Harbin + Yabuli + Snow Town + Hengdaohezi Town: A 6-Day, 5-Night Winter Dream in Heilongjiang

In the autumn of 2020, a group of friends and I set off from Fuyuan, the easternmost point of China, driving along the G331 China-Russia border highway all the way north to Mohe, the northernmost point of China.

At that time, we all felt a little regretful, wondering when we would have the chance to see Heilongjiang's ice and snow.

What you long for will eventually come to you.

More than a year later, this winter, I finally returned here. Harbin, Yabuli, Snow Town... The world of white snow gave me a romantic and dreamlike holiday.

【Stop 1】Harbin

Recommended attractions: Central Street, Sofia Cathedral, Ice and Snow World, Sun Island Snow Expo, the popular giant snowman

Suggested stay: 2-3 days

Harbin, the ice city in the north, is a city with a natural romantic aura. Its rich history gives it a diverse and inclusive cultural heritage, making people feel relaxed and comfortable.

The Songhua River, which runs through the city, is completely covered with ice and snow in winter, becoming a unique scenic line.

Central Street by the river gathers over a hundred old European-style buildings, bearing traces of the vicissitudes of time.

Walking on the cobblestone road, watching birds fly across the sky, eating a Modern ice cream bar, waiting for the glow of lights at dusk, searching for ice sculptures on street corners... Here, time seems to slow down.

At the end of the street are Stalin Park and the Zhongdong Railway Bridge, which you can visit in your spare time.

Sofia Cathedral is near Central Street. This church is influenced by Byzantine style and has a Russian onion dome, making it magnificent and elegant.

Whether at sunrise or when the lights come on at night, it is exceptionally romantic.

Ice and Snow World is a must-visit in Harbin every winter. It is crystal clear by day and brilliantly colorful by night.

This year's ice sculptures are themed around the Winter Olympics, including the main tower "Summit of the Sacred Flame," five-ring mazes, castle palaces, giant slides... Such a joyful world of ice and snow!

The Sun Island International Snow Sculpture Art Expo is now in its 34th year.

We arrived in the evening, and before us was a world of pink and jade. If you don't have time to see everything like us, don't miss the main snow sculpture, the Winter Olympics mascot.

The giant snowman sculpture at the Music Corridor of Qunli Music Park is this year's must-visit internet celebrity spot.

I added it to my list before coming. When I got off the car and saw it standing by the river in the night, wearing a red scarf and smiling innocently, all my unhappiness vanished. It was truly healing.

【Stop 2】Yabuli

Recommended attractions: Ski resort, Yabuli Entrepreneurs' Permanent Site, Yabuli Panda House

Suggested stay: At least 1 day

Yabuli is only an hour away from Harbin by high-speed train, making it a backyard for Harbin locals.

Thanks to its unique geographical conditions, it is a ski paradise in winter, with top domestic ski resorts and slopes. Whether you are a professional or a beginner, you can find a suitable way here.

Take the cable car to the mountaintop to overlook the vast mountains, then rush down to enjoy speed and passion.

At this moment of skiing, it's just you and the world.

When leaving the ski resort, I was attracted by a super-designed building by the roadside.

This is the permanent site of the Yabuli Entrepreneurs Forum. Its exterior looks like a butterfly breaking out of its cocoon, while the interior features warm wood tones and simple, smooth lines, creating a very artistic atmosphere in this white world.

I have seen pandas in many zoos, but only today did I learn that Yabuli has a panda house.

This is the panda house with the highest latitude, the northernmost location, and the lowest temperature in China. It houses two cute national treasures: Youyou and Sijia.

If you have children, be sure to visit them here!

If you have time, I recommend experiencing a horse-drawn sleigh nearby.

Riding this primitive mode of transportation deep into the snowy forest, visiting farmyards, and exploring "bandit caves" is very interesting.

