A large Korean diaspora has created a unique cultural enclave in Yanji

Vast and culturally diverse, sometimes it is possible to find a part of China that feels like someplace else.

Nowhere is that more true than in Yanji, a city that, for the most part, feels more like Korea than China.

Located close to the border with the DPRK, Yanji is one of 11 major Chinese cities with a large Korean population.

For tourists it can be bewildering coming here from another part of the country to suddenly find all things - including the cuisine and language spoken on the streets - Korean. Even the road signs are written in Korean and Chinese.

The best time to visit is during the city's annual Korean festival in September, but there are many things to see and do throughout the year.

Here are some of the main attractions of Yanji and its surrounds:

1. Changbai Mountains

Literally translated as ever white, the rugged terrain of this mountain range forms a natural border between China and the DPRK.

The mountain range plays a significant part in both Chinese and Korean culture - it is the scene of many ancient tales, a place of religious importance and mentioned in the Korean folk song Arirang.

Heaven Lake, which sits among the peaks, is oval-shaped, at more than 2,000 meters elevation, and was formed by volcanic activity. It gets its name because of an ancient belief that it was close to heaven.

Volcanic activity has dotted the mountain range with hot springs of varying temperatures that make a pleasant stop after a day of skiing, which is a popular activity on the mountains during winter.

Changbai Falls is also a draw for tourists, dropping from a height of 68 meters like two silver dragons plunging into a pond below, which reaches 20 meters deep.

The mountains are also home to a wide variety of northern plants and trees, many of which are coniferous, giving areas on the mountains a pleasant green feel even in the most ferocious winter. For avid and amateur botanists, among the flora there are also many rare plant species.

2. Mao'er Mountain

This national park was formerly the experimental base of Northeast Forestry University from 1958 before being converted to a national park in 1992.

Covering 275 square kilometers, it is home to hundreds of animals and thousands of plant species.

The 808-meter-high Mao'er Peak is the highest point in the park and offers a grand view of rising peaks.

Below it lies Ashi River, which flows majestically down the mountainsides.

Numerous folk activities take place among the mountain villages with a particular Korean flavor to them. Tourists can take Korean cookery classes, try their hand at Korean wrestling, or after dark join a campfire party to watch Korean dancing late into the night.

3. Hailan Lake

A less rugged tourism experience can be found at Hailan Lake, which was opened to tourists in 2009. The local government has invested heavily in creating tourism facilities that offer comfort and convenience alongside the natural beauty of the lake and surrounding hills.

There are numerous hotels and resorts around the lake and a gymnasium for those who want to get their dose of exercise while on holiday.

For a taste of luxury, board a yacht and take a cruise around the lake in style.

There is also a farm by the lake that provides beef for the many Korean barbecues that light up day and night.

4. Yanji Park

Stretched out along the bank of Yanji River across 350,000 square meters, this is where many of the city's residents head for at weekends.

Created in 1909 during the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), it was used during the Republican period as a space to hold activities for visiting foreign dignitaries.

Today the park offers a huge variety of attractions, including a zoo, flower garden, tree garden and folk rituals garden.

There is also a pavilion on a high point of the park that offers views across the city and a ski slope.

China Daily