Changbaishan Nature Reserve - White Head Mountain and Heaven Lake

(Local Name: Baitoushan / Tian Chi) One of the most beautiful peaks in Changbaishan is White Head Mountain (Baitoushan), an extinct volcano.

On the summit of White Head Mountain lies the famous 9.2sq.km/3.6sq.mi Heaven Lake (Tian Chi), a crater over 300m (1000ft) deep, which formed during a volcanic eruption in 1702 and then filled with water. The lake, which has an average depth of 204m/669ft and is surrounded by steep rocks, is frozen over for half the year. A monster called Jili ("bringer of luck") is supposed to live here.

An opening on the north bank of the lake releases large amounts of water which, at an altitude of 1250m/4100ft, plunge 68m/223ft into an abyss, thereby forming the famous