Introduction to Lake Baikal

Lake Baikal is crescent-shaped and has a history of 25 million years. It is the deepest and oldest lake in the world and the largest freshwater lake in Eurasia, with a depth of 1.637 meters. It is said that it is still being explored. It is known as "the blue eyes of Siberia" and "the purest sapphire on earth". China in Lake Baikal, called Beihai in ancient times, was once the main activity area of northern tribes in China, which was controlled by the Qing Dynasty for a short time, and the most famous "Suwu Shepherd" happened here.

Where is Lake Baikal? Lake Baikal is located in the south of East Siberia, near Mongolia and Manzhouli, China. You usually need to transfer from Irkutsk. In Irkutsk, you can take a bus from the bus terminal to Lake Baikal, but because of the language barrier, it is recommended to charter a car directly.

How to get to Lake Baikal 1? plane

The nearest airport to Lake Baikal is Irkutsk Airport. There are many direct flights from China, not only from Shanghai, Beijing and Harbin, but also from Chengdu, Chongqing, Shenyang and Manzhouli. It takes about 3 hours to fly from Beijing to Irkutsk airport.

Official website of Irkutsk Airport (Chinese): https://iktport.ru/zh/

Airport plan (Russian): https://iktport.ru/ru/13-passengers/142-skhema-terminalov.html.

From the airport to the center of Irkutsk, it is very close and convenient. It is recommended to take a taxi, as long as 15- 10 minutes. Rubles are so cheap that you don't have to take luggage by car. There are no 4 and no 20 buses, but their Russian and English are poor, so there is no guarantee that they will get off at the wrong stop. The bus stop should be outside the airport. It takes a few minutes to walk.

It is suggested to charter a bus from Irkutsk to Lake Baikal, or you can take the bus to Lake Baikal every day at the bus stop in the city center.

2. Siberian Railway

The longest railway in the world, the main artery of Russian railway traffic. Connecting Moscow and the Russian Far East, there is a stop in Irkutsk. You can book train tickets in official website (see me in official website: http://eng.rzd.ru/).

Everyone is interested in taking the international train from Beijing to Moscow. In fact, not all of them go to trans-siberian railway, but a branch line is branched off from Chita, which takes about six days from Beijing to Moscow.

drive

Driving to Lake Baikal is also exciting. Self-driving can be divided into direct self-driving to Russia and self-driving in Russia.

But the most important thing is the driver's license! Theoretically, driving in Russia requires an international driver's license or a Russian driver's license! Many people took the driver's license of their motherland, opened a Russian notary office and successfully rented a car and drove in Russia. This is not allowed in theory. If you are caught by the police, you will be fined, but there are also reports that Russia has relaxed its self-driving policy. In short, it is very lucky.

If you drive directly to Russia, you need to apply for the ATA certificate of the vehicle, which is equivalent to taking the vehicle as outbound goods and carrying it with you! (well! Theoretically, this really means ~), ATA needs a lot of deposit besides a lot of vehicle formalities. If it is inconvenient to drive by yourself, you can rent a car in Harbin or Manzhouli. The procedure is the same, and the car dealership will provide some help ~

How to choose a place to stay when visiting Lake Baikal? Generally, you live in Listvyanka town or the largest Olkhon island on the lake.

Listvyanka town

Listvyanka town is located where the angara River flows into Lake Baikal. This is a small town, where you can enjoy the scenery of Angara River and Lake Baikal at the same time. The town is also very convenient to Irkutsk, and the bus only takes 1 hour. You can come here for a day trip, but the experience of staying for one night is better. The scenery in summer is pure and idyllic, and you can experience all kinds of ice projects in Lake Baikal in winter. There is a Baikal Museum in the town, which shows the changes and ecology of Lake Baikal. It is a good place to know the whole picture of Lake Baikal and the seals in Lake Baikal ~

olkhon island

Olkhon Island is the largest island in Lake Baikal, but its residents are less than 1500. From Irkutsk to Orhon Island, you can take the daily shuttle bus from the central bus station, but the frequency is limited and the time is early, which also involves language exchange. Rubles are not valuable, so it is more convenient to hire a car or carpool. Olkhon Island is not as close as Listvyanka Town, and its area is large. If you travel for a day, there are limited items to play. It is highly recommended to stay on the island in winter. The way to go to the island is very special. You can sit on a hovercraft and slide on the ice!

Olkhon Island is slender, with steep mountains on the east coast, and the highest peak is more than 800 meters away from the lake. Although the area of Orhon Island is only 730km2, it is rich in topography, including coniferous forests, grasslands and deserts. Hurrier village is the largest village on the island, where most B&B restaurants gather. Whether you are visiting the southern line or the northern line of Orhon Island, you need to start from here. Hurrir village is also considered as the center of northern shamanism, and many homestays living here can see the shaman stone on the surface of Lake Baikal. Many shamans come to worship every year. It is a very Russian town.

