Arxan: The autumn colors of volcanoes, Tianchi Lake, and forests

Arxan is not a mountain, but a small city famous for its volcanoes and forests. For three days and two nights, between Tianchi and red leaves, you encounter the deepest autumn in the northern land.

Arxan Tianchi is hidden in the volcano's crater, with the lake changing with the sky. Unlike the crowds of Changbai, here it's so quiet you can hear pine needles falling—it's the volcano's blue eyes left to the earth.

The Unfrozen River does not freeze in harsh winters because underground hot springs flow year-round. Steam curls over the river, and birch trees on the banks frame together with snow—a unique northern wonder.

Ride the forest train through the Greater Khingan Mountains, where the windows are like painted frames, with birch, larch, and mossy fields appearing in turn. In autumn, the forests are dyed in layers, with red, yellow, and green interwoven into a carpet.

Shitanglin is a relic of a volcanic eruption, yet new green grows on the charred lava. Life and destruction coexist, inspiring a new understanding of "rebirth."

The tranquility of Arxan captures the autumn colors of the northern land into the small town. When you get off at a forest station and take a deep breath of the cold air, you'll understand: slowness is a privilege of the north.