Jilin is the second largest city in Jilin Province, and is the only city in China which has the same name as its province. It served as a major political and economic center in northeast China for centuries, and was the capital of Jilin Province in the first half of the 20th century.

Abounding in scenic spots and historic sites, Jilin is one of the best-known tourist cities in China. The most famous attraction is Songhua Lake, 15 kilometers southeast of the city center. It's a man-made lake that was formed in the 1940s by damming the Songhua River winding through the city proper to build the Fengman Hydropower Station.

Covering some 700 square kilometers, the lake area provides a panorama of clear waters, majestic mountains, imposing peaks, dense woods and fantastically shaped islets. Before the winter freeze sets in, the vast expanse of water is as blue as the sky and dotted with white sails, all in perfect harmony with the azure sky and white clouds mirrored in the limpid water.

The lake is surrounded by meandering mountain ranges, which are covered with luxuriant forests, and are paradise to hundreds of species of herbs, birds and wild animals. On pleasant days, you can take a boat to enjoy a number of scenic spots scattered around the lake area. And as the water teems with dozens of kinds of fish, you can tuck into a delicious fish banquet after feasting your eyes on so many beautiful scenes.

In winter, the snow-covered mountain slopes turn the area into a popular place for winter sports enthusiasts. It has miles of cross-country ski tracks and some super slopes for downhill skiers. A cable lift whisks you to the top of the slopes in just eight minutes.

Another famous tourist attraction in Jilin is Beishan Park, in the northwest of the city. There are two peaks in the park. At their feet lie three beautiful lakes. In summer the lakes are decorated with gorgeous lotus blooms, filling the air far and wide with a pleasant fragrance. Exquisitely built pavilions, pagodas, corridors and terraces are scattered among the mountains.

On the Eastern Peak is a group of Buddhist and Taoist temples that were built some 300 years ago, during the Qing Dynasty. A temple fair is held in the park in May every year, when you can enjoy all kinds of folk art performances and local delicacies.

And if you’re interested in astronomy, the Meteorite Museum in the city is a good place to go. The museum has a collection of some 140 meteorite pieces. They all come from a heavy meteorite shower that hit the suburbs of Jilin in 1976. The heaviest one weighs some 1,800 kilograms, which is so far the largest of its kind in the world.

The city also has many other attractions that are well worth visiting, such as the Dragon Pool Mountain, the Lafashan Forest Park and the Guanma Limestone Caves.

Like the city of Harbin that we visited a few weeks ago, Jilin also enjoys a great reputation for its charming winter scenery and exciting ice and snow activities. The city’s annual Ice and Snow Festival is now famous nationwide, rivaling that held in Harbin.

Of the many enchanting winter views in the city, the most fascinating is the icy-rimed trees along the banks of the Songhua River, a unique sight that can rarely be seen elsewhere in China.

Winter in Jilin is quite cold. The temperature often drops to minus 20 degrees centigrade, turning the rivers and lakes freezing hard into superb skating rinks. But the Songhua River that runs through the city center is an exception.

After the dam of the Fengman Hydropower Station was built in the upper reaches of the Songhua river, the friction as its passes through the turbines keeps the water just warm enough to stop it from freezing, even in the bitterly cold winter.

The temperature difference between the water and the cold air makes heavy white vapor rise from the river, which then freezes on the willow and pine trees along the banks, creating a magical scene - of masses of giant blooming crystalline, snow-white flowers.

Well, winter now covers Jilin in her winter cloak of snow and sparkling ice. If you are ready to brave the cold, maybe you should go and see it for yourself during the winter holidays. Getting there is very easy. It has convenient air and rail links with many big cities in the country, and there are some 20 star-rated hotels to ensure you have a warm comfortable place to go after a chilly, but fun day, outdoors.

(CRI December 27, 2002)