Snow Town to Snow Valley: A Family of Three's Northeast China Winter Photography Trip

📍 Harbin · 👁 9469 reads · ❤️ 40 likes

This time, it all started because my wife casually mentioned snow, cracking open the door to a world of ice and snow. Our son was also fully supportive, which surprised and delighted us, and ultimately made this trip to the far northeast a certainty!

My memories of Snow Town and Snow Valley are not just of thick white snow-covered wooden houses, round snow mushrooms in the yards, and forests bathed in the gentle morning sun, but also of extreme cold.

Now, traveling with a six-year-old child, the challenges would surely be greater, so thorough preparation was essential.

Information about popular attractions, food guides, hotel accommodations, transportation, etc., can easily be found online, and there are plenty of travel guides to choose from based on personal preferences. As a casual travel diary, I'd like to share my feelings and tips as a southern tourist visiting Harbin, Snow Town, and Snow Valley.

Due to the pandemic and traveling with a child, we avoided too early or too late flight times, so we had enough time after checking into the hotel to walk around, buy supplies, and acclimate to the local temperature.

The ultimate theme of this trip was simple: to see and play with snow. Everything was arranged around snow activities. The places we visited gradually transitioned from cold to freezing to extremely cold, with snow getting thicker. This allowed for gradual physical adaptation and appreciation of the scenery.

Regarding attractions and activities, we deviated from some mainstream choices. For example, the must-see Sophia Cathedral in Harbin travel guides—we only visited it briefly at night. We also skipped the famous Sun Island, Siberian Tiger Park, and Polar Aquarium because we preferred to spend an extra day at Volga Manor.

The truth is, if anyone asks me for the most recommended part of this trip, my answer would be Snow Valley, especially if you're bringing kids. Stay there for a day and let them frolic in the natural snow—you won't regret it.

Day 1: We set off in the morning, arrived at the Ice City in the afternoon, checked into Hanting Hotel, and went out to eat and acclimate. We strolled along Central Street, walked on the frozen Songhua River, and continued acclimating.

Day 2: In the morning, we took a reserved online car to Volga Manor. After check-in, we explored the manor, went snow tubing, built snowmen, had snowball fights, made snowballs, and used snow sleds. We stayed overnight at the manor.

Day 3: After breakfast, we continued exploring the manor, making Russian bread and kvass or Russian nesting dolls. We played happily at the Three Bears Kids' Park. At 15:30, we took a bus back to downtown Harbin.

Day 4: We woke up at 4:30 AM to experience Harbin at 5 AM. We took a shared car to Snow Town, passing through a birch forest. The one-way trip took about 5-6 hours. We stayed at Xueyun Pavilion.

Day 5: We hiked from Snow Town to Snow Valley, crossing Yangcao Mountain. The total distance was 15 km, including about 5 km of snow sliding. We stayed at Xiangsi Snow Valley Inn.

Day 6: After breakfast, we went skiing at the Snow Valley ski resort, and also visited the ice amusement park or had free time. After lunch, we returned to Harbin. In the afternoon, we went to Daowai for breakfast, wandering through the alleys and experiencing the Oriental Baroque style. In the evening, we flew back to our southern hometown.

Every family trip seems to involve similar luggage: electronics like cameras, power banks, tablets; documents; change of clothes; toiletries. Everyone has their own must-haves, each useful in their own way—take what you need!

Here, I mainly want to share some things I didn't expect to need but found important or useful:

1. Disposable slippers: This is my fault. To save luggage space, I only brought one pair of Decathlon snow boots. They were warm and reliable on snow, but on the plane, they were too hot.

2. Child's shoes, clothes, and pants: Must be waterproof! Must be waterproof! Absolutely must be waterproof!

3. Hand warmers: I know everyone brings these to the Northeast, but few seem to use them correctly. The instructions say to stick them on clothing, not directly on skin. So most people stick them on thermal underwear or the inside of a second layer. In theory, it's perfect. That's what I did on the first day, and it was a disaster. Harbin is freezing at -20°C outdoors, but indoors it's like spring or summer. Locals take off their coats as soon as they come indoors, but being new, I didn't. Even after I took off my coat, the hand warmers on my underwear kept heating up, sacrificing themselves to keep me warm—and I ended up with a cold...

