Jingpohu · Visitor Guide
Diaoshuilou Waterfall (吊水楼瀑布, Diàoshuǐlóu Pùbù)
Diaoshuilou is the outlet where the volcanic Jingpo Lake finally spills over a basalt ledge, plunging about 25 m into the Diaoshuilou Pool below. It sits inside the Jingpo Lake UNESCO Global Geopark and is the headline sight for almost every visitor to Mudanjiang in Heilongjiang Province. Most travelers come for the cliff-diving show rather than the geology, and the falls themselves are far more impressive in July and August than the shoulder months.
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Quick Answer
Is Diaoshuilou Waterfall worth visiting?
At 25 m tall and 40 m wide, Diaoshuilou is the largest basalt waterfall in China, where every summer afternoon a local diver swan-dives off the rim — give it 1.5 hours and combine it with a Jingpo Lake boat ride.
Quick facts
| Ticket | CNY 100 combined Jingpohu scenic area ticket (as of 2026); Diaoshuilou itself is included, no separate fee. |
|---|---|
| Hours | Daily 07:00–17:00 in summer (June–September); 08:00–16:30 in winter; cliff-diving show runs roughly 14:30 daily in peak season (verify showtime). |
| Recommended duration | 1.5–2 hours (waterfall viewing platform + cliff-diving show + short walk around Diaoshuilou Pool). |
| Best time to visit | Late June to mid-September; peak flow is July–August after the rainy season. Expect a thin, frozen trickle from November to April. |
| How to get there | From Mudanjiang: bus from Mudanjiang Bus Station to Jingpohu (镜泊湖) scenic area, about 110 km / 2 hours, ticket around CNY 38. Then scenic-area shuttle bus to the North Lake entrance where the waterfall is. Self-driving via G10 Expressway to Ning'an exit, then 50 km south. |
| English signage | partial |
| Wheelchair accessible | no |
| Height | ~25 m (fluctuates with lake level) |
| Width | ~40 m at the rim |
| Geology | Volcanic basalt, formed ~10,000 years ago |
| Status | Jingpohu UNESCO Global Geopark (since 2006) |
| Location | North end of Jingpo Lake, Ning'an, Mudanjiang Prefecture |
| Cliff-diving tradition | Daily since the 1980s, divers from the local Manchu community |
What to expect
What you actually see at Diaoshuilou: a curved curtain of water dropping over a columnar basalt cliff into a deep green plunge pool. There are three wooden viewing platforms staggered up the slope on the south side of the pool, plus a steep stair down to the rim. The fall gets louder (and wetter) the closer you get. In July and August the full 40 m width is pouring; by late September you'll be staring at maybe 15 m of water over a wider rock face, which is honestly less photogenic.
The history is mostly geological. Jingpo Lake itself is the leftover water from lava flows of the nearby Laoheishan and Weishan volcanoes damming the Mudan River around 10,000 years ago, in the late Pleistocene. Diaoshuilou is the lake's overflow point — when lava cooled into basalt, it left this natural spillway. The geopark was accepted into the UNESCO Global Geopark network in 2006, which is why the visitor center here is half geology exhibit and half ticket office. The Manchu cliff-divers are a separate, much newer tradition, started in the 1980s by a local diver named Chu Ben-yi and still performed by his descendants and locals.
The practical reality: this is a real outdoor Chinese provincial park, not a managed urban waterfall. The stairs are uneven and there is no lift access. During the May 1 and National Day holiday weeks the road in gets badly jammed and the parking lot fills by 10:00. The cliff-diving show is cancelled if winds are high or the platform is wet — staff put up a sign in Chinese and that is the only announcement. Plan your whole day around the lake, not around the falls; bus drivers usually give you 60–90 minutes here, which is tight if you also want a boat ride.
How to get there
From Mudanjiang Railway Station: take a taxi/DiDi (about CNY 18, 20 minutes) to Mudanjiang Long-distance Bus Station (牡丹江客运站). From there, direct coaches to Jingpohu North Gate (镜泊湖北门) run 06:50, 07:40, 08:30, 09:30, 10:30 and roughly every 90 minutes after — the fare is around CNY 38 and the trip takes 2 to 2.5 hours depending on the G10 expressway traffic. On arrival, the scenic-area shuttle bus (included in your ticket) drops you at the North Lake parking lot; the waterfall is a 5-minute walk from the drop-off. Returning coaches back to Mudanjiang leave the same lot, last one around 16:30. By DiDi or private car from Mudanjiang directly: about 110 km / CNY 350–450 one-way, 1.5 hours on a clear run. From Harbin, the high-speed train to Mudanjiang takes about 1.5 hours (around CNY 140 second class), then transfer as above. There is no metro anywhere in this region — this is rural Heilongjiang.
