Fusong County is a county under the administration of Baishan City, in the southeastern part of Jilin Province, People's Republic of China. It is located in the hinterland of the Changbai Mountains.
Geography Fusong County covers a total area of approximately 6,150 square kilometers (2,375 square miles). The terrain is predominantly mountainous, part of the Changbai Mountain range. The county is home to the Chinese portion of Heaven Lake (Tianchi) on Changbai Mountain (Paektu Mountain), a major volcanic crater lake and the source of the Songhua, Yalu, and Tumen rivers. The climate is classified as a temperate continental monsoon climate, characterized by long, cold winters and short, cool summers.
Administrative Divisions As of recent administrative data, Fusong County administers several towns and townships, including the county seat, Fusong Town. Other notable towns include Baihe (the gateway to the Changbai Mountain tourist zone), Songjianghe, and Kaishantun.
Population According to the 2020 Chinese census, the permanent population of Fusong County was approximately 170,000. The population density is low due to the mountainous terrain and large areas of protected forest. The ethnic composition is predominantly Han Chinese, with a significant Korean ethnic minority population, alongside Manchu, Hui, and Mongol minorities.
Economy Fusong County is a nationally designated key county for poverty alleviation and development (formerly a national-level poverty-stricken county, removed from the list in 2019). Its economy relies heavily on:
- Natural Resources: It is a major production base for wild-simulated ginseng (Changbai Mountain ginseng) and other traditional Chinese medicinal materials.
- Forestry: The county possesses extensive forest resources, though commercial logging has been restricted by national ecological protection policies (Natural Forest Protection Program).
- Tourism: Changbai Mountain (Changbaishan) National Nature Reserve and the Changbai Mountain International Tourism Resort are primary economic drivers, attracting domestic and international visitors year-round for sightseeing, skiing, and hot springs.
- Hydropower: The Songhua River system within the county provides significant hydroelectric potential.
Transportation Transportation infrastructure has improved significantly in recent decades. The county is served by the Changbai Mountain Airport (IATA: NBS) located in nearby Jiangyuan District but serving the region, and the high-speed rail line (Shenyang–Baihe/Changbaishan Railway) connects the area to the national network. Major highways include the G1112 Jifu Expressway and National Highway 201.
Environment and Conservation A large portion of the county falls within the Changbai Mountain Biosphere Reserve, designated by UNESCO's Man and the Biosphere Programme in 1980. The region is a critical habitat for endangered species such as the Siberian tiger, Amur leopard, and sable, as well as diverse flora including the Changbai larch and Korean pine. Ecological protection is a primary policy directive for local governance.