So, to sum up: if you know you'll be going in and out frequently, don't stick hand warmers on your underwear. Stick them on the coat you'll take off! Unless you want to peel them off every time you go in and out.

4. Mini spray bottle: I saw a lady using one in the last few days. I immediately thought everyone needs one in the super dry Northeast!

5. Sunglasses: Playing in the snow for long periods can cause snow blindness, so it's necessary to wear sunglasses. You can buy them locally or after arrival.

6. During the pandemic, masks and an electronic thermometer: Everyone knows why. For safety, check your child's temperature daily.

7. Motion sickness medicine / dried tangerine peel / preserved plums: Harbin, Snow Town, Yabuli, Changbai Mountain, Rime Island, Moshui—all these places are hours apart by car. The one-way trip from Harbin to Snow Town took nearly 6 hours, which was not pleasant for my son, who gets carsick. I couldn't find dried tangerine peel or salty preserved plums in two large shopping malls in Harbin, so if you have kids or family with motion sickness, prepare these before you go.

8. When crossing from Snow Town, your luggage will be transported. Contact the Snow Valley innkeeper in advance and leave your luggage at the mountain gate.

No matter how many travelogues and tips you read, it's always vague what to wear in the far Northeast—until you're actually there.

1. Clothes: Locals typically wear three layers: thermal underwear + sweater/shirt + not-too-thick coat. Some even wear only two layers but always have gloves and a hat. This is enough for southern tourists to stay warm. But since we planned to play in the snow, we needed windproof and waterproof outer layers. Getting clothes wet in such cold weather is no joke (go indoors immediately to dry).

2. Pants: Nothing fancy—underwear + leggings + outer pants. If you're especially sensitive to cold, choose fleece-lined pants. For skiing or frolicking in snow, definitely prepare ski pants.

3. Shoes: I was most satisfied with my preparation for shoes. I bought mine and my son's at Decathlon after trying them on to ensure comfort for long walks. My wife's shoes were Ralph Lauren ski boots, also decent. Important tip: when trying on shoes, test their non-slip quality. Shoes with flat soles can easily slip on snow and ice. Also, avoid high-top lace-up shoes—they look impressive but are impractical. I witnessed a lady bent over tying her laces for three minutes without finishing one foot. In such cold, wearing gloves makes hands clumsy, and without gloves, your hands freeze.

4. Gloves, hat, scarf: Bring them all. Whether to wear them is up to you. I always wore a hat and gloves outdoors, never a scarf, but sometimes a thin neck gaiter.

Most people choose accommodation near Central Street and Sophia Church in Harbin. We followed suit and stayed at Hanting Hotel. The advantage is that one stop of the airport bus is at Central Street, making travel to and from the airport easy. There are many hotels of different styles, star ratings, and prices, so everyone can find something satisfactory.

Let me focus on Snow Town and Snow Valley, which are two different places. We stayed one night in each. Some negative online reviews about Snow Town are mainly due to accommodation and food prices or conditions. Personally, I think it's not entirely the innkeepers' fault but the overall environment. So when going to Snow Town, know what to expect. Don't have unrealistic expectations or complain, to avoid unpleasantness.

Also, based on my online research and personal experience, the differences between Snow Town and Snow Valley are huge. After over 10 years of development, Snow Town is now fully commercialized. Accommodations, restaurants, entertainment—all uniformly built. Many operators sign short-term contracts, which leads to unstable service for small private tours and all-inclusive free-and-easy groups. I finally chose Xueyun Pavilion, a well-known brand with acceptable prices.

In Snow Valley, most innkeepers are locals living in their own homes. I went out before dawn and saw elderly locals already working, which I didn't see in Snow Town. These fundamental differences affect the quality of accommodation and food. We chose Xiangsi Snow Valley Inn because it's next to a supermarket and a bar, in a good location, and has positive online reviews.

