A winter trip to China: Why is "China's Snow Town" so popular?

Editor︰Zhao Ren

Where are the top places to visit for a winter trip in China? The "China Snow Town" in the northeast China's Heilongjiang Province should definitely be on your list.

From the start of snowfall in October to April of the following year, the China's Snow Town would be covered by thick snow in unique shapes, which makes it an special spot for winter travel in China!

China's Snow Town: Snow here form unique and rich shapes

Contemporary China - Trendy Travel - Tourism in China - China Snow Town
The Snow Town scenic area has a quite long snowfall period in winter, earning it the name "China's Snow Town". (Image Source: VCG)

The Snow Town scenic area was originally named "Shuangfeng Forest Farm" (雙峰林場) and is located on the southwestern slope of Zhangguangcai Ridge of the Changbai Mountains, under the jurisdiction of the Dahailin Forest District in Heilongjiang Province.

The Snow Town covers an area of 17,916 hectares, with an average elevation of 1,100 metres.

Due to the high mountains and dense forests here, the warm humid air from the Sea of Japan to the north meets the cold air from Lake Baikal to the south.

The snowfall period in Snow Town lasts up to seven months, with abundant snowfall and excellent snow quality. The snow, up to 2 metres deep, creates a beautiful snowy landscape.

The ever-accumulating snow sometimes looks like mushrooms, sometimes like wild rabbits, horses, or sea turtles. They take on thousands of shapes, vividly and skilfully.

The falling snowflakes from the sky seem like white clouds scattered on earth, continuously exuding the charm of snow.

This is the allure of "China's Snow Town," a dreamlike "world of ice and snow" as if out of a fairy tale.

Contemporary China - Trendy Travel - Tourism in China - China Snow Town
The snowfall period in Snow Town lasts up to seven months, with abundant snowfall and excellent snow quality. (Image Source: VCG)

Where are the must-visit spots in China's Snow Town?

Contemporary China - Trendy Travel - Tourism in China - China Snow Town
In China's Snow Town, the snow falls on different things, forming a variety of shapes. (Image Source: VCG)

Tourism has been formally developed here since 1999, and the Snow Town has transformed from an unknown logging field into an destination of ice and snow tourism in Heilongjiang Province and even the whole country. Here are a few must-visit tourist spots worth mentioning.

Snow Melody Street (雪韻大街) is the only pedestrian street in the Snow Town scenic area, stretching over 900 metres from north to south.

Various shops line both sides of the street, selling a dazzling array of specialty products. The architectural style highly reflects the cultural characteristics of Northeast China.

Originally, Snow Melody Street was merely a small train station in Shuangfeng Forest Farm, connecting roads to Harbin (哈爾濱), Yabuli (亞布力), and others. 

Walking to the northern end of Snow Melody Street, you can see the landmark stone carving "China Snow Town" of the scenic area. 

Contemporary China - Trendy Travel - Tourism in China - China Snow Town
Snow Melody Street is the only pedestrian street in the Snow Country scenic area. (Image Source: VCG)

The "Source of Snow Scenery" (雪鄉之源), located along the scenic wooden path in Bangchui Mountain, is the one of the best viewing spot in town. 

Due to the cyclonic convergence in this area, the snow here is blown into various strange shapes. The wooden cottages, low houses, pens, grain sheds, wood piles, fences, and wooden ladders adorn Snow Town with a simple and natural beauty, mesmerising visitors.

The wooden path is built along the mountainside and next to residences. Visitors ascending the path can overlook the snow-covered farmhouses, with high-hanging red lanterns in the yards, wisps of smoke rising from the chimneys, and yellow corn and red peppers under the eaves adding highlights to the white snow.

The snow tongues, snow curtains, and snow mushrooms hanging from the eaves, viewed from the wooden path, are exceptionally stunning.

At night, the view of Snow Town from the path, with all the lights on, is a totally different scene. The entire scenic area is draped in a colourful coat, with the lights reflecting off the snow, making Snow Town look poetic and dreamlike.

Contemporary China - Trendy Travel - Tourism in China - China Snow Town
Under the night sky, every house hangs red lanterns high, with the lights reflecting off the snow, making Snow Town look poetic and dreamlike. (Image Source: VCG)

In Snow Town, there is also a Yaxue Highway (亞雪公路) built along the mountain and valley. Following this road, you can even see the rare rime snow scenery, which is breath-taking.

This tourist highway, magical and picturesque, presents you a seamlessly unite landscape of snowy mountains, rime and clouds.

Walking to the northwest corner of the Snow Town scenic area, you can see the highest mountain in Snow Town, the Yangcao Mountain (羊草山). 

The top of this mountain has sparse trees, making it an excellent spot to watch the sunrise, see the smoke from chimneys, and enjoy the snow melody.

Every year, tens of thousands of people hike across the Yangcao Mountain.

Contemporary China - Trendy Travel - Tourism in China - China Snow Town
Yangcao Mountain is located in the northwest corner of the Snow Town scenic area and is the highest mountain in Snow Town. (Image Source: VCG)

Read more: The six wonders of Hailuogou in Sichuan

Read more: Datang Furong Garden: The charm of a thousand-year-old capital

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