A Memorable Trip to Changbai Mountain
Published on September 2, 2020, 17:40:00
In the scorching summer of Shanghai, where the temperature soars to 36℃, the sweltering heat makes people rely on air – conditioners and ice – watermelons. It’s so hot that you’d only go out to meet your closest friends. Stepping outside, you might even end up with your underwear soaked. At such times, there’s nothing more appealing than escaping to a cool place, away from the urban heat and the confines of air – conditioned rooms, and getting close to nature.
My friends and I took an early – morning flight and landed in the refreshing 22℃ environment of Changbai Mountain. This place is far from the hustle and bustle of the city. Once here, you can immerse yourself in the natural oxygen bar and enjoy the beauty of nature to the fullest.
The PM2.5 level in Changbai Mountain is almost zero. The pure air is the most generous and simple gift from nature. The blue sky is occasionally dotted with white clouds. As we strolled through the Jinjiang Grand Canyon, we walked among the quiet forests, feeling the gentle breeze that rustled the birch trees. From time to time, we encountered the little elves of the mountains, such as cute little squirrels and heard the melodious birdsong in the dense forest.
This was my third time climbing Changbai Mountain to see Tianchi, and it was the clearest view I’ve ever had. Tianchi is actually a dormant volcano, and the crater has filled with water to form a lake. In summer, the melted water in the lake is clear and blue, like a magnificent jade inlaid among the majestic peaks of Changbai Mountain. Standing on the viewing platform, with the clouds floating above and tourists coming and going, I just wanted to quietly admire Tianchi and the birds flying by in the distance.
To make the vacation in Changbai Mountain more enjoyable, choosing a good hotel is essential. This time, we stayed at the Changbai Mountain Jishi Media Pullman Resort, which opened last summer.
The hotel is nestled in the vast forest at the foot of Changbai Mountain. It only takes about 20 minutes to drive from the airport, and it’s just a 5 – minute drive to the Changbai Mountain Chixi Tourist Service Center. Its location is truly ideal.
On a fine day, we launched a drone in front of the hotel to get a close – up view of the hotel lying peacefully in the embrace of the vast forest.
The Hotel Lobby
As we entered the hotel through the main door and reached the lobby, the first thing that caught our eyes was the landscape design work named “Tianchi” in front of the lobby. It was inspired by the geology and landforms of Changbai Mountain. Multiple types of wood were stacked to enclose the volcanic rocks, and natural water from Changbai Mountain was introduced, symbolizing the vitality and endless flow of all things on Changbai Mountain under the natural irrigation of the holy water. The lighting fixtures above were like falling leaves, very unique.
On the left side of the lobby is the check – in counter. What really attracted me was the background wall. It was made of the unique volcanic rocks of Changbai Mountain, processed with a special technique to show an uneven and textured effect. The background wall and the lobby landscape pool complemented each other, jointly presenting the long – standing and mysterious natural and historical culture of Changbai Mountain.
Comfortable Guest Rooms
The hotel has 299 well – equipped, spacious and comfortable guest rooms, including 18 luxurious and elegant suites. The rooms are designed based on the concept of the four seasons, with a natural and lively style. In summer, you can enjoy the view of the lush birch forest.
We stayed in a suite, which had a spacious and comfortable living room and bedroom. The rooms were designed with a log – colored theme and matching furniture, echoing the outdoor scenery. When you opened the glass door, you could have a large scenic balcony with a view of the lush birch forest.
The shower amenities in the rooms are from C.O. Bigelow, a century – old brand from New York. This brand, with its long – standing reputation in herbal products, aims to be natural, gentle and effective.
During our stay, I visited the two children’s theme rooms that the hotel had carefully prepared: the大嘴猴 (PaPaYa) and the yellow duck theme rooms. These rooms were specially customized for parent – child families, equipped with floor tents, interesting interactive flying toys, books, puzzles, children’s toiletries and so on.
All the children’s products in the rooms are made of safe, environmentally – friendly materials. Children can have a great time in this fairytale – like world, creating wonderful summer parent – child memories. In the blue大嘴猴room, the cute monkey elements are everywhere, from the pillow dolls, tent rockers to the toiletries and towels. It’s like a small playground for children. In the yellow duck room, kids can count their childhood secrets in the tent, be the master of their own little world, and sit in the rocking chair shaken by their parents, looking at the green mountains outside the window.
Latitude All – Day Dining Restaurant
The Latitude All – Day Dining Restaurant is located on the second floor of the hotel. With a modern design style, the wooden – carved ceiling creates a warm and comfortable dining environment. The restaurant mainly offers Mediterranean and international cuisine, and its all – day service can satisfy guests’ craving for delicious food at any time.
Songjiang Flavor Special Restaurant
Next to the Latitude All – Day Dining Restaurant is the Songjiang Flavor Special Restaurant, which provides authentic Korean – style dishes. Here, you can taste delicious barbecue, cold noodles and other special foods.
