The Yanbian Korean Autonomous Prefecture is marked by immense expanses of agricultural land set within a rolling hill landscape. Korean culture is evident everywhere here—at festivals and ceremonies with traditional Korean costumes, music, dance and sporting activities; in the street signs written in both Chinese and Korean; and in the uniquely flavoured Chinese-Korean cuisine. There are ruins and tombs of ancient kingdoms dotted around Yanbian. Here lies the tri-border area where China, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) and the Russian Federation present a dramatic historical meeting.

Yanbian prefecture is dominated by hills, plains and broad valleys, of which the Tumen River valley is the most dramatic. Around 78% of Yanbian is forested by Korean and Japanese pine, Changbai larch, ash, linden and birch tree species. Mountain herbs and wild mushrooms abound, and the area is one of China's major producers of ginseng. The climate is seasonal, with dry and windy springs, pleasant summers, cool autumns and cold winters. The average annual rainfall is around 500 mm, which, together with the rich soil, gives Yanbian its rich agricultural character.

Yanbian is home to numerous ethnic minority groups and was made a national minority autonomous area in 1952. Of Yanbian's population of 2.2 million, approximately half are ethnic Koreans and about 3% are other minorities, including Hui Muslims and Manchu. The rest are Han Chinese.

One outstanding attraction of Yanbian prefecture is the Mt. Changbai-Paekdu National Natural Reserve which boasts some of Northeast Asia's most dramatic scenery. The mountain is also a biosphere reserve included in the UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation) Man and Biosphere Programme.

Among the important scenic spots in the reserve are ancient volcanoes, one of which stands at 2,749 metres. Tianchi, or Heavenly Lake, also known as the "Lake of Celestial Bathing", is located inside the caldera of a dormant volcano. It is the largest, highest and deepest crater lake in China. Tianchi, which empties via a narrow gorge pouring down into a towering waterfall, is the source of three rivers: Tumen, Mudan and Songhua. There are also hot springs whose temperatures reach as high as 70° C. There are many legends related to Mt. Changbai-Paekdu which create a profound spiritual value for the Koreans here.

The reserve contains one of the richest ecosystems in Northeast Asia. There are over 2,400 plant species, including the rare Niup azalea. Ginseng, known for its medicinal value, is also indigenous to Changbaishan. There are over 260 bird species and over 500 species of wild vertebrate animals, including spotted deer, sable and Siberian tigers.

In addition to sightseeing, the Mt. Changbai-Paekdu Reserve supports a wide range of outdoor adventure activities, including trekking, hang-gliding, para-sailing, cycling, skiing, fishing and water sports.

Mount Changbaishan

Located in the counties of Antu, Wusong and Changbai in southern Jilin Province, Mt. Changbaishan is an official nature reserve covering an area of over 200,000 hectares, extending 78.5 kilometers north to south and 53.3 kilometers west to east. It has a wholesome natural environment and ecosystem with world famous precious animals like the Northeast Tiger, sika, sable and more. It represents a microcosm of China's comprehensive natural existence.

Hunchun

Bording Russia and the DPRK on the lower reaches of the Tumen River, the city of Hunchun lies with its face toward the river and sea and back to the mountains. It has rich natural resources. The Annals of Hunchun record, "Hunchun has mountains at its back and the sea in front. The rolling mountains, outgrowths of the northern section of the Changbai Mountains, present an enchanting landscape. When spring changes into summer every year, wild flowers are in full blossom, and birds twitter in the trees. Scenic spots are to be found everywhere, eight of which have long been famous." These eight scenic attractions include the "Roar of Waves at an Ancient Ferry", the "Mirror-Smooth Water at Longquan", "Spring Bright Sky over the Willow-Grown River Banks", the "Lotus Pond with Nine Turns", "Deer in the Wood Covered with Frost", and "Rolling Hills under Snow". These natural scenes have attracted numerous tourists.

Fangchuan

Seventy kilometers south of Hunchun City is Fangchuan, a village at the foot of Zhanggu Peak in the township of Jingxin. Several kilometers further ahead is a marker erected on the border between China and Russia in 1886 under the supervision of a representative of tsarist Russia and Wu Dacheng, the imperial envoy of the Qing Dynasty. The village is a mere 15 kilometers from the Tumen River. From the lookout tower on top of a hill in the vicinity, one can have a blurred vision in the horizon of the mist-shrouded Nippon Hai and scenes from along China's border with the DPRK and Russia. On the left is Russia's Podgornaya, and on the right is Tumangng of the DPRK.

Source: CRIenglish.com