Yanji Mao'er Mountain Forest Park

Below is a detailed introduction to Yanji Mao'er Mountain National Forest Park and Hailan Pearl Tower, combining natural ecology, cultural features, and emerging cultural tourism projects to provide you with comprehensive reference: --- ### 🌲 **1. Mao'er Mountain National Forest Park** **Overview** - **Location and Status**: Located about 10 kilometers south of Yanji city, covering an area of approximately 1,100 hectares. It was approved as a national forest park in 1992 and is now a national 4A-level scenic area, open to the public for free. - **Natural Features**: The main peak has an elevation of 517.2 meters and is named for its resemblance to a grass hat. The forest coverage rate ranges from 76.1% to 92.6%, dominated by natural secondary forests of pine, elm, and poplar trees. Wildlife includes pheasants and wild rabbits, with abundant mushrooms and rare plants. - **Cultural Integration**: It combines Korean ethnic folk customs, forest ecology, and historical sites, serving as the ecological core and leisure landmark of the Yanji-Longjing-Tumen region. **Core Attractions and Experiences** | **Attraction Type** | **Representative Projects and Features** | |--------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | **Natural Scenery** | Shrimp Rice Spring (sweet mountain spring water); Duntai Ruins (Bohai Kingdom beacon tower); Changbai Mountain Botanical Garden (44 hectares, azalea flower sea) | | **Cultural Experience** | Korean Ethnic Folk Village: rice cake making, seesaw/swing performances, bonfire parties, traditional singing and dancing | | **Iconic Facilities** | Tiger Sculpture Square ("Tiger Roaring Changbai" stone carving); summit aviation marker frame (pilgrimage route) | | **Leisure Activities** | Wooden plank trail hiking (about 2 hours to the summit); farmhouse dining (native chicken feast, smoked rabbit); winter ski resort | **Practical Information** - **Transportation**: Take bus No. 43 directly from Yanji city center; self-driving via Yanlong Highway southbound. - **Tips**: The summit is steep, so wear anti-slip shoes; it is recommended to bring drinking water and sun protection; folk village at the foot of the mountain offers accommodation (about 10 yuan/night). --- ### 🏙️ **2. Hailan Pearl Tower: Yanji’s New Landmark** **Background and Positioning** - **History**: Formerly the Yanji Meteorological Tower (built in 2009, completed in 2014), it was renovated and upgraded in 2024 and opened as the "Hailan Pearl Tower" on April 30, 2025, with a total investment of 500 million yuan. - **Design Concept**: The tower is 181.2 meters tall with 31 floors, shaped like a "pearl" symbolizing ethnic unity. It retains meteorological monitoring functions and adds cultural tourism experiences, filling the gap in Yanji for high-altitude sightseeing and extreme sports. **Featured Functional Areas** | **Floor** | **Functions and Experiences** | |------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | **1st Floor** | Digital Exhibition Hall: light and shadow technology showcasing Yanbian’s history and future plans | | **2nd Floor** | Korean Cuisine Collection: cold noodles, barbecue, and other flavors | | **5th Floor** | Tongxin Market: cultural and creative products and souvenirs | | **8th Floor** | Meteorological Museum: interactive science popularization of natural mysteries | | **30th-31st Floors** | High-altitude walk + cloud café: panoramic views of Mao'er Mountain and Hailan River | | **Tower Top** | "Hailan Eye": 360° observation deck + Northeast China’s first year-round high-altitude bungee jumping (with glass plank road and swings) | **Events and Collaboration** - **Annual Events**: International Light Festival, high-altitude concerts, bungee jumping challenges. - **Regional Coordination**: Forms a "six-star linkage" cultural tourism matrix with Dinosaur Kingdom, Dinosaur Hot Spring Hotel, and others, promoting all-region tourism. --- ### 🌄 **3. Unique Linkage Between the Two Scenic Areas** - **Spatial Interaction**: From the 30th floor of Hailan Pearl Tower, you can overlook the entire Mao'er Mountain, creating a "mountain-tower echo" sightseeing perspective. - **Complementary Experiences**: Mao'er Mountain emphasizes nature and folk customs (down-to-earth), while Hailan Pearl Tower focuses on technology and high-altitude thrills (modern feel), meeting diverse needs. --- ### 🚗 **4. Travel Tips** - **Best Seasons**: - Mao'er Mountain: summer for cooling, autumn for red leaves. - Hailan Pearl Tower: indoor projects open year-round; high-altitude activities are best avoided on windy winter days. - **Itinerary Planning**: - Climb Mao'er Mountain in the morning (half day), visit Hailan Pearl Tower in the afternoon (2-3 hours). - Travel time from Yanji city center to both attractions is within 30 minutes. --- ### 💎 **Summary** Mao'er Mountain National Forest Park centers on pristine ecology and Korean ethnic culture, making it a classic choice for immersive natural and cultural experiences; Hailan Pearl Tower highlights high-altitude sightseeing, technological interaction, and extreme sports, representing Yanji’s innovative cultural tourism direction. The two, one ancient and one modern, one tranquil and one dynamic, together form a three-dimensional picture of Yanji as the "City of Mountains and Waters," ideal for a 1-2 day in-depth tour.