If you care about accommodation details, pay attention to room photos before booking. If unsure, ask. Snow Town offers better conditions, while Snow Valley has more family-run inns with a homier feel. When traveling, don't obsess over conditions; the experience is what matters.

The experience in Snow Valley was better than Snow Town. Showering was no problem. Snow Valley is not as overly commercialized as Snow Town. Many inns are locals' homes, so there's more personal touch, and your requests are easily met—like getting hot water, a basin to soak frozen pears or persimmons, or advice on skiing. When we went skiing, the innkeeper's family even recommended a place and made ginger sugar water when we returned. We were deeply touched.

This Snow Town accommodation price list was on the wall of the ticket hall at the entrance. It clearly shows the price for each room type.

The list may seem simple, but it conveys a lot. For example, if you booked a room at a price much lower than listed, call to confirm before you travel. Or even call a day or two before to confirm your arrival and room. If you booked early at a bargain price and think you got a great deal, you might face issues like being switched to a different room upon arrival.

Now, typing this, I'm still shivering...

But I know the cold won't stop you, so prepare to be cold!

First, do some homework on your equipment—especially check the operating temperature range of your camera and battery, so the camera doesn't shut down from cold. I used my Canon 5D3 with original batteries at around -20°C outdoors without any protection, and it worked fine—no unexpected shutdowns.

Second, and very important: bring a large towel! Not for bathing—for your camera! When you go from outdoors to indoors, turn off the camera, remove it, wrap it in the towel, and put it in your camera bag. This prevents fog on the lens, body, and inside the camera. This method worked better for me than using a plastic bag.

What? You want to use your phone?

Sure, no problem! But don't use an iPhone—it will automatically shut down outdoors. I'm not badmouthing iPhones; my wife used hers on Central Street in Harbin, and it shut down after less than 5 minutes of shooting. But Huawei, Xiaomi, and Samsung phones seemed to hold up well.

I admire your stubbornness! But there is a way: stick a hand warmer on the back of your phone. Even so, keep each shooting session under 5 minutes, and put the phone back in your pocket immediately. Once the hand warmer gets cold outdoors, it's useless. Also, you can keep your phone connected to a power bank, with the power bank in your inner pocket. Don't let the power bank freeze and die!

Famous Modier Ice Popsicles

The end of Central Street is the Songhua River.

Here is the Songhua River. The further you walk toward the center, the stronger the wind. It was unbearable on the face.

My son found a snow mound. His first intimate contact with ice and snow began—touching, crawling, rolling, and wrestling. He had so much energy and cold tolerance, while my wife and I were shivering! We had booked round-trip tickets to Volga Manor online in advance, 20 yuan per person, including children.

We received a service SMS the day before with pick-up location, time, license plate number, driver's phone number, etc. Although some info was already known when booking, the manor's service was very detailed.

In the evening, we ate at a restaurant near Central Street—our first northern meal, Russian-style Western food.

It got dark quickly.

Since we stayed at Central Street, which was 10 km from the pick-up point, considering Monday morning rush hour, we decided to take a taxi. That was a wise decision!

We were told to gather at 9:20 and depart at 9:30. We arrived early, stored luggage, and sat down. About 8-9 passengers boarded. At exactly 9:30, the driver started the car and drove off—a true pro! I was just wondering if anyone missed the bus when the driver's phone rang. He listened for about ten seconds and said two things: "Can't wait, the bus is already moving" and "I know you're stuck in traffic, but I can't make everyone wait for you two!"

Reliable! Definitely commendable. Punctuality is something I value highly when traveling—it's convenient for others and for yourself. There were few people on the bus, so each person could have a row to themselves. Our son was excited at first but started feeling carsick after ten minutes, leaning on his mom. I quickly gave him a lollipop to calm him down.

All buildings in the manor were Russian-style, colorful and photogenic. At this point, I was still looking around, gathering information, inevitably missing some beautiful sights. Fortunately, we planned to stay here for a day, so we could come back tomorrow! The building in the picture is a gift shop.

