Wudalianchi
五大连池 · Wudalianchi City, Heihe, Heilongjiang, China
A Global Geopark of 14 volcanoes and five linked lava-dammed lakes; Laohei Mountain and Huoshao Mountain erupted in the Kangxi era of the Qing dynasty and are among the youngest volcanoes in China.
Know before you go
- Climbing, sitting or lying on, or knocking volcanic rocks
- drinking excessive amounts of spring water
- collecting rock specimens inside the geopark
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Stories & people
Stories & people
Legend
The Daur Youth and the Medicinal Spring
Legend has it that more than a hundred years ago a young Daur man, Gelasihan Baiyin, fell in love with a slave girl named Aqimeige, but the herd owner kept them apart. Aqimeige stole a horse to rescue him; on the way she was struck by a poisoned arrow, and the two fell together into a spring whose water miraculously healed their wounds, so Gelasihan Baiyin carved the words "medicinal spring" beside it. No one can say for certain which spring was the one in the legend, and today the South Spring, the North Spring and others are all regarded as medicinal springs.
Source: China & Asia Cultural Travel: Wudalianchi Global Geopark
History
The Cold Spring of the Daur
The South Spring is a bicarbonate mineral spring containing more than ten trace elements. In earlier times local Daur people often came to drink its water, believing it cured stomach ailments and was good for the body, and Wudalianchi's mineral springs gradually became known.
Culture
Culture & customs
Background
Wudalianchi lies in Wudalianchi City, Heihe, Heilongjiang Province, south of Heihe city proper. The park has 14 volcanoes, and its stone sea, lava caves and cold mineral springs each have their own character. In 2004 UNESCO listed it among the first Global Geoparks. From 1719 to 1721 Laohei Mountain and Huoshao Mountain erupted one after the other, and the lava cut off a river to form five lava-dammed lakes linked end to end. From south to north they are the First, Second, Third, Fourth and Fifth Lakes, also called Lotus Lake (Lianhua), Yanshan Lake, White Dragon Lake (Bailong), Crane Call Lake (Heming) and Ruyi Lake. The volcanic landforms here are well preserved and remarkably varied, earning the area the name "an open textbook of volcanoes".
Local customs
- Climb the boardwalk on Laohei Mountain to look down into its funnel-shaped crater
- walk the stone sea boardwalk past rippling fields of solidified lava
- take a boat on the five lakes
- taste mineral water at the South Spring (Nanquan) and North Spring (Beiquan), or try a mineral-water bath
- see the lava landforms at Longmen Stone Village.
Etiquette & taboos
Etiquette & taboos
Don’t DON'T
- Climbing, sitting or lying on, or knocking volcanic rocks
- drinking excessive amounts of spring water
- collecting rock specimens inside the geopark
Locals appreciate DO
- Keep to the paths and boardwalks
- drink spring water in moderation as the on-site signs advise
- treat the volcanic landforms with care
Plan your visit
Practical info
Travel tips
- The scenic area is large, so allow two days
- the volcanic paths are mostly stone slabs and boardwalks, so wear non-slip shoes. Summer brings the best lake and mountain views
- in winter the lakes freeze and you can see the rime at Wenbo and snow-covered volcanoes, though some water activities close
- spring and autumn weather is changeable, so bring layers.
- You can first travel to Harbin, then take a long-distance bus to the Wudalianchi Scenic Area, a fairly long ride
- the sights inside are spread out and most visitors tour them by hired car, subject to local arrangements.
Photos
Photos
颜邯 · CC BY-SA 4.0
颜邯 · CC BY-SA 4.0
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