Floating Stone Canyon

There exists a unique type of stone in Changbai Mountain that floats on water when submerged. Locals call it pumice, or foam lava stone.

Situated 6 kilometers southeast of the main gate of Changbai Mountain, Changbai Mountain Floating Stone Canyon is also known as the Volcanic Canyon, as it took shape from ancient volcanic eruptions. Later, it earned the name Floating Stone Canyon for its rock formations primarily composed of pumice.

In 1199 AD, Changbai Mountain witnessed an unprecedented massive volcanic eruption. Pyroclastic flows from the blast filled the entire canyon. Over more than 800 years of rainwater erosion, softer volcanic debris was washed away, leaving behind hard rock fragments that formed the spectacular landscape seen today. The canyon stretches like a shimmering giant dragon, grand and imposing. Renowned for its grace, wonder, peril and seclusion, it integrates jagged peaks, waterfalls, bizarre rock outcrops, underground rivers, gushing springs, green trees, rare flowers and exotic grasses. Standout sights including the Ice Water Spring, Hunter’s Hut, Black Bear Gazing at Pines, Recumbent Camel Peak, Silver Serpent Peak, Wordless Stele, Goddess of Fertility and Monk Tang Reciting Scriptures leave visitors utterly amazed.

Springs bubble within the canyon, and clear water flows from the springs. Though shallow, the water is crystal pure; though brief, the brook babbles endlessly. Mountains grow more extraordinary thanks to water, and water becomes more elegant framed by mountains. The magnificent mountain ranges, winding waterways, lush green grasslands, vibrant blossoms, twisting trails and looping bridges form an endless array of stunning scenery that makes visitors linger, unwilling to leave.

A folk legend tells the origin of pumice: Long ago, Changbai Mountain was a land engulfed in flames, a mountain of fire shrouded in smoke all day long. Two divine brothers, Yuzhu (Jade Pillar), the elder, and Tianzhu (Heaven Pillar), the younger, saw the desolate mountain stripped of all vegetation. They begged the Jade Emperor to send rain to extinguish the wildfires. The Jade Emperor granted their wish, and rain poured for three days and three nights, putting out the blazes at last.

Though the fires died down, the mountain remained parched. Yuzhu proposed to his brother, “Let us dig a well on Changbai Mountain.” Compassionate Tianzhu readily agreed. Abandoning their peaceful, comfortable life in heaven, the brothers took shovels and pickaxes and descended to the mountain to dig. They took turns working day and night, enduring scorching residual heat.

On the forty-ninth day of digging, a low roaring sound echoed up from the well. A fire dragon burst out of the shaft, lunging toward the two brothers. They swiftly leaped to the mountain summit and watched the flames rage ever larger, fearing all their hard work would be for nothing. Refusing to retreat, they hauled massive boulders and hurled them at the fire dragon. Each stone melted instantly upon contact with the beast’s fire, yet the brothers kept throwing more rocks, one batch melting after another. Driven by a single resolve to subdue the fire dragon, they fought nonstop for another forty-nine days and nights, finally defeating the creature.

A miracle unfolded next: a powerful spring surged forth from the deep well they had dug. The molten stones that had hit the dragon cooled instantly, filled with porous honeycomb cavities and light enough to float. The spring water filled the well to the brim, rising all the way to the mountain top before spilling through mountain gaps. The porous light stones floated atop the water, covering the peaks and drifting away with the current.

The well dug by the brothers became Tianchi Lake, and those fire-melted porous stones became pumice.

After vanquishing the fire dragon, Yuzhu and Tianzhu rested eternally upon Changbai Mountain, transforming into Jade Pillar Peak and Heaven Pillar Peak respectively