My son was standing on the river—now frozen and covered with thick snow. Walking on it felt like walking on a beach, but it was tiring after a while. For a child, it was paradise—a big playground all to himself... To ensure our son had a great time playing in the snow, we spent two cold nights in Harbin searching for snow play tools—big malls, supermarkets, small shops, and street stalls. We ended up buying almost every tool we saw at varying prices: snowball makers, shovels, sleds, etc.

The manor was huge, and one day wasn't enough to fully enjoy it. It wasn't peak season during our two days there. Although there wasn't much snow on trees and roofs, reducing the fairytale feel, there were very few visitors—almost exclusive access. I really liked this little spot where I fooled around with my wife and son, laughing and taking photos until other tourists arrived.

This kind of snow-lying scene reappeared countless times in the following days. At first, I didn't notice, but at lunch, when I took off my son's coat, I found the cuffs wet. Snow easily got into the gap between gloves and cuffs, then turned into ice. Children are unaware of this, so parents need to pay attention.

On this day, our son's clothes were not waterproof—just a regular down jacket and cotton pants. Snow easily stuck to the pants. From my observation, if it's sunny and not windy, and the child doesn't lie in the snow for long, regular clothes might be okay.

But if it's windy and overcast, you must wear windproof clothing! We walked to a church-like building. Seeing my wife looking so elegant, I was reminded of classic movie scenes where a protagonist enters a church, confesses to a priest, or prays alone, then emerges reborn with full power-ups... Sorry, I digressed...

As for the sculptures along the road, unlike the one earlier that made me want to cover it with straw, I just passed by without a second glance—because I was hungry.

The manor's cats were round and cute. A few lazy little ones were basking in the sun; they were the real masters of the manor.

It gets dark early in Harbin. The sun started setting around 3:30 PM, and it was completely dark by 4:00 PM.

One more reminder: the bus back to Harbin from the manor departs at 3:30 PM, and it's the only bus. If you miss it, you'll have to take a taxi.

The manor was picturesque at that moment, but I felt my lungs were about to burst. Walking on snow for a long time is really exhausting!

To save time, I might have walked too fast for about 15-20 minutes, taking deep breaths, which made my throat dry and painful, and breathing difficult. I recovered after resting, but the cough persisted.

After resting, we went to a Chinese restaurant a 6-7 minute walk from our accommodation. I had seen online that they offered buffet dining, but reviews were average. I assumed the restaurant only had a buffet, so I thought we could just eat enough. To my surprise, when we sat down and opened the menu, we could order individually. That was great. After chatting with the waitress, we ordered two dishes and a bowl of noodles as main courses. Even after asking about portion sizes, we still ended up overeating.

For breakfast, we went to the same Chinese restaurant. There were boiled eggs, fried eggs, buns, congee, and side dishes. After a meal, we felt warm. We walked left and went straight to the ski slope we passed yesterday. Our main goal was the snow tubing we didn't try yesterday.

Besides skiing and snow tubing, there was a snowy slope for sliding. The tool was this small red sled.

At first, my wife and I didn't know how to use it. Its curved shape clearly resembled a butt, so you probably sit on it. There was a ring-like handle, maybe for tying a rope? But then I thought, that wouldn't be different from the blue sled, and this board seemed too simple!?

We stopped and went along, chatting and laughing with our son, feeling relaxed.

Suddenly we saw many conifers, which looked familiar—could they be the Christmas tree prototypes that sell well online with free shipping in Jiangsu, Zhejiang, and Shanghai?! And they even came with snow decorations—the real deal!

It was already dark when we returned to Harbin from Volga Manor. We quickly bought a sugar-coated hawthorn stick to try the local specialty.

Today, we had to take a chartered car from Harbin to Snow Town, a 5-6 hour one-way trip. Knowing we needed more playtime, our gathering time was very early—finally set at 5:50 AM. To ensure we arrived early, my wife and I set our alarms for 4:30 AM and prepared our son the night before. The day's energy drain knocked him out as soon as he touched the bed, saving us a lot of effort.

