Dragon Boat Festival 2026: A Road Trip to Jingpo Lake

On the second day of the Dragon Boat Festival, Saturday, June 20, I drove to Jingpo Lake Scenic Area.

When I came to Mudanjiang in 2023, I encountered typhoon weather with continuous rain, so I didn't go.

The weather on Saturday was nice, cloudy, neither cold nor hot. If I had gone on Friday under the scorching sun, it would have been uncomfortable.

There were very few cars along the way, mostly on the highway, a total of over 80 kilometers. On both sides of the road, most were fields, probably planted with rice or corn. On the gently sloping hillsides, neat and orderly, the whole scenery looked like a prairie. Passing by the Bohai Service Area on the way, I went to the restroom; it was quite clean. The charging area still had only two Telge charging piles, the same as in 2023.

The scenic area ticket is 100 yuan, with half price for locals and children. The most worth seeing is the natural volcanic waterfall, which is also the most famous in Jingpo Lake Scenic Area. The environment is beautiful, clean and tidy; it's also great to take a walk here. Although it was the Dragon Boat Festival holiday, there weren't many people.

The downside: the dining operations at the Villa Pier are very backward, with almost no one sitting down to eat. It instantly brought back some memories from my childhood - scenic spots overcharging tourists with exorbitant prices. Visitors bring their own food and sit at the tables and chairs provided by the scenic area. It's nice that they provide tables and chairs, but it's also quite ironic. On one side, the restaurant is deserted; on the other, there's a picnic atmosphere with free tables and chairs.

I didn't feel like taking a boat ride anymore, and besides, there was an additional charge for the boat, and not many people were taking it. For us, the cost wasn't an issue, but the scenic area's food service management and boat facilities made us reluctant to spend more.

After a simple meal, we took the shuttle bus to see the waterfall. The comfort and scenery at the waterfall improved our impression of the scenic area and restored our good mood.

In addition to the waterfall, there are antique-style buildings and performances. During the Qing Dynasty, Mudanjiang was the bitter cold land of Ningguta. The cultural center also introduced and displayed the history of Ningguta and some replicas. Without waiting to watch the performances, we walked towards the exit of the scenic area.

My son bought a 'passport' booklet; his interest is in stamping. Stamping means various patterned stamps related to the scenic area, like creative fridge magnets. He stamped some at spots inside the scenic area. There were more stamps at the creative souvenir shop in the exit hall, so he collected them all.

Finally

Lightheartedly and happily unlocked Jingpo Lake Scenic Area; I probably won't come again, but the waterfall is really good.

Personal review: Few people, beautiful scenery, bring your own food.