Wudalianchi Global Geopark
Wudalianchi Global Geopark is located in Wudalianchi City, a county-level city under the administration of Heihe City in Heilongjiang Province. The whole geopark is actually a large scenic area that is composed of five big linked lakes, extraordinary volcanic landforms and some other natural and cultural landscapes.
At the core of the geopark are the five great lakes: the Lotus Lake, Yanshan Mountain Lake, White Dragon Lake, Crane-chirping Lake and Ruyi Lake. Originally, there was a large depressed basin lake. Because of volcanic eruption, the lake was dammed by magma and became five lakes connected to each other, just like a string of beads.
Fourteen young and old volcanoes stand in Wudalianchi World Geopark. Volcanic eruption created a variety of landforms, such as lava cascades, lava stalactites, lava passages, flower-like lava, fumaroles, lapilli and volcanic bombs. According to scientists, Wudalianchi Geopark is a ‘Museum of Natural Volcanoes’ as well as an ‘Open Textbook on Volcanoes’.
Several places in the geopark have been developed as tourist attractions, including Laohei Volcano Scenic Area, Longmen Stone Village, Wenpo Lake, the Northern and Southern Cold Mineral Springs Sight-seeing Areas, Wudalianchi Global Geopark Museum, White Dragon Cave, Crystal Palace and Zhongling Temple on Yaoquan Mountain.
Laohei Volcano Scenic Area has the two youngest volcanoes in China, Laohei Mountain and Huoshao Mountain. These two volcanoes erupted first between 1720 and 1721. The main scenic spots are the two above-mentioned volcanoes, the stone sea, the fairy palace and the volcanic landforms. Visitors can also find other spots such as the bonsai garden, the five-color beach, the garden of grotesque pines and the garden of Chinese ilex.
(Blocky Lava Flow)
Longmen Stone Village is not really a village. It is a volcanic landscape formed by earthquakes and crustal movement a few hundred thousand years ago. Clusters of huge stones are scattered here. Some take the shape of animals while others look like collapsed city walls and castles. Visitors can imagine this is a stone village isolated from the outside world. The region is a paradise for wild animals, such as black bear, wild boar, roe deer and pheasant.
Wenpo is a volcanic lake with an average depth of about 2.6 feet (0.8 meters) with the deepest part about 33 feet (10 meters). Five hues of mosses grow on the terrace in the lake, forming a spectacular view. Visitors can have magnetic treatments in the lake because the water contains numerous magnetic ions good for health. Wenpo can be translated as Warm Lake in English. The water here stays warm even in harsh winters. No wonder colorful mosses thrive here.
Needless to say, these two scenic areas are famous for their cold mineral springs. The cold mineral springs in the geopark are rich in iron, silicon and calcium carbonate. It’s said that the southern cold mineral spring has a special curative effect on blood and nerve diseases while the northern one is effective on the diseases related to digestive system. Visitors can drink the mineral spring water, take a bath in the springs or try the magnetic treatment.
In addition, Wudalianchi Global Geopark Museum, White Dragon Cave, Crystal Palace and Zhongling Temple are worth a visit.
From Harbin:
By Bus:
1. Take a direct bus to Wudalianchi Global Geopark at Daowai Passenger Transport Station located on Chengde Road. The bus departs at 12:00, at a fare of CNY 100.
2. Take a bus to Wudalianchi City at Nangang Passenger Transport Station, also called Longyun Bus Station, close to Harbin Railway Station. The bus departs at 09:00, 11:30 and 13:30. The bus fare is CNY 95, 103 or 117 based on departure time. Upon arrival, visitors need to take a bus or charter a taxi from the railway station to reach the scenic area.
By Train:
Take a train from Harbin Railway Station to Bei’an Station. Then change to a bus from the North Square to the scenic area. The bus fare is around CNY 16 and the duration is about 50 minutes.
From Qiqihar:
By Bus:
Take a bus to Wudalianchi City from Qiqihar East Passenger Transport Station located at No. 343, Longhua Road. It departs at 08:30 and costs CNY 73 per person.
By Train:
Take a train from Qiqihar Railway Station to Bei’an Station.
From Daqing:
Take a bus to Wudalianchi City from Daqing Passenger Terminal located at the crossing of Century Avenue and Longfeng Street. It departs at 8:40 and 10:00.
Alternately, visitors can take a bus from the above mentioned bus stations of Harbin, Qiqihar and Daqing to Bei’an Passenger Transport General Station, where there are many buses for the scenic area.
Note:
Children under 4.3 feet (1.3 meters) enjoy free entry, excluding Wenpo Lake, White Dragon Cave and Crystal Palace.