A quick note: we had booked the itinerary early and couldn't change it. But I recommend going to Snow Valley first—then to Snow Town, because more people hike from Snow Valley to Snow Town, making the downhill safer. We did the opposite. But we adapted to the situation.

The alarm woke us up on time. Without hesitation, I got up immediately. The dry, hot air in the room made my wife and I sleep poorly, but my nerves kept me alert as soon as the alarm rang. After a rushed morning routine, we were ready by 5:00 AM. We quickly woke our still-groggy son, expecting the usual morning crankiness. I pretended to smell his feet, saying they stank. He burst out laughing. Then we dressed him and finished grooming—another battle. Finally ready, we checked out quickly, took a taxi, and arrived at the meeting point at 5:45 AM. The driver and car were already waiting.

Two people had arrived before us—a young couple. They later became our son's main targets for mischief. Nice people are easy to pick on!

Two girls arrived next; their itinerary was the one I recommend: go to Snow Valley first, then cross to Snow Town.

The last to arrive were another family of three. Everyone was punctual, which gave me confidence for the trip ahead!

Off to Snow Town!

After initial greetings, everyone soon became drowsy. Our son, having taken motion sickness medicine, was also sleepy. The car grew quiet.

We were 45 km from Snow Valley! The car stopped briefly for a break. Everyone got out to stretch and enjoy the scenery—a warm-up for the journey ahead. We passed a birch forest. The driver, reading my mind, stopped. The advantage of not being on a tour group was obvious—this freedom was what I had prepared so hard for!

After a long, tiring ride, we finally arrived at Snow Town—excited!

Walking into Snow Town, I felt a thrill.

This shop was Room No. 1 in a certain episode of "Where Are We Going, Dad?" Actor Wu Xiubo also filmed a show there. It now looks a bit run down. I didn't go inside, just took a photo outside.

Below are the most typical scenes of Snow Town. Day and night offer distinctly different beauty, worth getting up early and staying up late to capture the best shots.

I suddenly shivered, as if I could feel those colorful frozen persimmons turning into rectangular red bricks flying at my forehead... Then various airborne props flew toward each other's heads—a scene of carnage... I instinctively touched my forehead...

"Frozen persimmons, 15 yuan per jin, cheap... Want to try?" A young vendor's shout brought me back to reality. I nodded, gave him a knowing look, and walked away, leaving him confused in the wind. The dark ones on the right are frozen pears. Friends who had been here recommended trying them. I didn't that day but tried them in Snow Valley. Did you spot a frozen persimmon among them? Barbecuing outdoors in the snow—unbelievable. Up close, all ingredients were frozen solid. Even if cooked, within a minute after taking it, it would be cold and hard again!

It was completely dark by 4:30 PM. I felt a bit off.

But the advantage was that "nighttime" lights came on earlier, giving more time to enjoy the night view.

If you want to take many night photos of Snow Town, keeping the camera steady is a challenge. High-angle shooting points are on wooden boardwalks. Even though there are a few viewing platforms that can fit three or four tripods side by side, the crowded boardwalks make it hard to avoid bumping into your camera during exposure. Even if you avoid all human contact, the vibrations from dozens or hundreds of tourists' footsteps on the unstable boardwalk are enough to ruin your shots.

The only solution is to go early or late to avoid peak crowds. Then you'll surely get good results.

After finishing these shots around 9 PM, my wife called to ask if I was coming back and whether I had bought the sugar-coated hawthorns I promised our son. I immediately panicked, packed my camera, and hurried back. At a small stall near the end of the street, I scanned the code to pay and, holding this "precious gourd," rushed back to the room!

Opening the door, I found our son already asleep after eating just one hawthorn stick. The room's heat had covered the cold hawthorn stick with condensation, and the red sugar coating was beginning to melt. My wife and I decided to eat the weakening hawthorn stick quickly. And then—an unexpected treat! The once-hard sugar coating had softened but retained some crunch, perfectly complementing the tangy sweet hawthorn and the slightly icy texture of the frozen hawthorn. It simply and directly conquered my taste buds.