Yuehua Chinese Restaurant
The Yuehua Chinese Restaurant is on the third floor of the hotel, specializing in high – end Cantonese cuisine and local specialties. The restaurant has eight elegant and luxurious garden – view private rooms, providing a pleasant dining experience for guests. The lobby area also has a decoration style full of northern characteristics.
The chef, knowing that we came from Shanghai, made some adjustments to the dishes. Besides the delicate presentation, the taste was milder, just to our liking. Of course, you can also enjoy authentic iron – pot stew in this restaurant.
The Lobby Bar
The ice – themed bar in the hotel lobby is a must – visit place for guests. In the afternoon, you can sit on the comfortable sofas, looking at the birch forest outside the window. Occasionally, two sika deer named “Dapang’er” and “Dazhuang’er” will stroll by, adding a lot of fun to the atmosphere. You can also enjoy the French desserts selected by the chef with your friends, which is really a relaxing thing to do.
Fitness Center
The Pullman Fitness Center is located on the second and third floors of Area C. It has a clean, bright and comfortable environment, covering an area of 56 square meters. It provides various fitness equipment and professional coaches. Guests can use the fitness facilities for free with their room cards. Free towels, water, toiletries and slippers are also provided, and guests can read newspapers and magazines for free.
Spa Center
The Spa Center is on the second floor of Area C, with a usable area of 104 square meters. It includes 5 chess rooms and 3 treatment rooms.
Children’s Club
The Children’s Club is on the third floor of Area C, covering an area of 57 square meters. It’s open to children aged 4 – 12, offering free relevant props and services.
Indoor Heated Swimming Pool
The indoor heated swimming pool is on the second floor of Area C. The adult pool is 24 meters long, 9 meters wide and 1.4 meters deep, while the children’s pool is 0.9 meters deep. The pool has a water – circulation system, and the water quality is always maintained between 6.8 – 7.5, which is suitable for the human body and won’t irritate the skin. There are also professional coaches on standby.
Hotel – Surrounding Tourist Guide
Taking Photos with Sika Deer
There are two lovely sika deer in the hotel yard. They bring new vitality to the quiet environment. Usually a bit dull, they become lively when they see tourists, with their big, clear and watery eyes. Many guests like to take photos with them.
Cycling in the Flower Sea
For those who love cycling, you can borrow a mountain bike from the hotel lobby and go outside. There is a large flower sea in the backyard of the hotel, and the flowers are in full bloom recently. It’s a great place to take beautiful photos.
Climbing Changbai Mountain
For most guests coming to Changbai Mountain, climbing to the top to see Tianchi is a must – do experience. There are three routes: the north slope, the west slope and the south slope, each with its own unique scenery. The west slope is the most primitive and magnificent. It only takes 5 minutes to drive from the hotel to the west – slope tourist center.
The scenic area’s tourist bus will take you to the mountainside of the west slope. Then you need to climb 1442 steps to reach the viewing point of Tianchi. There are signs along the way indicating the number of steps you’ve climbed, so you always know how far you’ve gone. I saw an 87 – year – old grandpa walking slowly with a walking stick, which was really admirable. Of course, there are also sedan chairs for those who don’t want to climb.
People say that Changbai Mountain is a pearl left by God on the earth. The simple and grand beauty of the white mountains and black waters can’t hide the most gorgeous and delicate strokes of nature. The beautiful meaning of “being together forever, growing old together, and making a solemn vow” attracts travelers from far and wide. This season is the best time to see the true face of Changbai Mountain clearly. When you see the calm lake surface at a glance, you’ll be amazed by the magic of nature.
Visiting Jinjiang Grand Canyon
After coming down from Changbai Mountain, you can choose to visit the Jinjiang Grand Canyon. Its grandeur can be compared with the Grand Canyon in the United States. Over time, the periglacial rock columns in the canyon have been sculpted by the wind and frost into magnificent postures.
There are dense forests on both sides of the canyon, with towering trees. In midsummer, you can also meet the colorful flowers in full bloom and cute little squirrels looking for food.
Exploring Neyin Ancient City
The Neyin Ancient City is located at the source of the First Headwater of Songhua River in Chinan District. It’s the only remaining forest ancient city of the Jurchen tribe in China. The Jinjiang River, the Manjiang River and the First Headwater of Songhua River were historically called “Neyin River” in the Manchu language. The Neyin tribe of the Jianzhou Jurchen got its name because they lived in the Neyin River area for generations.
The 22 – degree Changbai Mountain is extremely comfortable. In autumn, the mountains will be covered with colorful foliage, presenting a different kind of scenery. In winter, Changbai Mountain turns into a snowy fairytale world. Tourists can build snowmen, have snowball fights, ride snow tubes, build snow houses, experience the excitement of skiing at the ski resort, and chase the little animals in the snow, being a little hunter in the forest.
Changbai Mountain Jishi Media Pullman Resort
Address: Tianchi Avenue, Donggang Town, Fusong County, Baishan City, Jilin Province
Transportation:
– If you arrive by plane, the hotel is about 15 kilometers from Changbai Mountain Airport.
– If you arrive by train, it’s about 8.3 kilometers from Songjianghe Railway Station.
