Travel Guide Mont Paektu 백두산

"Mountain with a white top" or "mountain with a white head", it is on this mountain that the son of Heaven would have descended who would engender Dan-gun, founder of the Korean nation. It would also be the birthplace of Kim Jong-il, Kim Il-sung's beloved son and current leader of the country. Although he was probably born in Russia, official propaganda gives him the symbolic Baekdusan as a playground. It is also where his father reportedly established the headquarters from which he led the resistance against the Japanese in the 1920s. Historians outside North Korea have never heard of this centre of resistance or the decisive fighting that would have taken place in this remote region. Mount Paektu is also a place revered by Manchus and Koreans in general who have considered it for centuries as the cradle of their civilization.The mountain, actually a large volcano, is located on the border between North Korea and China: it is the highest point, at 2749 metres, of the entire Korean peninsula. In the 10th century, one of the strongest eruptions of our era took place, forming the volcano as we know it today, with a 380-metre deep lake occupying a caldera (a circular depression located in the heart of some large volcanic buildings and resulting from an eruption that empties the underlying magmatic chamber). Many rivers flow from this lake and the country's two main rivers, notably the Tyumen, have their source there.Three summits stand out in particular:The Haebal-bong or "peak of the Sunbeam" 2719 meters high, and named after Kim Jong-il's mother, Kim Jong-suk;A second summit of 2712 meters, the Chonwang-bong or "Peak of the King of Heaven", renamed Hyangdo-bong, "Peak of the Leader", in honor of Kim Jong-il. On the top of the mountain in white letters it reads: "Mount Paektu, the sacred mountain of the revolution. Kim Jong-il, February 16, 1992. "Paektu Peak, renamed Janggun-bong or "General's Peak" by the North Koreans in memory of the leader Kim Il-sung. At the top is a plaque with the new name of the place and a monument erected to commemorate Kim Il Sung's achievements.It is possible to walk on the North Korean side of the mountain: a small rack train and cable cars allow you to reach the main lake without too much difficulty. The best time is sunrise to enjoy the colours of the forest.While the Chinese part is well preserved, the base of the mountain in North Korean territory has been largely deforested. However, we can observe many types of trees such as pines, birches... The Mount Paektu site is classified as a UNESCO World Network of Biosphere Reserves.Not all tour packages include the passage through Mount Paektu, and those who offer it do not plan a trek. However, it is possible to contact an agency to organize such a march.Unfortunately, transport is very expensive, since you can only come by chartered plane. In addition, the region is only accessible from June to September due to weather conditions. There are 3 hotels in the area, including the Hyesan Hotel in the city of the same name.