Covering a total area of 2000 square km, Changbai Mountains National Reserve is, as a mammoth natural zoo and botanical garden, part of the UNESCO's Man and Biosphere Program. The Tianchi Lake (Heaven Lake), vertical scenery, aerial park, Hot Springs, and waterfalls are among the six local natural wonders. The mountains, covered with primitive forests, make an excellent tourist destination.
TianChi is 8 miles in circumference but cannot be circumnavigated since it overlaps with North Korea.
Access into the Nature Reserve for non-chinese is mainly through Baihe. Baihe can be access by bus through Yanji or train through Tonghua. From Baihe, buses travel frequently to Chang Bai Shan to the vehicle switching station, 17 miles past the main gate. From the vehicle switching station, sport utility vehicles take you the rest of the way to the hot springs at the base of the mountain.
An alternate access is via Songjiang He, a village 40 km west of the Nature Reserve. The western approach offers more beauty with forests of trees gradually changing to meadows and flowers (in spring and early summer).
The easiest way to get to Changbaishan is by booking one of the three-day tours arranged through CITS in Jilin (at the Dongguan Hotel) costing \620 (\420 for Chinese), which include all fees and accommodations, and which stop at all the major sightseeing stops, including Tian Chi.
Foreigners pay \121 while Chinese and student-card holders pay \40 for entrance into the Nature Reserve.
The '''Tian Chi''' lake is split between China and North Korea. If hiking, '''Do Not Wander Into North Korea!'''