Off-the-Beaten-Path Ways to Explore Popular Harbin and Snow Town

When it comes to Northeast China, what comes to mind? In Harbin and Snow Town, the snow is deep, and snowflakes fly everywhere. This is an 'ice and snow fairyland', pure and exquisite, like a fairy tale. In fact, not only the popular Harbin and Snow Town, but also places not far from the hotspots offer the most authentic Northeast flavor.

Day 1: Arrive in Harbin — Central Street

Day 2: Harbin — Fenghuang Mountain — Weihu Folk Custom Village

Day 3: Ice and snow activities, snowmobile ride to the summit of Fenghuang Mountain

Day 4: Non-freezing River — Fenghuang Mountain Grand Canyon — Alpine Snow Valley — Snow Town — Erlang River

Day 5: Erlang River — Harbin

We hired a private car for the entire trip. In Northeast China, many private cars are running, but it's unreliable and safety is hard to guarantee. A friend recommended a car-hiring service. The cost was not high—only 550 yuan per day, about 100+ per person—truly good value.

It seems like a tradition: in every Chinese city, there are certain old streets with their own stories, witnessing the city's transformation. These old streets become shared memories for locals. Central Street is currently the longest pedestrian street in Asia, also known as 'Harbin's First Street'.

As night falls and lights come on, Central Street becomes a riot of color. Most buildings along the street are Baroque-style, making you feel like you're abroad. In Harbin, you often hear, 'If you haven't been to Central Street, you haven't been to Harbin.' History and location have given Harbin its unique culture and charm.

Under light snow, the streetlights seem softer, gentler on this ice city. The crowds on Central Street echo with laughter time and again.

Don't forget to grab an authentic Harbin treat—a Madier ice pop—in the snowy weather.

As you walk along Central Street, look down at the century-old stones. Designed by Russian engineers, these granite pavers are laid out artistically, reportedly at great expense.

Saint Sophia Cathedral

The cathedral is definitely a representative Harbin landmark. Built in 1907, it's known as the 'First Eastern Orthodox Church in the Far East' and a well-preserved Byzantine building.

On cold nights, many tourists still visit Saint Sophia Cathedral.

Fenghuang Mountain Weihu Village Folk Custom Village

'The king of heaven covers the ground tiger' 'Chicken stewed with mushrooms' 'Precious pagoda suppresses the river monster' 'Pork stewed with vermicelli'... This series of playful dialogues are actually code words.

Once you respond correctly, the village gate opens, and villagers dressed in Northeast Chinese style beat drums, play gongs, and perform the Northeast Yangge dance to welcome visitors.

Neat courtyards with thick snow on roofs. Red lanterns and corn cobs hang under the eaves—the most authentic Northeast flavor.

Sit on a warm kang (heated brick bed) and cut paper window flowers.

Northeast specialty frozen pears

Original old wine—everything is available here.

Not far away, the mountains are covered with snow. At the foot of the mountain, the cornfields add a layer of gold to the landscape.

Warm and hospitable Northeast men

Us, having fun in the snow

Try a snow tube for an exciting ride

Beat the drum for a lively atmosphere

Let the snowflakes fly outside; inside, the iron pot stew is bubbling with delicious food.

After dinner, we all make dumplings together. Then we take them to the yard to freeze overnight—this is Northeast China's natural freezer. Only here can you experience what frozen dumplings really mean!

After making and arranging the dumplings, we are not just making dumplings; we are shaping our good wishes for the future and our blessings for the new year.

At the summit of Fenghuang Mountain, there is an alpine snowfield. In this silvery world, snowflakes dance. The snow quality on Fenghuang Mountain is excellent, creating unique alpine snowfield landscapes. Whether it's the spectacular ice waterfalls or the forest sea snowmobile ride, we can embrace, experience, and enjoy the snow country here.

This is a suspended garden. This is an 'ice and snow fairyland'.

Take a snowmobile through the mysterious snowy mountains—a thrilling ride all the way to the top. It's not just a visual feast but also an adrenaline-pumping snow sport.

Whether it's snow tubes, snow tanks, snow castle mazes, playing in the snow, or skiing... we have endless fun.

Horse-drawn sleighs: the bells on the horses have echoed through Fenghuang Mountain for centuries. Now, it's a great option for experiencing Northeast China's snow activities.

A very stylish Northeast elder

After playing, a fruit feast awaits.

This is a truly off-the-beaten-path but incredibly fun attraction. In the canyon of Fenghuang Mountain, at minus 20-something degrees Celsius, the non-freezing river still flows cheerfully. Thin mist rises by the river like a fairyland, dreamlike.

Through the forest sea, our car continues through the ice and snow world.

Fenghuang Mountain Grand Canyon is on the south side of Dongsheng Forest Farm (does Dongsheng Forest Farm sound familiar? Yes, China Snow Valley is Dongsheng Forest Farm). Compared to the bustling Snow Town and Snow Valley, this grand canyon seems almost exclusively open to us.

After the ice waterfall freezes, layers of ice hang together beautifully—a sight not seen in Snow Town or Snow Valley.

According to our driver, Snow Town lives up to its name largely because of its snow. The snow quality is excellent, and it's very sticky. The snow mushrooms tourists love can only be made from Snow Town's snow.

Snow Town's snow cover reportedly lasts up to 7 months, with depths reaching up to 2 meters.

The liveliest place in Snow Town is definitely Xueyun Street. This main road, about 500 meters long, is lined with shops and guesthouses. It sells various Northeast specialties like frozen pears, frozen persimmons, and candied hawthorns.

As night falls, Snow Town becomes even more enchanting.

At this time, the snow mushrooms seem enchanted, looking like fairy-tale cottages. The snow appears exceptionally white, the lights dreamlike.

Such scenes make it impossible to put down our cameras and phones. This beauty is worth recording.

Accommodation in Snow Town is expensive during holidays; a better choice is Erlang River.

There, you find equally high-quality snow.

On the way back from Erlang River to Harbin, beautiful scenery is nonstop. We feel like we're traveling through a Chinese ink painting.

Such beauty seems to exist for the Chinese yearning for the ink-wash landscape painting in their hearts.

I've been thinking: popular scenic spots are indeed ideal for travel. But how to play uniquely and with less expense at these hotspots—that is an art.