Changbai Mountain (长白山, Changbaishan) is a dormant volcano in Jilin Province on China’s border with North Korea, where the same mountain is called Mount Paektu. Heaven Lake (天池) fills the crater at the top. The Chinese side has three separately ticketed areas, North, West and South. Each costs RMB 105 for entry plus RMB 85 for the park bus, and on the North Slope the vehicle to the summit is another RMB 80. Tickets are booked by real name and time slot up to seven days ahead. Whether you see the lake depends on the weather that day, so keep a spare day if you can.
What is Changbai Mountain?
The mountain is a volcanic cone with a lake in its crater, one of the largest crater lakes in China. The viewpoints on the rim stand above 2,400 m. Below them are a 68 m waterfall where the lake drains out, hot springs that steam in the snow, a canyon and forest. Two towns serve as bases: Erdaobaihe for the North Slope and Songjianghe for the West Slope. They are more than two hours apart by road, so decide which slope you are visiting before you book a hotel or a train.
North, West or South Slope?
| Area | Getting to the lake | What else is there | Choose it if |
|---|---|---|---|
| North Slope (北景区) | Park bus to the transfer centre, then the summit vehicle: minivans that climb the hairpin road in about 20 minutes. From the car park it is about 10 minutes on foot to the rim | Changbai Waterfall, the Julong hot springs, Small Heaven Lake, Green Deep Pool and the forest on the valley floor | It is your first visit, you want the most sights, or you want the least walking. It also has the most visitors |
| West Slope (西景区) | Park bus for about 45 minutes, then about 1,440 steps to the viewing platform, 20 to 30 minutes | The boundary marker on the rim, Jinjiang Grand Canyon and an alpine flower garden that blooms in July and August | You want a wider view of the lake and fewer people, and the steps are not a problem |
| South Slope (南景区) | Park bus. The area opens for the warm season only, from about mid-May | The least developed side, with a canyon on the Yalu River and views across to North Korea | It is a return visit in summer |
Ticket and vehicle prices
| Item | North | West | South |
|---|---|---|---|
| Entry ticket | RMB 105 | RMB 105 | RMB 105 |
| Park bus inside the area (return) | RMB 85 | RMB 85 | RMB 85 |
| Summit vehicle (return) | RMB 80 | Not needed; in winter a snowmobile to the summit is RMB 165 | Not needed |
| Shuttle from the visitor centre to the gate (return) | RMB 35 | RMB 19 or RMB 14, depending on the centre | Not listed |
- For the North Slope with the summit, an adult pays RMB 270 before the shuttle from the visitor centre. Later reports say the shuttle fares have been cut, so check the shuttle price when you book.
- Half price: full-time students up to undergraduate level, ages 7 to 17, and ages 60 to 64. Free: children under 7 or up to 1.2 m. Vehicle tickets have their own rules.
How booking works
- Official channels: the WeChat account 长白山 and the mini programs 长白山 and 长白山一机游. The scenic area says tickets bought elsewhere are not its responsibility.
- Booking is by real name and time slot, with a face check at the gate. Tickets go on sale up to seven days ahead, and new stock is released at 18:00 each day.
- Passport holders are given an electronic QR code with the ticket and show it with the passport. You cannot enter before your slot.
- An unused ticket can be refunded without a fee until midnight on the date it was booked for.
- Entry stops early. On 11 October 2026 the North Slope was listed as 07:30–18:00 with last entry at 13:30, and the West Slope as 07:30–17:00 with last entry at 13:30. Go in the morning.
Changbai Mountain in winter
- The North and West areas are open all year. The South Slope is closed in winter.
- The road to the summit depends on wind and snow. On a bad day the lower sights stay open while the lake does not, so treat the summit as a chance, not a promise.
- What winter adds: the hot springs steaming in the snow on the North Slope, snowmobiles on the West Slope, and ski resorts near Songjianghe.
- Plan a fallback before you travel. On our winter tour the North Slope day has an alternative agreed in advance in case the route is closed.
Getting there
- For the North Slope, use Changbaishan station (长白山站) and stay in Erdaobaihe. For the West Slope, use Changbaishan West station (长白山西站) or Changbaishan airport and stay in Songjianghe.
- Both stations are on the Shenyang–Changbaishan high-speed railway, which opened on 28 September 2025. Check 12306 for trains on your date.
- Do not book from a map label that just says “Changbai Mountain”. Our hub guide matches each gate to its station, airport and town.
How many days
- One slope takes one day. Two nights in Erdaobaihe gives you the North Slope and a spare morning for the lake.
- For both North and West, allow three nights and move between the two towns on the middle day.
- In winter, add days for skiing or for Yanji, the city with a large Korean-Chinese community.
Changbai Mountain questions
Where is Changbai Mountain?
In the south-east of Jilin Province in north-east China, on the border with North Korea.
Is Changbai Mountain the same as Mount Paektu?
Yes. Changbaishan is the Chinese name and Paektu, or Baekdu, the Korean name for the same mountain. Visitors on the Chinese side see Heaven Lake from the Chinese part of the rim.
North Slope or West Slope: which is better?
The North Slope has more sights and a vehicle almost to the rim. The West Slope has about 1,440 steps, a wider view of the lake and fewer visitors. On a first visit, choose the North.
How much does Changbai Mountain cost?
Entry is RMB 105 and the park bus RMB 85 in each area. On the North Slope the summit vehicle adds RMB 80, RMB 270 in all.
Can foreign visitors book tickets?
Yes. The official guidance covers passport holders: you receive an electronic QR code with the ticket and show it with your passport. Booking opens seven days ahead on the official WeChat channels.
Can you always see Heaven Lake?
No. Cloud, wind and snow can hide the lake or close the summit road. A spare day raises your chances.
Is Changbai Mountain open in winter?
The North and West areas are open all year, and the South Slope is closed in winter. Access to the summit depends on the weather each day.
Sources(5)
- Changbai Mountain ticket service and help (12 August 2025)Jilin Provincial Department of Culture and Tourism, on People’s Daily’s platform
- Changbai Mountain listing: the three areas, the lake and the two base townsTrip.com Group (Ctrip)
- North Scenic Area listing: route, waterfall and hoursTrip.com Group (Ctrip)
- West Scenic Area listing: steps, canyon and hoursTrip.com Group (Ctrip)
- Shenyang–Changbaishan high-speed railway opens (28 September 2025)Jilin Provincial People’s Government