One-Week Self-Driving Itinerary from Yingkou to Changbai Mountain – Detailed Travel Guide
Departing from Yingkou, your first stop will be Shenyang. There are two driving routes from Shenyang to Changbai Mountain.
Route 1
Shenyang → Fushun → Qingyuan Manchu Autonomous County (G1212 Shenyang-Jilin Expressway) → Meihekou City (G303) → Niuxindingzi (G202) → Huinan County (S103) → Huinan Town (S302) → Jingyu County (S26 Fuchang Expressway) → Fusong County (County Road X076, S302) → Songjianghe Town → West Slope of Changbai Mountain
Or follow the ring scenic highway S302 Mountain Ring Route to Erdaobaihe Town → North Slope of Changbai Mountain
Total distance: 490 kilometers; driving time: 7–8 hours.
Route 2
Shenyang → Fushun → Qingyuan Manchu Autonomous County → Xinbin Manchu Autonomous County → Tonghua County → Tonghua City → Baishan City → Fusong County → Songjianghe Town → Changbai Mountain Scenic Area → Changbai Mountain Ring Scenic Highway (Mountain Ring Route) → Erdaobaihe Town → North Changbai Mountain Scenic Area
It is recommended to take Route 1. You can spend one overnight stay in Songjianghe Town, Fusong County, with accommodation available at Wanda Changbai Mountain Resort.
Wanda Resort is a high-end tourist complex equipped with a golf course, Wanda Commercial Street, Pizza Hut, KFC and a Wanda Cinema. Most hotels inside are five-star, with relatively higher rates.
On the second day, visit the West Slope Scenic Area of Changbai Mountain.
Ticket for West Slope: ¥125
Scenic shuttle bus fee: ¥85
There is no dedicated vehicle to the main peak from the West Slope; visitors need to climb roughly 1,400 stone steps to reach the summit.
The alpine flower garden is in full bloom from July 1 to July 20. The West Slope also features the famous Changbai Grand Canyon. The whole sightseeing tour takes about 3.5 hours.
Check out of your hotel on the morning of Day 2. After touring the West Slope, drive straight to Erdaobaihe Town at the foot of the North Slope and book a hotel there. A full range of budget, mid-range and luxury hotels are available. If you travel in mid-July, book accommodation well in advance, as high-quality rooms are in tight supply during peak season.
After checking into your hotel in Erdaobaihe, sample authentic local specialties and Korean ethnic dishes unique to Changbai Mountain, including dog meat stew and local barbecue, which taste distinct from those in other regions.
On Day 3, tour the North Slope Scenic Area of Changbai Mountain:
Scenic Area ticket: ¥125
Scenic shuttle bus: ¥85
Peak shuttle bus: ¥80
From the North Slope, you can climb to the main peak at an altitude of around 2,700 meters for a panoramic view of Tianchi Lake. Other highlights include the 68-meter-high Changbai Waterfall, Small Tianchi, Green Abyss Pool and Underground Forest. The full tour of the North Slope takes approximately 5.5 hours.
Plan two full days for the Erdaobaihe Town area near the North Slope: spend Day 1 exploring the North Slope, and Day 2 visiting surrounding scenic spots, such as the 4A Snow Mountain Flying Lake Scenic Area, 4A Grand Stage River Scenic Area, and the Changbai Mountain Natural History Museum — all well worth visiting.