The Changbai Waterfall drops 68 metres in a single cascade, claimed to be the longest volcanic waterfall in the world. It is the sole outlet of Tianchi lake above and forms the headwaters of the Songhua River — one of China's major river systems — below. The waterfall is visible from a viewing area accessible by walkway from the northern slope shuttle bus terminus.
The volume is consistent year-round because the source is a lake rather than a seasonal snowmelt. In winter the falls partially freeze, and the ice formations around the edges while the central flow continues are spectacular in cold weather photographs. In summer the water runs loudly and the mist from the base is visible from a considerable distance. The natural hot springs cluster near the falls — geothermal vents that boil eggs and heat the water in the pools — and vendors sell produce cooked in them, which is a crowd-pleasing attraction and an accurate demonstration of the residual volcanic heat still active beneath the mountain.