changbai Mountain on the border between China and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea boasts abundant wildlife and spectacular scenery. It is also a draw for visitors who are keen to experience the customs in Northeast China.
Snow-capped mountain peaks tower over a vast, bright blue volcanic crater-lake 762 meters above bubbling hot springs and cascading waterfalls.
The stunning view coupled with howling winds threw me off balance but as I struggled to keep my footing the grin on my face stayed put.
Standing on top of Changbai Mountain it was easy to see why it's the star of Jilin province and one of China's most captivating natural wonders.
The mountain range in Northeast China is nestled in the country's largest nature reserve on the border of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea and boasts abundant wildlife and spectacular scenery that changes dramatically with the seasons.
Further down the mountainside natural hot springs let out steam in stark contrast with the icy peaks above and visitors boiled eggs in the gurgling water flowing over the colorful riverbed.
Every year the area draws thousands of tourists hoping to catch a clear glimpse of Heavenly Lake, the deepest and most majestic lake in the area.
Changbai Mountain is undeniably the top attraction in the region but many visitors are in such a rush to get there they often overlook the rest of the province.
Jilin is full of contrasts and is hugely diverse, with not just volcanic mountains but also rural landscapes and ethnic villages with Korean influences.
In the eastern part of the province is the little-known Yanbian Korean autonomous prefecture, which includes Wangqing county and Antu county and is home to China's Korean ethnic group.
After a long and bumpy drive through endless corn fields punctuated by the occasional farms I spotted flags flying and people wearing brightly colored clothes.
As I walked across the field and got closer I heard the sound of drums, gongs, the oboe-like suona and happy voices chatting in a Korean-sounding dialect.
The group launched into a loud and lively performance of the farmers' dance of China's Korean ethnic group, a traditional act to pay homage to nature and pray for a plentiful harvest.
The traditional performance－named the farmers' festive dance by local people－has been passed down for generations and is still an important part of community life, with children and adults of all ages taking part.
The dance was included in the representative list of intangible cultural heritages by United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization in 2009 and is just one of the area's unique features.
Similar Korean townships dotted across the region showcase other distinctive cultural practices but they are often unassuming and tucked away down dusty tracks.
In Yulou village, a small, humble wooden hut is home to a provincial-level cultural treasure falconry center, which protects the area's birds and falconry traditions.
Guan Zhichao, the center's falconry expert and vice-chairman of Jilin Falconry Association, said the village, which is on the wetlands of the Songhua River, was a fishing and falconry hub for the royal family in the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911).
Falconry has remained a strong tradition and today 70 falconry masters live in the village, which has hosted two major falconry festivals.
Schoolchildren visit the center to learn about wild animals, protecting nature, the food chain and falconry traditions.
"It's become a very promising tourism item and goes hand in hand with environmental protection. We plan to build a complex with restaurants, accommodation and more things like that to build a tourism chain and develop our business," Guan said.
As local authorities plan the area's development the expert stressed that the traditional roots remained and that the community still worshiped the mountain gods every year.
This pride in traditional practices and the importance of preservation was echoed by everyone I met during my visit to Jilin, from university students learning paper cutting to a shoemaker who turned her family's craft into an international business.
Parts of the province are remote and sometimes difficult to reach but the journeys offer a chance to experience real, rural China and the rewards are like finding diamonds in the rough. (source: china daily)
