Park of China
Overview
| Designation | National Park of China (second batch) |
| Province | Jilin |
| Location | Jilin City, Jilin |
| Mountains / Rivers and lakes | Changbai Mountains; Songhua River |
| Latitude, longitude | 43.6, 126.8 Google Maps |
| Highlights | Lake |
| Wildlife | Fish |
| Area | 550 km² |
| Nearby cities | Jilin City, Changchun |
| Nearby sites | Jingyue Lake 109km, The Eight Ministries, Changchun 123km, Jingpo Lake 171km Search nearby |
| Themes | Lake, Forest, Reservoir, Rime & snow scenery, Water conservancy works |
About
Songhua Lake lies on the Songhua River 15 km south-east of Jilin City, Jilin, on the west side of the Changbai Mountains, a reservoir behind the Fengman hydro dam, over 200 km long, 10 km at its widest and 550 km² in area; the dam is 91 m high and 1,000 m long.
Dozens of peaks over 1,000 m line its shores and it is rich in fish, especially whitefish and crucian carp. The Songhua Lake ski resort lies south-west of Fengman.
It is in the second batch of national parks of China (national scenic areas) named by the State Council in 1988.
Travel tips
Getting there: Songhua Lake is southeast of Jilin city. From Changchun, an intercity train to Jilin station takes about half an hour, then a bus or taxi to the lakeside in Fengman District takes twenty to thirty minutes.
Fengman Dam: the Fengman hydropower station is the lake's outlet. Viewing platforms near the dam look over the dam wall and the Songhua River below.
On the lake: in summer boats leave from lakeside piers. The lake is broad with hills rising on both shores, and there are resorts and islands along it.
Winter and rime: in winter the Songhua River banks are covered in rime, Jilin city's best-known winter sight. Ski areas around the lake make it one of the main ski areas in the northeast.
Time: a day covers the lake and the dam; stay a night if you want to ski or see the rime.
Season: summer is cool on the water and good for boats. Winter is the coldest, often around minus twenty degrees, so bring warm clothing.
Where to stay: both Jilin city and lakeside resorts have lodging; book early in ski season and high season.
Photo credits: Wuhu Island, Songhua Lake, Jilin: 大漠1208 (CC BY 3.0, Wikimedia Commons)
Nearby
| World Heritage | Changchuan Tomb No. 1, 2, 4 268km, Yongling Tomb of the Qing 271km, Wunv Shancheng 282km, Haotai Wangbei 283km |
| National parks of China | Northeast China Tiger and Leopard National Park 319km |
| National parks | Eight Ministries–Jingyue Lake Scenic Area 116km, Jingpo Lake 171km, Xianjingtai 236km, Sun Island 239km |
| Detailed guides | The Eight Ministries, Changchun 123km |
| AAAAA attractions | Jingyue Lake 109km, Changying Century City Tourist Area 110km, Changchun World Sculpture Park Tourist Area 120km, Liudingshan Cultural Tourist Area 120km |
| AAAA attractions | Zhuqueshan National Forest Park 17km, Jilin Museum 28km, Beidahu Ski Resort 30km, Beishan Scenic Area 30km |
| Historic cities | Jilin City 29km |
| Cities | Jilin City 32km, Changchun 124km |
| Historical sites | Fengman Mass Grave Site 15km, Ashihada Cliff Inscription 17km, Maoershan Cemetery 27km, Former Jilin Machinery Bureau 27km |
| Nature reserves | Huangnihe National Nature Reserve 99km, Jingyu National Nature Reserve 141km, Yanming Lake National Nature Reserve 144km |