Unique landscape of Lake Baikal: Lake Baikal was frozen from June to May in 65438, with an ice thickness of 70- 1 15 cm. Although we are often frightened by the cold air in Siberia, the winter of Lake Baikal is not as cold as the Arctic Circle, and it is as cold as or not as cold as the Northeast. The scenery of the four seasons changes greatly, which is worth seeing ~

In summer in Lake Baikal, the peak season is in August. Glaciers melt into rich lake water, and everything bathes in sunshine and enjoys lazy and cool summer days.

Lake Baikal in autumn is like an oil painting, full of red leaves, and a small train shuttles between the red leaves, braving steam and facing the sunset glow on the horizon.

Lake Baikal, a holy place for shamans, is also a holy place for shamans in the north. Shaman not only exists in Huanzhugege and jumping in the northeast, but also prevails in the west. Many people who believe in shamans will specially go to Lake Baikal to make a pilgrimage to the legends here. Lake Baikal has been telling its uniqueness, richness and mystery from its birth to its continuation.

Shaman's poems

Located in the north of Hulil Town, Olyhong Island, you can directly see the magical shaman stone in some homestays in Hulil. The story of Shaman Stone is very legendary, and it is also a must-see place for Shaman believers. It is said that if a guilty person is taken to Shaman Stone for one night, he can be washed away without being swallowed up by the waves of Lake Baikal at night. Although we can only see shaman stone exposed from a corner of Lake Baikal, in fact, shaman stone stretches into mountains at the bottom of the lake. The history of shaman stone may be traced back to the formation of the tributary of Angara River. In ancient times, people may have witnessed the moment when shaman stone experienced geological changes and remained motionless, thus leaving behind various legends.

Hoboyi lake promontory

Located in the northernmost part of Orhon Island, it is said that God turned a woman who was jealous of her husband into a stone, and it is also said that dragonflies lost their fangs. It may appear because celestial bodies that fell thousands of years ago were used for rock reflection to produce echoes, which is even more mysterious. In winter, you can shoot sparkling icicles and huge ice caves here.

Lake Baikal defines the characteristics of Lan Bing & bubbles.

The origin of Lan Bing actually refers to glacier ice, but Lan Bing and bubbles can be seen on the ice of Lake Baikal. (although the principle is somewhat different)

Lake Baikal is very big. When winter comes, it won't freeze as soon as the temperature drops. The formation of ice needs several levels, and the final formation time is relatively late. It takes early winter to form ice more than one meter thick. Bubbles and ice cracks are also beautiful, which are related to several levels of ice formation. Bubbles are caused by methane gas released by plants at the bottom of the lake, and ice cracks are caused by the compression and expansion of the lake water by temperature.

Lake Baikal seal

There are many species that should live in the sea in Lake Baikal, and two-thirds of the 1700 species are endemic here. Lake Baikal 65,438+0,996 is listed as a world natural heritage, and the Baikal seal, the only freshwater seal in the world, attracts many tourists, and the smallest sea leopard in the world ~ its habitat is the whole Lake Baikal ~

Play the small train around Lake Baikal.

The train around the lake is a very popular experience project in Lake Baikal. Originally part of the Siberian Railway, it is now only used for sightseeing. There are two kinds of steam trains and electric trains. The steam train is very retro, and time and space seem to have returned to the Middle Ages, which is seamlessly integrated with the natural scenery of Lake Baikal. The electric train won't lose, reappearing the picture of the snow country train, which is very cold and scientific recently.

Lake project

You can find hovercraft, icebreakers, cruise ships, speedboats and unexpected water projects in Lake Baikal. Needless to say, cruise ships and speedboats, whether in summer or autumn, take a boat to enjoy the scenery, lakes and mountains, and linger.

Hovercraft and icebreakers are very powerful, which are features that cannot be found elsewhere in Lake Baikal. The hovercraft glides on the ice, breaks the ice and sails in the icy water. Why go to the Arctic Circle again? This is the sea, and it is even more magnificent to think of it.

Diving and ice diving

There are many creatures at the bottom of Lake Baikal. In 2004, a study showed that the lake here is also the clearest water in the world, so Lake Baikal is very suitable for diving, and you can also ice dive in winter! ! !

Mountain motorcycle

Want to experience the boldness of the fighting nation, riding mountain bikes in summer or autumn is also a Hollywood blockbuster ~

Travel Tips 1. Visa is not difficult, don't worry!

2. Russian and English are not good, so you must do your homework, order food and name the station before you go out.

When you go to Lake Baikal in winter, you must wear sunglasses and feel dizzy. When the white snow field reflects sunlight, it is easy to feel dazzling and dizzy.

4. It's easy to cut off the power of mobile phones and cameras when traveling in winter, so be sure to prepare a backup power supply.

5. It's no problem to spend and withdraw money with UnionPay card. You'd better change some money at China Bank in China first.