Changbai Mountains

Changbai Mountains
Chinese name
Simplified Chinese	长白山
Traditional Chinese	長白山
Literal meaning	Perpetually White Mountain Region
Transcriptions Standard Mandarin Hanyu Pinyin Chángbái Shāndì Wade–Giles Ch'ang-pai Shan-ti
Korean name
Chosŏn'gŭl	장백산맥
Hancha	長白山脈
Transcriptions Revised Romanization Jangbaek sanmaek McCune–Reischauer Changbak sanmaek
Manchu name
Manchu script
Romanization	Golmin šanggiyan alin

Sanjiaolong Crater Lake in the Longwanqun National Forest Park, Huinan County

The Changbai Mountain Range is a mountain range on the border between China and North Korea (41°41' to 42°51'N; 127°43' to 128°16'E). It is also referred to as the Šanggiyan, Jangbaek, or Ohnan mountains.

The range extends from the Northeast Chinese provinces of Heilongjiang, Jilin and Liaoning to the North Korean provinces of Ryanggang and Chagang. Most peaks exceed 2,000 metres in height, with the highest mountain being Paektu Mountain.

History

The range represents the mythical birthplace of Bukūri Yongšon, ancestor of Nurhaci and the Aisin Gioro imperial family, who were the founders of the Manchu state and the Qing dynasty of China. The Chinese name literally means "Perpetually-White Mountain Region".^[1]

Geography and climate

The mountains are the source of the Songhua, Tumen and Yalu Rivers.^[2]

The Changbai Mountains are characterized by long and cold winters. Precipitation is low in the winter but higher in the summer and autumn with annual averages reaching as high as 1400 mm (55 inches).^[3]

Flora and fauna

Painting from the Manchu Veritable Records

The vegetation of the mountain slopes is divided into several different zones. At the top, above 2000 metres, tundra predominates. From 1700 to 2000 metres, vegetation is dominated by mountain birch and larch. Below this zone, and down to 1100 metres, the dominant trees are spruce, fir, and Korean pine. From 600 to 1100 metres, the landscape is dominated by mixed forest, consisting of Amur linden, Korean pine, maple, and elm. Further down, a temperate hardwood forest is found, dominated by second-growth poplar and birch.^[4]

Protected areas

• Longwanqun National Forest Park

See also

• Baekdu Mountain
• Changbai Waterfall
• List of mountains in Korea

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Changbai / Baekdu.

• Baekdu mountain at changbaimountain.com

Mountain ranges of China
Geography of China
Northwest China	Altai Mountains Dzungarian Alatau Tian Shan Borohoro Mountains Tarbagatai Mountains Kunlun Mountains Altyn-Tagh Qilian Mountains Helan Mountains
Qinghai-Tibet and Southwest China	Himalayas Transhimalaya Pamir Mountains Karakoram Argu Tagh Yengisogat Kunlun Mountains Hoh Xil Bayan Har Mountains Amne Machin Tanggula Mountains Nyenchen Tanglha Mountains Hengduan Mountains Gaoligong Mountains Yunling Mountains Ailao Mountains Qionglai Mountains Daxue Mountains Min Mountains
Northeast China	Greater Khingan Lesser Khingan Changbai Mountains Wanda Mountains Qian Mountains
Northern China	Yin Mountains Lang Mountains Lüliang Mountains Taihang Mountains Zhongtiao Mountains Qin Mountains Dabie Mountains Mount Tai
Central China	Daba Mountains Wudang Mountains Jingshan Mountains Dabie Mountains Luoxiao Mountains Jiuling Mountains Mufu Mountains Wugong Mountains Huangshan Tianmu Mountain Wuling Mountains Xuefeng Mountains Yandang Mountains Wuyi Mountains
Southern China	Cang Mountain Daliang Mountains Dalou Mountains Nanling Mountains Jiuyi Mountains Yuecheng Mountains Longmen Mountains Western Mountains
Landforms of China

Coordinates: 41°43′59″N 128°04′01″E / 41.733°N 128.067°E / 41.733; 128.067