The natural hot springs at the base of the Changbai Waterfall are among the most accessible geothermal features in the reserve and a reliable crowd magnet. The springs emerge at various temperatures — from bath-warm on the cooler edges to genuinely scalding in the most active vents — and have been developed with boardwalks, viewing areas, and the inevitable vendors selling food cooked in the water.
The activity is visually compelling: the water is mineral-rich and coloured, the steam creates atmospheric effects in cold weather, and the contrast with the volcanic peaks above drives home the fact that you are standing on an active geological system rather than an old one. The springs are included in the standard northern slope visit and require no separate arrangements.