The Best Time-Saving and Reasonable Itinerary for the Most Beautiful Snow Town in 2020

Harbin. Visit St. Sophia Cathedral, separated from Central Street by Shangzhi Street, about 15 minutes walk. Along Central Street, various specialty snacks: Made'er ice pops, big Russian bread, various flavored candied hawthorns, Old Chef's Guo Bao Rou. Visit the Flood Control Monument at the end of Central Street, next to the Songhua River. There are ice and snow amusement activities; bargain in advance when playing. Visit the Harbin Ice and Snow World, which opens around December 25. Suggest taking Didi taxi there. For lunch, ate at Lao Chang Spring Pancakes, one branch on Zhaolin Street; there are many chain stores, just choose the nearest. Ordered spring pancakes and their recommended signature dishes; the taste was okay. In the evening, went to Portman Western Restaurant, located near the intersection of Central Street and West Seventh Street. The restaurant has very distinctive decoration—recommended! Snow Valley: The drive from Harbin to Snow Valley takes 5 hours, departing at 6 AM. Arranged a shared ride in advance through the Snow Valley inn; the driver contacted me the day before to confirm the time and place. Near Snow Valley, there is a long stretch of icy road that only allows one car to pass. It was quite tense, but learning that the driver had been driving for over 20 years put me at ease. We arrived at Snow Valley at noon, and the driver dropped us off at the inn's door! The landlady of Liu Er Family Inn in Snow Valley was very warm, making us feel at home. After having Northeast dumplings at the inn for lunch, we hurried out to play! We went to the Yushuangling Amusement Park, located in an uninhabited area with heavy snow and beautiful scenery, 30 km from Snow Valley. If you want to go, just tell the inn owner; the owner will call the amusement park to arrange a car to pick you up—a 1-hour drive. Skiing, snow tubes, snow dragon boat, and self-driving snowmobiles—all unlimited time! 400 RMB per person, great value, and includes pickup and drop-off. So much fun! The landlady cooked fresh big live fish caught from an ice hole for dinner, plus wild vegetables and mushrooms she picked from the mountain—all natural! Braised fish, fried wild vegetables, chicken stewed with mushrooms. The landlady's cooking skills were amazing—we finished everything. After dinner, we strolled around the small street. The street wasn't big, but it was decorated with many red lanterns, very festive, like a holiday! When we returned, the landlady also prepared frozen persimmons and frozen pears for us! Don't buy these outside; they are expensive. We slept on the warm Northeast heated kang at night—super comfortable. Be careful when choosing transportation; the road conditions are poor and not everyone can drive. It's important to find an experienced local driver. Safety first when traveling. I had compared several Snow Valley accommodations before; prices varied a bit. After all, the standards for included meals differ. I think Er Qing's place is very reasonable! The rooms were clean. When going out to play, wear waterproof fabric pants and waterproof gloves. Hats, masks, and scarves are essential. Don't wear a down jacket that is too long; it's inconvenient for skiing. If you don't wear high-top snow boots, bring gaiters to prevent snow from getting into your shoes, and wear thick socks. Bring a thermos with hot water. Bring some hand warmers to stick on your phone to prevent it from shutting down due to cold, and also for areas that need warmth. In Snow Town, the temperature is even colder than in downtown Harbin. It's recommended to bring hot chocolate, compressed biscuits, etc., to replenish energy at any time. Homestays in Snow Town usually offer services related to entertainment activities, including horse-drawn carriage transfers to nearby attractions, snow drifting experiences, and rental of outdoor equipment. Electronic device batteries tend to shut down automatically in low temperatures. It's recommended to keep your phone in a warm place inside your down jacket or backpack. When taking photos, be quick. DSLR and mirrorless cameras are somewhat better but still need warmth. Apart from essential warm clothing, be sure to bring a thermos! When you're freezing outdoors, a sip of hot water can revive you.