Jingpo Lake is a long, winding lake on the upper Mudan River in south-eastern Heilongjiang, created when lava flows dammed the river valley. About 45 km long, it spills over a lava ledge at its northern end as the Diaoshuilou Waterfall. Together with the “underground forest” in nearby volcanic craters it forms a UNESCO Global Geopark and a national scenic area.
- UNESCO Global Geopark · 2006
- National scenic area · 1982
Key facts
Overview
Jingpo Lake lies in forested hills in Ning'an, south of Mudanjiang. The lake follows the drowned valley of the Mudan River in a narrow, twisting ribbon, with wooded headlands, islands and bays; its name, “mirror lake”, refers to its still surface. At the northern end the water pours over a basalt lip into a round, deep pool — Diaoshuilou, the most visited sight.
Up in the hills to the north-west, a group of volcanic craters shelters a forest growing on their floors, called the Underground Forest. The region also holds the remains of the capital of the Bohai kingdom, which flourished here from the eighth to the tenth century.
How the landscape formed
The lake was formed by volcanic eruptions in the Holocene, when basalt lava from the craters to the north-west flowed down into the Mudan valley and dammed it. Behind the dam the river backed up into a lake. The lava ledge at the outflow is the lip of Diaoshuilou, and the pool below was scoured by the falling water and by collapse into lava tubes. The craters of the Underground Forest are the vents of the same eruptions, now filled with forest because their steep walls shelter them from wind and hold moisture.
Highlights
Diaoshuilou Waterfall
吊水楼瀑布
The lake's outflow, falling some 20 metres over a broad basalt ledge into a black pool; strongest in the summer rains.
Underground Forest
地下森林
Forest of larch, spruce and Korean pine growing on the floors of volcanic craters, seen from the rims.
Pearl Gate
珍珠门
Two small islets in the lake, like pearls guarding a gate.
Lava tubes
熔岩隧道
Tunnels left by flowing lava near the craters.
Plants and wildlife
The lake is surrounded by mixed forest of the Changbai type: Korean pine, larch, spruce, birch, oak and maple. The clear, cold water supports fish of the Amur basin, and the forests are a habitat for deer, bears and birds.
Plants
Korean pine
红松
Grows in the crater forest and on the hills around the lake.
Amur linden
紫椴
Tilia amurensis, whose flowers yield a well-known local honey.
Wildlife
Red-tailed fish
镜泊湖红尾鱼
A local fish of the lake, prized in regional cooking.
Asiatic black bear
黑熊
Lives in the surrounding forests.
Culture and legend
The plain north of the lake was the heartland of Bohai (渤海, 698–926), a kingdom of Mohe and Goguryeo descent that modelled its institutions on Tang China. Its Upper Capital, Shangjing Longquanfu, lay in today's Ning'an with a grid of streets like Chang'an. Bohai was conquered by the Khitan Liao in 926.
Site of Shangjing Longquanfu
渤海上京龙泉府遗址
Ruins of the Bohai capital, with palace foundations, city walls and a large stone lantern.
Stone lantern of Xinglong Temple
兴隆寺石灯幢
A tall basalt lantern from the Bohai period at the capital site.
History
Holocene
Lava dams the Mudan River
Jingpo Lake and the Diaoshuilou Waterfall are formed.
c. 755–926
Bohai capital at Shangjing
Ning'an becomes the seat of a kingdom known as the “flourishing land in the east of the sea”.
1982
National scenic area
Listed in the first group of national scenic areas.
2006
UNESCO Global Geopark
Recognised for its lava-dammed lake, crater forest and lava tubes.
Through the seasons
Spring
The ice melts in late April; the forest greens in May.
Summer
The main season: warm, green, and the waterfall at its fullest after rain in July and August.
Autumn
Bright red and yellow forest in late September and early October.
Winter
Frozen lake and waterfall; divers perform leaps into an open pool below the fall as a winter spectacle.
Routes and ways in
Diaoshuilou and the lake shore
Paths lead around the rim of the waterfall pool and along the northern shore; boats run along the lake in summer.
Underground Forest
Paths and boardwalks along the crater rims in the hills north-west of the lake.
Practical notes
- The lake is in Ning'an, south-west of Mudanjiang city, which has an airport and high-speed rail.
- The waterfall is weak in dry spells; July and August after rain are the most reliable months.
- Crater rims and lava areas are uneven; stay on paths.
Cities to start from
Frequently asked questions
Sources
- Jingpohu UNESCO Global Geopark — UNESCO (retrieved 27 September 2026)
- Mudanjiang Municipal People's Government — Mudanjiang Municipal People's Government (retrieved 27 September 2026)
- Heilongjiang Provincial People's Government — Heilongjiang Provincial People's Government (retrieved 27 September 2026)
More mountains and nature in Heilongjiang
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