Plan at a glance
Choose a slope before booking its visitor centre
Changbai Mountain's main scenic area has separate North, West and South Slope zones. Tianchi (Heaven Lake) is the mountain-top lake shared by the three routes, not a stand-alone attraction with its own entrance. The North Slope visitor centre is in Erdaobaihe (Chibei District), Antu County, Yanbian Prefecture. The West Slope centre is in Chixi District, Fusong County, Baishan City; the South Slope is in Changbai Korean Autonomous County, Baishan City. The latter two are outside Yanbian Prefecture. The entrances are far apart, so arrange lodging and transfers around the slope you choose.
Book each slope separately and check transport costs by segment
Reservations are separate for the North, West and South Slope. An admission ticket is valid for one visit on its date; the “five-day, one-ticket” arrangement ended in 2023. Published prices add up to about CNY 305 for a North Slope visit from the Chibei distribution centre with a trip to the summit: CNY 105 admission, CNY 35 for the Chibei round-trip shuttle, CNY 85 for the in-park shuttle, and a separate CNY 80 round-trip summit transfer bus. A voluntary CNY 5 insurance fee may also apply. The West Slope ticket is CNY 105, plus CNY 85 for the in-park shuttle and a separate round-trip bus from either the Chixi or Baixi visitor centre. The South Slope charges separately for admission and the in-park shuttle. Check the official ticket types and total for your date; prices and inclusions may change.
Allow a full day; weather can change the route
Official ticket information estimates about 6–8 hours for the full North Slope route and 5–6 hours for the West Slope in peak season, excluding queues. For planning, allow about 5–6 hours for a shorter North Slope visit or 7–8 hours for a more thorough one. Queues and temporary closures may extend either itinerary. In strong winds, rain, snow, ice or poor visibility, vehicles to Tianchi may stop running. Having an admission ticket does not guarantee a summit visit or a clear view of the lake.
Tickets and visit details
View visit options for this attraction and confirm the visit date and current arrangements before you go.
Choose your visit
North Slope | connect several sights by shuttle
You can combine the main-summit view of Tianchi with Changbai Waterfall, the Julong Hot Spring Group, Small Tianchi, Lvyuantan and the Underground Forest in one day. From the North Slope, Tianchi is viewed from an angled overlook. The other sights are spread along the mountain road, so get on and off the in-park shuttle at the designated stops. Boiled eggs cooked in the hot spring are a separately sold experience, and the sales point may change with daily operations. The North Slope's Julong Hot Spring Group is a geothermal feature inside the mountain, separate from the hotel's bathing facilities.
West Slope | climb the steps for the Tianchi view
The West Slope viewpoint has a broad view. Reaching it requires climbing about 1,442 steps; if it is open, you can add Jinjiang Grand Canyon afterward. The Alpine Garden and Wangchi are seasonal stops, with the garden mainly open in midsummer. Do not plan a fall or winter visit around the summer route. Even if the scenic shuttle takes you to the foot of the steps, you must climb them on foot.
South Slope | check current access before planning
Named sights on the South Slope include Tianchi, the Yuehua Twin Waterfalls, the Yalu River Grand Canyon and the Carbonized Wood Site, in Changbai County. A management-committee reply dated September 3, 2026 said Tianchi was closed for repairs at that time, while the Yuehua Twin Waterfalls and Yalu River Grand Canyon were open. An October scenic-area overview still listed these sights but did not say when Tianchi would reopen. Confirm the areas open on your date before booking; do not assume that Tianchi or the full route is open just because it appears in an attraction description.
You do not need to fit all three views into one day
The North Slope is in Chibei, the West Slope in Chixi and the South Slope in Chinan. Published ticket information puts the North and West visitor centres about 100 km apart and the North and South centres about 170 km apart. Tianchi viewpoints, climbs and combinations of sights differ by slope. Choose based on your fitness, time and the areas open that day. If you want to compare more than one slope, allow time for road transfers between towns and make separate reservations.
Build your day
North Slope short route | allow about 5–6 hours
From the Chibei visitor distribution centre, take the shuttle into the mountain at your reserved time, then transfer to the in-park shuttle and summit bus for Tianchi. After your visit, choose one or two of Changbai Waterfall, the Julong Hot Spring Group and Lvyuantan. Board at the marked stops for the return trip and leave the mountain. If the summit bus stops because of weather, check the official mini program to see whether other attractions are open before deciding whether to continue into the park.
