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On the upper reaches of the Second Songhua River twenty-four kilometers southeast of Jilin, the lake covers 480 square kilometers and is 70 meters deep at its deepest point. It teems with many kinds of fish, such as salmon, common carp, and crucian carp. Surrounded by tree-covered hills, the mirrorlike lake studded withy boats is a charming sight and a popular tourist in the trees provide sightseers with a place to relax. There are special areas for swimming, fishing , and boating.
In winter, when the weeping willows and pines along the banks of the Songhua River are covered with ice and snow, Jilin is said to be decorated with “jade trees and silver flowers.” Vapour from the river condenses to coat the branches and turn the banks into a jade wonderland. Among other scenic spots in Jilin are Dragon Pool Mountain (Longtanshan), a hilly city site of the ancient kingdom of Gaojuli built in the fourth of fifth century, and the old city of Wula which was inhabited by the northeastern ethnic group, the Nüzhens, during the Ming Dynasty.
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