Heavenly Lake, Changbai Mountain · A giant shadow beneath the water

The Tianchi Lake Monster is one of China’s longest-standing natural mysteries, with the earliest written records dating back to 1903.

For over a century since, eyewitness descriptions have remained highly consistent: a long, slender neck and a humped back, cutting a straight white wake across the water’s surface before quickly diving.

Tianchi reaches depths of over 370 meters, and its crater lake environment is unique. Multiple scientific expeditions have failed to capture physical evidence, yet eyewitness accounts have never ceased.

Natural Mysteries / Jilin · China / Since 1903