Nature reserve · Heilongjiang
Wudalianchi
五大连池
Fourteen volcanoes and five lava-dammed lakes in northern Heilongjiang
Wudalianchi is a volcanic field in Heilongjiang's Heihe prefecture with fourteen cinder cones, vast lava plains and a chain of five lakes created when lava from eruptions in 1719–1721 dammed the Bai River. Among the best-preserved young volcanic landscapes in China, it has been a UNESCO biosphere reserve since 2003 and one of the first UNESCO Global Geoparks since 2004.
- UNESCO Global Geopark · 2004
- UNESCO biosphere reserve · 2003
- National nature reserve
Key facts
Overview
On the plain between the Lesser Khingan and the Nen River rise fourteen volcanic cones, most of them tens of thousands to hundreds of thousands of years old. The two youngest, Laohei Shan and Huoshao Shan, erupted in the early eighteenth century; their lava flowed across the valley of the Bai River (now the Shilong River) and split it into five linked lakes — the “five great connected pools” that give the place its name.
The result is a landscape that looks freshly made: black lava fields with ropy and blocky surfaces, lava tubes and caves, pioneering plants on bare rock, and cold mineral springs bubbling with carbon dioxide. The springs have drawn people seeking cures since the Qing dynasty.
How the landscape formed
The Wudalianchi volcanoes are potassium-rich basaltic cinder cones scattered along faults at the edge of the Songnen basin. The eruptions of 1719–1721 produced lava flows that spread tens of square kilometres; their pahoehoe surfaces preserve ropes, whorls, tumuli and collapsed tubes in remarkable detail. Underground ice caves form where cold air is trapped in the lava. Carbon dioxide from deep sources rises through faults and charges the groundwater, producing cold, naturally sparkling mineral springs.
Highlights
Laohei Shan
老黑山
One of the two cones of the recent eruptions, with a steep path to a crater rim over black cinders.
Huoshao Shan
火烧山
“Burnt Mountain”, the other young cone, with a broken crater and lava flows around it.
Sea of stone
石海
The lava plain of 1719–1721, crossed by boardwalks among ropy lava and lava bubbles.
Medicinal springs
药泉
Cold carbonated springs, drunk and bathed in for their reputed benefits.
Ice caves
冰洞
Lava tubes where ice persists through the summer.
Plants and wildlife
The young lava fields show plant succession from bare rock: lichens and mosses first, then shrubs and larch and birch rooting in cracks. The older cones are forested, and the lakes and wetlands support water birds.
Plants
Lichens
地衣
The pioneers on the fresh lava, colouring the black rock grey and orange.
Dahurian larch
兴安落叶松
Grows in stunted form on the lava fields.
Wildlife
Cold-water fish
冷水鱼
The five lakes support fish of the Amur basin, a local speciality.
Red-crowned crane
丹顶鹤
Seen in the surrounding wetlands on passage.
Culture and legend
Qing records describe the eruptions of 1719–1721, observed by local people and reported to the court, making Wudalianchi one of the few volcanoes in China with historical eruptions. The mineral springs became a place of healing; the Daur and Oroqen honoured them with rituals, and the springs' water festival (饮水节) is held around the time of the Dragon Boat Festival.
Zhongling Temple
钟灵寺
A Buddhist temple at the foot of the volcanic field.
Water-drinking festival
饮水节
A festival of the mineral springs held in early summer, with roots in Daur customs.
History
1719–1721
Eruptions of Laohei Shan and Huoshao Shan
Lava dams the Bai River and forms the five lakes; the eruptions are recorded in Qing documents.
2003
UNESCO biosphere reserve
The volcanic ecosystem joins the MAB network.
2004
UNESCO Global Geopark
One of the first group of global geoparks.
Through the seasons
Spring
Late thaw in April and May; wind across the lava plain.
Summer
Short and mild, the main season, with green cones and lakes open for boating.
Autumn
Golden larches and clear skies in September; frosts come early.
Winter
Very cold; snow lies on the black lava and steam rises from unfrozen stretches of water over springs.
Routes and ways in
Laohei Shan crater walk
A stepped path up the cinder cone to the rim and round the crater, then boardwalks across the lava fields.
Lakes and springs
A loop by road links the five lakes, the spring areas and the ice caves.
Practical notes
- Wudalianchi is a county-level city in Heihe prefecture; the nearest large city is Harbin, several hours to the south.
- Lava surfaces are sharp and uneven; wear sturdy shoes and stay on boardwalks to protect the fragile vegetation.
- Mosquitoes and ticks are common in early summer in the forested areas.
Cities to start from
Frequently asked questions
Sources
- Wudalianchi UNESCO Global Geopark — UNESCO (retrieved 27 September 2026)
- Man and the Biosphere Programme — UNESCO (retrieved 27 September 2026)
- Heilongjiang Provincial People's Government — Heilongjiang Provincial People's Government (retrieved 27 September 2026)
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