Dozens of witnesses have confirmed official reports of sightings of the 'Tianchi Monsters' in a volcanic lake near the North Korean border.
Tianchi Lake in Jilin province is said to be home to the legendary creatures, known as China's Loch Ness monsters after the mythical beast that is said to haunt a loch in the Scottish Highlands.
The witnesses said that in recent days up to 20 of the creatures had surfaced in the lake and had frolicked for about 50 minutes.
The volcano has been dormant for more than 300 years and the lake has long been an environmental wasteland, with no fish or plant life reported.
The legend of the Tianchi Monsters started about 100 years ago when people said a huge buffalo-like creature had lunged at them from the water. Many later sightings were reported, with descriptions ranging from a giant seal to a horse with a body like a turtle. While some scientists have poured scorn on the idea, many are convinced the giant creatures exist.
The legend has helped develop local tourism and has spawned the Tianchi Monster Society.