We were very satisfied. After washing up, we lay in bed looking at our phones and soon fell asleep.

Yangcao Mountain's highest peak is Camel Peak, at 1235 meters above sea level. It connects Snow Town and Snow Valley and is one of Snow Town's most beautiful spots.

It gets its name from the few trees and abundant grass at the top. Because of its height and sparse trees, the views are wide open, making it an excellent place for sunrise and sunset.

Today we had to walk 15 km over Yangcao Mountain to Snow Valley on the other side (including 5 km of snow sliding). To avoid slowing down fellow travelers, we couldn't be too slow, so our concern for our son grew.

We gathered for breakfast at 7 AM and set off precisely at 7:30.

As we walked, either my son sped up or I slowed down by stopping to take photos, I found he was ahead of me. A cool back view—another photo I really like.

Soon I was panting. My son sat on the sled while mom pulled him, but it wasn't effective—pulling uphill was hard work. Most importantly, in cold weather, you need some physical activity to keep warm. Sitting still can easily make you catch a chill. Soon he was playing again, enjoying himself endlessly. Some slopes were quite steep and icy; he couldn't control himself, so we had to hold his hand.

The weather was excellent. Tall trees on both sides lined up as if to welcome us ceremoniously. Our little guy gritted his teeth and persisted. Though he sometimes stopped to say he was too tired and wanted me to carry him, I refused, saying, "With your current energy, Dad believes you can walk the whole way by yourself."

At a steep slope, our son didn't know the technique of sidestepping. He slipped multiple times. I watched from the side, believing he could handle it. After passing the steep slope, he gave me a proud look back. Seeing mom leaning forward, struggling to pull the sled, you know that steep section wasn't easy. You should be proud of yourself.

After the struggle came a reward. Nature offered its gifts. Our companions spotted a woodpecker in the forest ahead and called us. There it was. Though far away, we could see its outline, the rhythmic pecking, and hear the "dong dong dong" sound. That was a new experience for my son.

We reached a viewing platform. The wind was strong, stinging our faces. My wife and son had already gone to the rest stop ahead. I went up to the platform with my companions. The view suddenly opened up. Shivering, I pulled out my phone, opened the panoramic camera mode, and swept it around to get this shot. Worth it!

Looking back, if we had climbed early for sunrise, this would have been the best spot.

Xueyun Mountain Villa—a poetic name, like something out of a martial arts novel. It's a rest stop for hikers, serving milk tea (the instant kind—no boba or fancy types), instant noodles, sausages, hot water, etc. Prices are very reasonable given the location. So you don't need to carry a lot of food.

This was also a checkpoint for the crossing. The uphill part ended here. Next was the 5 km thrilling "No. 1 Snow Slide in the World," followed by a 5 km downhill walk.

When we learned we were the first batch of the winter to officially experience the No. 1 Snow Slide on Yangcao Mountain, everyone cheered. It's better to be lucky than early.

For warmth and to prevent snow from getting in under the clothes during the fast slide, all participants were asked to put on ultra-high-waist shabby-looking pants and tie them tight. Looking at my wife's figure from behind, I felt more grounded. Seeing the trendy large hole in her pants and the perfectly matching patchwork, I suddenly thought of the stylish beggar known for his catwalk. It reminded me of the luxury brand bag that looks like a migrant worker's sack—not without reason.

A special note: the 5 km snow slide is a paid activity with certain requirements. Evaluate your ability. Also, children under 1.4 meters must be accompanied by a professional guide. That means you need to hire a snow slide coach to take your child down; parents are not allowed to take their children.

The coach fee was 100 yuan. I paid without hesitation. Compared to horse-drawn carriages or snowmobiles costing hundreds, this was worthwhile, and such a long snow slide experience is rare.

