In winter, Snow Town.
Night falls, red lanterns light up, illuminating snow-covered small houses. Cooking smoke rises gently, the air filled with the scent of firewood. Walking on Xueyun Street, seeing those snow-covered houses, like mushroom houses in a fairy tale. Snowflakes fall, landing on shoulders, on eyelashes, in the heart.
This is China’s most beautiful snow scenery.
Heilongjiang is a place that makes dreams come true.
Province Profile#
- Location: Northernmost China, bordering Russia
- Best Travel Season: December-February (ice and snow), June-August (summer retreat)
- Highlights: Ice and snow fairy tale, China-Russia border, North Country scenery, Russian-style charm
Must-Visit Attractions#
Harbin: Oriental Moscow#
Harbin is China’s most exotic city, “Oriental Moscow.”
Central Street is Harbin’s calling card, lined with European-style buildings, called an “Architecture Museum.” In winter, ice sculptures line both sides of the street—at night when lights come on, it’s magnificent. Buy a Madier popsicle, eat it on the street at minus 20 degrees—that’s Harbin people’s romance.
Saint Sophia Cathedral is Harbin’s landmark, a Byzantine-style building with a green dome, solemn and dignified. Ice and Snow World is the world’s largest ice and snow theme park, with ice sculptures, snow sculptures, and ice slides—a winter fairy tale world.
Sun Island is Harbin’s back garden—summer you can see squirrels and flowers, winter has the Snow Expo. Songhua River freezes in winter—you can skate, ride ice sleds, spin ice tops.
Best Experience: Come to Harbin in winter, wander Central Street, see Saint Sophia Cathedral, play at Ice and Snow World. Skate on the Songhua River, eat a Russian Western meal.
Snow Town: The Ceiling of China’s Snow Scenery#
Snow Town is China’s most beautiful snow scenery, “China’s Snow Town.”
The snow here has high viscosity, falling on roofs, forming “snow mushrooms.” Red lanterns, wooden houses, white snow form a fairy tale-like picture. Xueyun Street is Snow Town’s main street, lined with various shops and guesthouses. Dream Home is Snow Town’s popular photo spot, with the most beautiful snow mushrooms.
Best Experience: Stay overnight in Snow Town, see the snow scenery without tourists in the early morning. At night, see red lanterns illuminating snow mushrooms, take a set of dreamlike photos.
Mohe: China’s Northernmost Point#
Mohe is China’s northernmost city, “Arctic of China.”
Arctic Village is China’s northernmost village, where you can find the “Northernmost Post Office,” “Northernmost Sentry,” and “Northernmost Household.” In winter, you can see aurora here—the only place in China where aurora can be seen.
Best Experience: Come to Mohe in winter, see aurora, ride horse-drawn sleds, experience throwing boiling water that instantly freezes. Send a postcard from the “Northernmost Post Office,” stamped with “Arctic Village” postmark.
Heihe: China-Russia Border#
Heihe faces Blagoveshchensk, Russia across the river, a China-Russia border city.
Standing by the river, you can clearly see the Russian city on the opposite bank. China-Russia Mutual Trade Zone sells Russian goods. Wudalianchi is a volcanic geopark, with volcanoes, mineral springs, and lava plateaus—a recuperation resort.
Special Experiences#
Yabuli Skiing#
Yabuli is China’s best ski resort, “China’s Ski Capital.”
Various levels of ski runs, from beginners to professionals can find suitable ones. Skiing, riding snow tubes, soaking in hot springs—the perfect combination for winter.
Zhalong Wetland#
Zhalong Wetland is the world’s largest red-crowned crane breeding ground, “Crane Hometown.”
Come to Zhalong in summer, see red-crowned cranes flying and dancing in the wetland—elegant and beautiful.
Heilongjiang Cuisine#
Heilongjiang cuisine is mainly Northeast dishes and Russian Western food. Guobaorou is a Harbin famous dish, crispy outside and tender inside, sweet and sour. Red Sausage is a Harbin specialty, Russian-style, eaten with da lie ba—perfect match. Demoli Stewed Fish is a Heilongjiang specialty, with tender fish and rich broth.
Russian Western Food is popular in Harbin—braised beef in pot, borscht, and cream mushroom soup are classics. Madier Popsicle is Harbin’s calling card, with rich milk flavor—most enjoyable eaten in winter.
Travel Tips#
- Transportation: Harbin is Heilongjiang’s transportation hub, with airport and high-speed rail. Mohe and Heihe both have airports.
- Accommodation: In Harbin, stay near Central Street; in Snow Town, stay in guesthouses within the scenic area; in Mohe, stay in Arctic Village.
- Note: Heilongjiang is extremely cold in winter—keep warm. Snow Town is crowded during peak season—book accommodation in advance. Seeing aurora requires luck—not every time you can see it.
Heilongjiang’s charm lies in its ice and snow fairy tale.
Harbin’s ice and snow sculptures, Snow Town’s dreamlike snow scenery, Mohe’s aurora wonder… each place is a winter fairy tale.
Come to Heilongjiang and fulfill an ice and snow dream.
Tomorrow, we begin our Hong Kong-Macau-Taiwan journey, starting with Hong Kong to feel the charm of the Pearl of the Orient.