Best photo spots
- Lower viewing platform directly across the pool from the fall — the only spot you get the full curve of water and mist.
- Top platform on the south cliff edge for a near top-down angle (expect spray on your lens).
- The man-made stone bridge on the upstream side of the falls for a wider shot showing the lake in the background.
- Diaoshuilou Pool itself from the lakeside walkway, about 200 m downstream, for a calmer composition without tourists.
Tips
- Time your visit for the 14:30 cliff-diving show — divers leap from 25 m and the entry splash is the shot everyone wants.
- Bring a light rain jacket in July/August; the lower platform is regularly soaked by mist and you'll get your phone wet.
- Buy the combined Jingpohu ticket, not a stand-alone Diaoshuilou ticket — almost no one sells the latter and you'll overpay by about 40 CNY.
- Skip the electric-cart ride to the falls (CNY 20 per person) if you can walk 15 minutes on flat ground; it's not worth the queue in peak season.
- If you have a free morning, walk the 4 km lakeside path west from the falls toward Hama Zhen (蛤蟆镇) — quieter, with kingfishers and almost no tour groups.
Scams to avoid
- Touts at the Mudanjiang bus station will tell you the coach to Jingpohu is full and push a private car at CNY 500–700. Check the official ticket window — coaches are rarely sold out for normal-season visits.
- "English-speaking guide" at the falls entrance offering to translate the geology signs for CNY 100; the signs are in Chinese and English already and the guide's info is usually wrong.
- Photo ops with the Manchu cliff-diver after the show: politely priced at first, then a CNY 50–100 tip is suddenly required; agree the price before you hand over the phone.
Frequently asked questions
How tall is Diaoshuilou Waterfall?
About 25 meters from the rim to the Diaoshuilou Pool below, with a width of roughly 40 meters at full summer flow. The drop height varies a couple of meters with lake water level.
Is Diaoshuilou Waterfall included in the Jingpo Lake ticket?
Yes. The combined Jingpohu scenic area ticket (around CNY 100 in 2026) covers the falls, viewing platforms, and the North Lake entrance; there is no separate Diaoshuilou-only ticket sold officially.
When is the best month to see the waterfall at full flow?
July and August. The flow drops sharply after mid-September and from November through April the falls are mostly a thin, often frozen sheet over the basalt.
What time is the cliff-diving show at Diaoshuilou?
Traditionally around 14:30 daily from June through early September, performed by members of the local Manchu diving community. Confirm the time on a posted board at the entrance on the day, since weather cancellations are common.
How do I get from Mudanjiang to Diaoshuilou Waterfall without driving?
Take a coach from Mudanjiang Long-distance Bus Station to Jingpohu North Gate (about 2.5 hours, CNY 38), then the free scenic shuttle to the falls. Direct coaches run from roughly 06:50 to 10:30 with later afternoon departures; the last return coach leaves around 16:30.
Is Diaoshuilou Waterfall wheelchair accessible?
No. The viewing platforms are reached by uneven stone steps and a steep stair down to the rim. The top parking lot has a flat path of about 200 m to a partial viewpoint, but the main face of the falls is not reachable step-free.
How long do I need at Diaoshuilou Waterfall?
Plan 1.5 to 2 hours: 30 minutes to walk the three platforms, 30 minutes for the cliff-diving show, and time for photos. Add another hour if you also want a short boat trip on Jingpo Lake from the dock below the falls.
Is Jingpo Lake a UNESCO site?
Jingpo Lake has been a member of the UNESCO Global Geoparks network since 2006, but it is not a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is a national-level scenic area and a national geopark.
Can I visit Diaoshuilou Waterfall in winter?
Yes, the scenic area stays open roughly 08:00–16:30 in winter with a reduced ticket around CNY 60. The falls partly freeze, producing an ice-column effect that draws Chinese domestic tourists, but the cliff-diving show does not run from November to April.
Are there English signs at Diaoshuilou?
Partially. The geology panels at the visitor center are bilingual, but trail markers, shuttle announcements, and the cliff-diving schedule board are mostly Chinese only. Download an offline translation app before you arrive.