Heaven Lake, China and North Korea

Heaven Lake, China and North Korea

On the border of China and North Korea, in a caldera at the top of Baekdu Mountain, you will find Heaven Lake. The caldera was created when the volcanic mountain erupted in 969 CE. Visitors to the lake can enjoy stunning walks, hiking, and horse rides along the mountain paths. Canvas yurts are the most common accommodation for tourists, but there are also more upmarket hotels. The semi-nomadic Kazakh people inhabit the area seasonally. Staying in traditional Kazakh yurts and using their guided horseback tours help them earn the income that they live on for the rest of the year. It can get quite cold in the area, so warm clothes are suggested.

Heaven Lake, China and North Korea

Disko Bay, Greenland

Disko Bay, Greenland

Remote but absolutely breathtaking, Disko Bay off the Western coast of Greenland is poised to become a popular arctic vacation destination. Travelers to Disko Bay enjoy boat and kayak whale watching trips among the icebergs, year-round dog sledding, and spectacular hiking excursions. The area has very warm summers for Greenland, with temperatures reaching up to 27° Celsius (80° Fahrenheit). The nearby town of Qasigiannguit features Greenland’s oldest wooden house, now the town’s museum. The museum has a permanent collection of artifacts from various prehistoric cultures from the area, dating as far back as 2400 BCE.

Disko Bay, Qasigiannguit, Greenland

Mount Hua, China

Mount Hua, China

China’s Hua Shan is one of the Five Sacred Daoist Mountains located in the country. Hua Shan has five main peaks, with the 2160m (7086ft) tall South Peak being the highest. Hua Shan, literally Splendid Mountain, has been home to Daoist temples as far back as the second century BCE. Today, it is popular with monks and tourists alike, though tourists have only been visiting the mountain for a few decades.  Traditionally, a journey up Hua Shan’s dangerous steep and narrow pathways was reserved only for the most determined monks. But in the 1990s cable cars, pictured above, and handrails were installed to allow easier access for tourists. Hua Shan is located roughly 100km East of the city of Xi’an in China’s Shaanxi Province.

Stairs going up Hua Shan

Credit: NocturneNoir