Heavenly Lake at Changbai Mountain takes the shape of a lotus leaf. Liu Zhaoming /for China Daily

Northeast china's Changchun and its majestic surroundings will put you on top of the world

For many Chinese, the city is a quiet provincial capital in China's northeast corner with a slow pace of life. But Changchun is a modern metropolis full of surprises. During winter, keen swimmers gather around the icy lake and after a freezing dip laugh loudly. In public spaces adorned with sculptures, skateboarding teenagers, donning trendy T-shirts and wearing fashionable jeans sing "Red songs" from Mao-era movies of the 1960s.

Mules or donkeys amble along the streets hauling carts as executives in their flashy Audi cars wait for them to pass by. The city, in Jilin province, is also known as the "Detroit of China", thanks to a busy automotive industry, which helps drives the local economy. But Changchun is also known as "Forest City" because 40 percent of its urban area is covered with trees. The green canopy serves as a cool shelter during the sweltering summer. In winter, it turns into a Norwegian-style skiing paradise. Some of China's best ski resorts are located nearby.

A visitor to Changchun cannot go wrong at any of these five places.

1. Jingyuetan National Forest Park

Changchun is a place known for its busy automotive factories but this capital city is not an industrial eyesore because of parks like this one.

This lush national park is 9 km away from the city center and boasts a total area of 96 square kilometers, making it one of the biggest man-made forest in Asia.

The park's scenic areas consist of four sections: Yuetan Waters; Tanbei Mountain; Tan'nan Forest, and Tandong Farmlands, offering tourists different charms during the different seasons.

A very pleasant way to spend an afternoon is to take a stroll in the woods through a vast forest of poplar, pine and willow trees. In winter, the park becomes a snow-covered paradise and a favorite destination for skiing, skating and watching amazing ice sculptures take shape.

2. Changbai Mountain

Changbai means "perpetually white" and is the name of this beautiful mountain located on the border of China and Democratic People's Republic of Korea.

The mountain is located 500 km west of Changchun and getting there requires a 50-minute flight to Yanjin followed by a 4-hour coach ride. Although the journey involves a decent hike, it's well worth the effort because it is truly one of the great mountain ranges in China.

The most breathtaking sight is Heavenly Lake (pictured above), which takes the interesting shape of a lotus leaf. The 13 sq km crystal clear lake is the source of Songhua and Yalu rivers.

It is highly recommended to view the lake from Tianwenfeng, the peak of Changbai Mountain.

Right below the lake is a beautiful 68-meter-long waterfall.

During the winter, the spray from the falls immediately turns into icy pearls.

The waterfall, along with the valley, underground river, forests, low hanging clouds and mist creates a magical place to escape the rat race.