Dujuan Lake in Arxan National Forest Park (Tips, Photos & Map)

Arxan National Forest Park

Arxan National Forest Park (Aershan) 阿尔山森林公园 is located 92 km northeast of Aershan City in the northwest of Hinggan Meng, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. The natural park features the lunar landscape formed by solidified volcanic lava strewn with limpid rivers, amazing crater lakes and colorful deciduous coniferous forests.

The entrance to the park is a bit pricey – admission fee 180 yuan（peak season）and 150 yuan (shoulder season), plus the shuttle bus fare 105 yuan per person. Shuttle buses within the huge park are only available in summer time. If you come here in other seasons, you have to arrange your own transport, booking a taxi or car to plan your 1- day or 2-day tour. Your ticket is valid for two days. Car daily rate ( non-peak season ) is about 300 – 400 yuan per day.

My recent late-July trip to Aershan ( on a local photographer tour of Aershan and Hulunbuir), turned out to be much rewarding and exciting. The local shuttles took us to different attraction sites in the park, such as Tianchi Lake (Heavenly Lake), Tuofengling Tianchi Lake, Dujuan Lake, Shitang Lin, and Grand Valley.

Dujuan Lake (杜鹃湖)

Dujuan Lake (杜鹃湖)was one of my favorite highlights in the park. It was our last stop in the park for the first day, also the get-together place for our photographer tour group on that day. When we got off the shuttle bus, it was about 5:00 pm and the hordes of domestic tourists were thinning out, walking in our opposite directions.

Dujuan Lake is a perfect place for taking sunset pictures. Of course, Dujuan Lake is more than a photogenic spot for sunset. As it name suggests, “Dujuan”, literally “Azalea”, in spring the lake is surrounded by blooming azaleas. The green trees and shrub, and scarlet azaleas dabble the lake with bright sunlight fiery glow.

In summer, the aquatic plants, like duckweed and water lilies, are flowering on the surfaces of Dujuan Lake, waving in the wind and bringing to your nostrils their fresh and fragrant smell . Its summer vista reminisces me of my hometown – West Lake in Hangzhou.

Autumn changes the colors of the leaves of the surrounding trees and shrub, turning the water surfaces golden and reddish. Winter turns the lake into a huge natural skate rink with the surrounding areas blanketed with white snow.

Back to the summer trip, we were much enchanted by the pristine beauty of the limpid lake and the lava rock landform. Carrying our cameras and tripods, we walked around the lake area, maneuvering like guerrillas to spot different angles to catch the hidden charm of Dujuan Lake.

Dujuan Lake in summer with an azure sky, cottony clouds and lava rock lakeshore.