The Lake of Heaven

Changbaishan is in Jilin Province, Northeast China. Much of this beautiful, mountainous area is thick forest. Changbaishan is China’s largest nature reserve and it is kept in its natural state for the people of China and visitors from all over the world to enjoy. The land varies in height from 700 meters above sea level to over 2,000 meters and is home to a great diversity of rare plants and animals, Among the rare animals are cranes, black bears, leopards and tigers. Many people come to Changbaishan to study its unique plants and animals. Others come to walk in the mountains, to see the spectacular waterfalls or to bathe in the hot water pools. However, the attraction that arouses the greatest appreciation in the reserve is Tianchi or the Lake of Heaven.

Tianchi is a deep lake that has formed in the crater of a dead volcano on top of the mountain. The lake is 2,194 meters above sea level, and more than 200 meters deep. In winter the surface freezes over. It takes about an hour to climb from the end of the road to the top of the mountain. When you arrive you are rewarded not only with the sight of its clear waters, but also by the view of the other sixteen mountain peaks that surround Tianchi.

There are many stories told about Tianchi. The most well-known concerns three young women from heaven. They were bathing in Tianchi when a bird flew above them and dropped a small fruit onto the dress of the youngest girl. When she picked up the fruit to smell it, it flew into her mouth. Having swallowed the fruit, the girl became pregnant and later gave birth to a handsome boy. It is said that this boy, who had a great gift for languages and persuasion, is the father of the Manchu people.

If you are lucky enough to visit the Lake of Heaven with your loved one, don’t forget to drop a coin into the clear blue water to guarantee your love will be as deep and lasting as the lake itself.

Wetry to bring you all the information you require when travelling to Etosha National Park of just finding out more about this fascinating park. It is important when visiting a park as unique as Etosha to respect the environment and the heritage associated with it. Below is some of the most important information to keep in mind to ensure that you have a safe trip or if you would like to learn more about the park.

Etosha Pan

The Etosha pan is undoubtedly, enormous. It is the most distinctive（独特的）feature of the park and can even be seen from space. It is believed that it was formed over 100 million years ago and is 130km's long and up to 50km's wide in certain places. This means that the pan covers almost a quarter of the entire park!

Waterholes

Waterholes are usually a redeeming feature in any major national park and Etosha is no different. They are a great place to silently observe animals and see them in their natural environment, away from noisy mechanical beasts that we often view wildlife from. Each waterhole in Etosha is different and animals spotted at each vary from season to season. The main waterholes in Etosha include Okaukuejo, Okondeka. Halali and Goas and Sueda and Salvadora.

Seasons

Dependent on what type of game viewing you wish to do, different seasons within the year will suit your trip better. The winter is a dry season and is great time to spot wildlife at the waterholes. During summer the vegetation is lush（郁郁葱葱）due to the heavy rainfall which makes game-viewing difficult. However this season is great for bird-lovers.

Park History

The Etosha Pan and the area that would later come to be known as Etosha National Park was first discovered by Europeans in 1851, when explorers Charles Andersson and Francis Galton came to the wild region in the company of Ovambo traders. Etosha can be loosely translated as "Great White Place" in the Ovambo language.