Jingpo Lake (Jingpohu) is China's largest mountain barrier lake, formed when lava flows dammed a river valley tens of thousands of years ago. It stretches 45 kilometres through forested hills about 90 kilometres south of Mudanjiang, and it is the main reason most visitors make the trip to this part of Heilongjiang. The name means Mirror Lake, and on still days the description is apt: the pine-clad slopes reflect perfectly in the dark, slightly volcanic-tinted water.
Boat trips cover the main stretch of the lake and are the most relaxed way to take in the scale of it. The Diaoshuilou waterfall — one of the largest volcanic waterfalls in Asia, where the lake's overflow drops over a basalt ledge — is a 15-minute walk from the main dock and impressive at high water. Hiking trails follow the forested shoreline and offer better views than the boat for those willing to walk. In summer the lake draws large numbers of domestic tourists; the autumn months of September and October, when the birch and larch forest turns vivid yellow, are quieter and arguably more beautiful.