At the core of the geopark are the five great lakes: the Lotus Lake, Yanshan Mountain Lake, White Dragon Lake, Crane-chirping Lake and Ruyi Lake. Originally, there was a large depressed basin lake. Because of volcanic eruption, the lake was dammed by magma and became five lakes connected to each other, just like a string of beads.
Fourteen young and old volcanoes stand in Wudalianchi World Geopark. Volcanic eruption created a variety of landforms, such as lava cascades, lava stalactites, lava passages, flower-like lava, fumaroles, lapilli and volcanic bombs. According to scientists, Wudalianchi Geopark is a ‘Museum of Natural Volcanoes’ as well as an ‘Open Textbook on Volcanoes’.
Several places in the geopark have been developed as tourist attractions, including Laohei Volcano Scenic Area, Longmen Stone Village, Wenpo Lake, the Northern and Southern Cold Mineral Springs Sight-seeing Areas, Wudalianchi Global Geopark Museum, White Dragon Cave, Crystal Palace and Zhongling Temple on Yaoquan Mountain.
Laohei Volcano Scenic Area
Longmen Stone Village
Longmen Stone Village is not really a village. It is a volcanic landscape formed by earthquakes and crustal movement a few hundred thousand years ago. Clusters of huge stones are scattered here. Some take the shape of animals while others look like collapsed city walls and castles. Visitors can imagine this is a stone village isolated from the outside world. The region is a paradise for wild animals, such as black bear, wild boar, roe deer and pheasant.
Wenpo Lake
Northern and Southern Cold Mineral Springs Sight-seeing Areas
In addition, Wudalianchi Global Geopark Museum, White Dragon Cave, Crystal Palace and Zhongling Temple are worth a visit.
How to get there
From Harbin:By Bus:
1. Take a direct bus to Wudalianchi Global Geopark at Daowai Passenger Transport Station located on Chengde Road. The bus departs at 12:00, at a fare of CNY 100.
2. Take a bus to Wudalianchi City at Nangang Passenger Transport Station, also called Longyun Bus Station, close to Harbin Railway Station. The bus departs at 09:00, 11:30 and 13:30. The bus fare is CNY 95, 103 or 117 based on departure time. Upon arrival, visitors need to take a bus or charter a taxi from the railway station to reach the scenic area.
By Train:
Take a train from Harbin Railway Station to Bei’an Station. Then change to a bus from the North Square to the scenic area. The bus fare is around CNY 16 and the duration is about 50 minutes.
From Qiqihar:By Bus:
Take a bus to Wudalianchi City from Qiqihar East Passenger Transport Station located at No. 343, Longhua Road. It departs at 08:30 and costs CNY 73 per person.
By Train:
Take a train from Qiqihar Railway Station to Bei’an Station.
From Daqing:Take a bus to Wudalianchi City from Daqing Passenger Terminal located at the crossing of Century Avenue and Longfeng Street. It departs at 8:40 and 10:00.
Alternately, visitors can take a bus from the above mentioned bus stations of Harbin, Qiqihar and Daqing to Bei’an Passenger Transport General Station, where there are many buses for the scenic area.
| Scenic Spots/Facilities | Admission Fee | Opening Hours | |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 1 to Oct. 31 | Nov. 1 to Apr. 30 | ||
| Laohei Volcano Scenic Area | CNY 80 | CNY 55 | 07:40 - 16:00 |
| Longmen Stone Village | CNY 50 | CNY 35 | 07:30 – 17:30 |
| Wenpo Lake | CNY 50 | CNY 35 | 07:30 – 17:00 |
| Northern Cold Mineral Spring Sight-seeing Area | CNY 30 | CNY 14 | 07:00 – 17:00 |
| Southern Cold Mineral Spring Sight-seeing Area | CNY 20 | CNY 4 | 07:30 – 17:00 |
| White Dragon Cave | CNY 30 | CNY 14 | 08:00 – 16:30 |
| Crystal Palace | CNY 30 | CNY 14 | 08:00 – 16:30 |
| Wudalianchi Global Geopark Museum | CNY 20 | May 1 to Oct. 31: 08:00 – 17:30 Nov. 1 to Apr. 30: 08:00 – 16:30 | |
| Zhongling Temple | CNY 15 | / | |
| Sight-seeing Bus & Boat in the Laohei Mountain Scenic Area | Bus: CNY 25 per person Boat: CNY 100 per person | / | |
Note:Children under 4.3 feet (1.3 meters) enjoy free entry, excluding Wenpo Lake, White Dragon Cave and Crystal Palace.
