In the west, we tend to associate China with the chaotic, smog-filled streets of Beijing, but this vast East Asian nation is home to an absolutely jaw-dropping array of natural sights. In fact, East Asia – made up of China, Japan, Mongolia, Korea and Taiwan – has some of the most beautiful mountains, lakes and unusual landscape formations in the world. Here are 14 of this region’s most noteworthy natural wonders.
Huangshan Mountain, China
(image via: wikimedia commons)
China’s mountain landscapes are absolutely magical. One prime example is the Huangshan range in the southern Anhui province, known for its rugged and often oddly-shaped peaks as well as spectacular sunsets. The moist climate here makes it prime green-tea-growing territory. It’s a major tourist destination, with up to 15 million visitors per year.
Mount Fuji, Japan
(images via: wikimedia commons)
Japan’s highest mountain and an active stratovolcano, Mount Fuji is one of the best-known peaks in the world. Visible from Tokyo on a clear day, this 12,389-foot mountain is found on the Pacific coast of central Honshu and is surrounded by five lakes. Hundreds of thousands of people climb it each year.
Tojinbo, Japan
(images via: ken_mayer, wikimedia commons)
Column-shaped basalt cliffs on the edge of the Sea of Japan are quite a sight. Tojinbo, which includes the Sandran, Rosoku, Byobu and Oike rocks, which originally formed 12 to 13 million years ago from volcanic activities.
Heaven Lake on Mt. Paektu, North Korea
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North Korea is a very mysterious country to much of the west – and here is one of its most stunning natural treasures. Heaven Lake is a crater lake within a volcanic caldera on Baekdu Mountain, which borders China. This high-elevation lake is covered in ice for much of the year, and is the subject of local legends about a Loch Ness-type sea monster.