North Slope full route | allow about 7–8 hours
See Tianchi first, then continue to Changbai Waterfall and the hot spring group, Small Tianchi and Lvyuantan, and consider the Underground Forest last. The official peak-season estimate for the full North Slope route is 6–8 hours, excluding queues. More walking trails or time waiting for shuttles will extend the day. The Underground Forest trail is long; if you are short on time before the return trip, skip it or walk partway and return the same way.
West Slope | decide about the canyon after the Tianchi steps
Take a shuttle from the West Slope visitor centre or Baixi visitor centre. Follow signs to the Tianchi trailhead, climb the 1,442 steps and return down the same way. Only continue to Jinjiang Grand Canyon if you have enough time and it is open; take the shuttle there. The full West Slope visit takes about 5–6 hours in peak season, excluding queues. After descending, return to the boarding point for your ride back. Do not estimate the last departure from your uphill walking time alone.
Replan the South Slope around the open areas
Arrange the transport order and walking time for the South Slope according to that day's access notice. If only some sights are open, plan within the ticketed area. If Tianchi remains closed, do not substitute a route from another slope as if the access were the same.
Get there
North Slope: Changbaishan Station to the Chibei distribution centre
A July 2026 notice listed bus routes 1 and 3 from Changbaishan Railway Station to the Chibei transport distribution centre, with the first bus at 07:00, the last at 18:20 and a CNY 2 fare. Weather or emergencies may change the route; call the bus service at 0433-5675666 to check. The railway station is about 9 km from the North Slope visitor distribution centre. In Chibei, you still need the shuttle included in or purchased with your ticket to enter the mountain. The station bus is not transport inside the scenic area.
West and South Slope: use their own arrival points
For the West Slope, choose the Chixi or Baixi visitor centre according to your ticket. Changbaishan West Railway Station and Changbaishan Airport are not scenic-area ticket gates. The management committee previously announced custom buses from the West Station to the West Slope or Baixi, and airport transfers; check current schedules and booking requirements for your date. To reach the South Slope, travel from Changbai County to the South Slope gate. Current public-bus service, transfer points and return times have not been confirmed.
Transfer between slope areas by road
The North, West and South visitor centres serve different areas and are far apart. Arrange intercity transfers around services actually operating on your date; the ticket service hotline is 0433-5310466. If changing towns between slopes, confirm the bus date, last departure and luggage arrangements. Do not estimate travel time from straight-line distances on a map. Drivers must use designated parking and shuttle routes; private cars cannot enter the scenic area's internal roads.
Know before you go
Use the official ticket channels and bring your booking document
Official tickets are available through the Changbai Mountain WeChat channels. Search for “长白山” or “长白山一机游” in WeChat to find the official booking platform. Reservations require real-name information, a time slot and facial verification. The ticket information accepts Chinese ID cards, passports and Mainland Travel Permits for Hong Kong and Macao residents or Taiwan residents. If you booked with a passport or permit, bring the electronic QR code linked to the document number used for the booking and enter with that document. The advance-sale window has changed with system updates; book for the dates shown in the mini program. The North Slope summit bus ticket must be linked to same-day scenic-area admission. Ticket hotline: 400-000-6789.
Tianchi and other stops may close temporarily
Before entering the mountain, check official Changbai Mountain notices and the weather. After entry, follow announcements and signs at each stop. Strong winds, rain, snow or icy roads may suspend the Tianchi bus or Underground Forest service, and other attractions may not close or reopen at the same time. Bring a warm windproof layer and shoes with good grip for the cold summit. Allow for long shuttle rides on the North Slope and the steps up and down on the West Slope. The scenic area has not confirmed a step-free alternative to the West Slope stairs; visitors with limited mobility should contact the scenic area before travelling.
Do not drive through the scenic area
Traffic inside the scenic area is restricted. Visitors must use the designated routes and buses from the visitor centre they booked. The road from the North Slope distribution centre to the Old Mountain Gate is about 29 km. A spring 2026 field report noted limited parking at the Old Mountain Gate and recommended taking the shuttle from the Chibei centre during peak season. Do not count on parking there or driving into the mountain. The mountain road has many bends; if you are prone to motion sickness, bring your usual remedies.