【Stop 3】Snow Town

Recommended attractions: Snow Town, Yaxue Highway, Da Dingzi Mountain

Suggested stay: 1-2 days

Due to the influence of cold air from Lake Baikal and warm, humid air from the Sea of Japan, Snow Town has a snow season lasting up to 7 months, with snowfall reaching 2 meters.

The snow falls layer by layer on the roofs, turning the houses into mushroom-shaped little snow huts, like a dreamy fairy tale world.

Xueyun Street is the main street of Snow Town, with hotels, inns, restaurants, and shops on both sides, selling northeastern specialties like frozen pears at the door.

Dreamland Home is the filming location for many movies and TV shows, concentrating the most characteristic scenery of Snow Town.

Climb the wooden boardwalk at the foot of the mountain; the observation deck here is the best place to overlook the mushroom-shaped wooden houses.

After nightfall, red lanterns light up, and the ice and snow fairy tale world becomes colorful under the lights. The snow mushrooms also turn colorful.

You can also try the experience of throwing boiling water into the air to create ice crystals amid the myriad lights—this was what I looked forward to most in Snow Town, haha~

Besides Snow Town itself, don't miss the road leading here: the Yaxue Highway.

This scenic road is stunningly beautiful, dressed in silver as if in a fairyland.

On the way, you can stop at Yaxue Post to hike through the Ice and Snow Gallery, where trees are covered in rime, dreamlike and picturesque, seeming like heaven on earth.

Or go to the first peak of the "Three Great Mountains of Heilongjiang," Da Dingzi Mountain, to feel the speed and passion of snowmobiles charging to the top, and enjoy the vast sky and mountains from the summit.

【Stop 4】Hengdaohezi

Recommended attractions: Old Locomotive Shed and Running Shed Site, Holy Mother of the Entrance Church, Northeast China Tiger Park

Suggested stay: 1 day

On the way back from Snow Town to Yabuli, we passed through Hengdaohezi Town. This is a century-old town that developed due to the construction of the Chinese Eastern Railway, with a long history and Russian cultural influences.

One Chinese Eastern Railway tells half the history of Northeast China.

The Chinese Eastern Railway building complex in Hengdaohezi preserves the marks of the Russians building and operating the railway in China. Many century-old buildings are full of Russian style and are now mostly protected structures.

The town has now been developed into a historical and cultural town with seven high-quality scenic areas, five major functional features, strong European continental atmosphere, and distinctive northern folk customs.

First, we went to the old Locomotive Shed and Running Shed Site, built between 1900 and 1935. The Russian-style locomotive shed houses several old steam locomotives and is the main filming location for the movie "3D Taking of Tiger Mountain."

With its strong industrial vibe, it is also great for portrait photography.

Holy Mother of the Entrance Church is the only well-preserved all-wooden Orthodox church along the Chinese Eastern Railway. With dark wood and dark green colors and a golden onion dome, it is very beautiful.

Inside, the church houses the Chinese Eastern Railway Museum, displaying over 600 artifacts, drawings, Russian furniture, etc. The old floorboards creak underfoot, and sunlight pours through wooden windows, making you feel like traveling back in time.

Not far from the town, the Hengdaohezi Northeast China Tiger Park has the world's largest population of Siberian tigers, making it a great place for children to visit.

The feline breeding base here was established in 1986. From an initial 12 Siberian tigers, they have bred over 1,100, making great contributions to protecting Siberian tigers and the natural ecological balance. I deeply admire their work.

Upon entering the park, you first take a caged vehicle into the Siberian tiger free-range area, where you can see many tigers strolling and resting leisurely. Occasionally, they come curiously to the cage to observe us inside.

Then, you can continue along the walking path, with Siberian tigers, lions, and leopards in enclosures on both sides.

This 6-day, 5-night white journey, with poetic scenery at every stop, fulfilled all my winter dreams of an ice and snow fairy tale. It will bring me satisfaction and healing for a long, long time to come.