Here, we saw many horse-drawn carriages. You could choose to ride one, but we insisted on walking. The downhill road was easier, without the uphill strain or the thrill of the high-speed snow slide. We leisurely followed others toward Snow Valley.

We finally reached Snow Valley, completing the full 15 km. Suddenly, exhaustion hit hard. I just wanted to lie down and stretch out.

We arrived at Xiangsi Snow Valley Inn. The bright red sign made us very happy. The inn was right by the road, easy to find. Truly great. Our family of three stayed in a large kang bed—a cozy northeast life.

Lunch was devoured. Mother Cui's cooking was quite good.

After walking half a day, we were exhausted. We ate and went to sleep.

After a long nap, we woke up at dusk. Seeing a bonfire party nearby, we couldn't miss it.

After a night's rest, I recovered much of my energy. I got up early and went out for a walk alone. First, to experience the real northern village atmosphere; second, to scout the terrain and get familiar with the village layout.

Although Snow Valley also has many family inns, it's different from Snow Town's commercialization. Many locals still live in Snow Valley. There are piles of firewood, coal stoves, shovels, and other daily tools in the yards. In the morning, villagers go out to sweep snow and do chores. Snow Town and Snow Valley have completely different atmospheres and appearances, and I was fortunate to explore both. Both bring beautiful memories.

Without the morning hustle of tourists and the frantic opening of street stalls in Snow Town, Snow Valley was exceptionally peaceful. Even though I tried to walk softly, I could clearly hear the crunch of snow under my feet. The village I stayed in was small. A few steps took me to the ice amusement park. After crossing a bridge and standing on a high point, everything looked perfectly beautiful. Perhaps influenced by TV shows, when I think of a northern village, this image comes to mind—white snow, thick snow on sloping roofs, and bright red brick walls standing out.

Snow Valley Ski Resort was essentially a large gentle slope covered with snow. Our family was skiing for the first time, so this environment was perfect. There was a large ski area, enthusiastic and reliable staff, professional equipment, and—most precious—no pushy ski instructors, unlike other big ski resorts. With only about a dozen skiers throughout the morning, the resort manager not only helped each of us choose ski boots, skis, and poles but also taught us how to ski. He hand-in-hand taught my son—truly appreciated!

Happy times passed quickly. At noon, we returned to Harbin.

Today was the last day of the trip. Our flight was at 4:30 PM, so we had the morning free. Exploring the old alleys in Daowai District, finding Chinese Baroque architecture, and visiting century-old restaurants was an excellent plan.

Daowai's history is Harbin's history.

Since 1746, large numbers of Han and Manchu people migrated here, forming a settled village.

During the Qianlong period, "Fu Family Shop" appeared, later becoming "Fu Family Town." In 1905, it was officially named Daowai District.

Daowai's history is the story of Harbin's urban development, documenting the city's rise and glory.

To understand Harbin, you need more than Central Street and Sophia Church. You should start with Daowai.

Our hotel was in Daowai District. The street outside was a food street, very lively at night.

From reading travelogues, I learned that in recent years, Daowai District has undergone unified planning, demolishing many culturally rich buildings and replacing stone roads with asphalt.

Now, entering this old street, looking up at this huge signboard, it seemed out of place. This shop is a must-visit in almost all Harbin food guides—its status comparable to Shanghai's Nanxiang steamed buns or Tianjin's Goubuli buns.

Hongguang Wonton Shop—a renowned small eatery. Its specialties are wonton and huoshao (a type of baked roll). In addition, they offer sausages, ox tongue root, tendons, pork brain, pork shoulder, etc. This guy selling sugar-coated hawthorns looked impressive. Our son was attracted by several rare varieties—green grapes and a thin, long fruit resembling blueberries.

With this, our trip ended.

Travelogue Directory:

1. Foreword

2. About the Itinerary

3. About Luggage

4. About Clothing

5. About Accommodation

6. About Photography

7. Day 1: Flight to Harbin

8. Day 2: Volga Manor

9. Day 4: Depart for Snow Town

10. Day 5: Crossing from Snow Town to Snow Valley