Location: Situated in the south part of Jilin,
It is neighbor to cities of Baishan, Liaoyuan, Jilin of Jilin Province
and Tieling, Dandong of Liaoning
Province. The Yalujiang River separates it from North Korea
in its south.
History: About 6,000 years ago, human beings started
to live in this area. It is the cradle of China's northeast ethnic
minority group Gaojuli and Manchu
culture. In the Western
Han Dynasty (260BC-24), it belonged to the Zhenfan Shire. The
Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) government
firstly set up county there formally. In 1985, it became a prefecture-level
city in the approval of the State Council.
Physical Features: Most of Tonghua's land is covered
with mountains and hills which incline from high south to low north.
Climatic Features: Tonghua enjoys typical temperate
continental climate. It is dry and windy in spring while hot and
rainy in summer. Winter is quite long and cold.
When to Go: Autumn is a good tourism season due
to the pleasant weather. Each year in May, the Azalea Festival held
in Longwan Nature Reserve attracts many tourists. If you are fond
of skiing and snow scenery, winter is the best time to visit Tonghua-this
'Town of Skiing'.
Local Highlights: Tonghua is one of the three
largest natural herb bases of China. Medicine industry is well developed
there. It is also an important forest area of Jilin and the 'Town
of Skiing' in China. The ethnic minority group Gaojuli culture and
the revolutionary culture of the Chinese Anti-Japanese War add more
interest to the charm of the city.
Special Local Products: ginseng and wine
Famous Tourism Spots:
Scenic Areas: Longwan National Forest Park, Sanjiaowan
Lake, Yuhuangshan Park, Wunvfeng National Forest Park, Yunfeng Lake,
Yalujiang River
Ancient Sites: Donggou Ancient Tombs, Huifa Ancient
City, Luotong Mountain City
Amusement: Qianyehu Skiing Resort, Jinchang Skiing
Resort
Tourist Tips: Three railway lines connect in Tonghua,
linking it with other neighboring cities in northeast China. Tonghua
Railway Station is located in Jianshe Street and can be reached
by city bus line No.1, No.6 and No.42. Tonghua East Railway Station
is located in Erdaojiang District, where tourists can take trains
to Ji'an, Baihe and other cisborder counties. Tonghua Long Distance
Bus Station is near the Tonghua Railway Station. It operates buses
not only to other provincial cities such as Changchun, Jilin, Siping,
Fushun, but also counties around Tonghua.