The boat tour
Among the islands.
大漠1208 — CC BY 3.0 · Francesc Fort — CC BY-SA 4.0 · 大漠1208 — CC BY 3.0 · Francesc Fort — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Francesc Fort — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Francesc Fort — CC BY-SA 4.0 · 大漠1208 — CC BY 3.0 · 大漠1208 — CC BY 3.0
The largest lake in Jilin province, formed in 1937 behind the Fengman dam on the Second Songhua River; it spreads over some 550 square kilometres among forested hills, winding between bays and islands, and has been a national scenic area since 1988. Visitors take boat tours on the lake or out to Wuhu, «Five Tigers», Island, and walk the shores among the trees, while in winter the nearby hills turn into ski slopes. The lake also plays a part in Jilin's most famous winter sight: the warmer water released from the dam keeps the river below it open and unfrozen, so its vapour rises and freezes onto the riverside trees in the city, coating them in brilliant white rime that draws photographers from across China. The scenic area costs CNY 10, a lake boat tour about 35 return and the Wuhu Island boat about 50, and it is open from 7.30 am to 5 pm, per visitor guides.
Among the islands.
Five Tigers Island.
On the river in winter.
South-east of Jilin City, Jilin province
On the coldest winter days, roughly late December to February; it forms on the riverside trees in the city early in the morning after a bitterly cold night and usually melts before noon.
Jilin City has a Hui Muslim community and restaurants under the halal sign, while local north-eastern cooking uses pork, so ask before ordering.