Experience the Joy of -20°C in Harbin!

Southerners, charge ahead! Experience the joy of -20°C in Harbin! Who can relate? From Russian-style churches to fairytale snow houses, from the sacred Changbai Mountain to Korean-style fireworks, the winter in Northeast China is the epitome of romance✨. Here's a no-frills, pure guide—just copy and go!

🧳 Travel Essentials
🧥 Core Warmth: A 300g+ long down coat, fleece-lined ski pants, high-top anti-slip snow boots, two pairs of wool socks, and heated insoles.
🧤 Detailed Protection: Touchscreen waterproof gloves, earflap hats, windproof masks, and plenty of hand warmers/foot warmers—stick them inside your clothes and on your phone for extra utility.
👜 Others: High-SPF sunscreen, lip balm (to prevent dryness), two power banks (batteries drain quickly in the cold), a snowproof camera cover, and don’t forget a swimsuit for hot springs.

🚥 Transportation Guide
✈️ Major Transport: Fly into Harbin Taiping Airport and out from Yanji Chaoyangchuan Airport for the most efficient route with no backtracking.
🚘 Local Transport: Opt for private car rentals or small group tours between cities. Harbin to Snow Town takes about 4 hours, and Changbai Mountain to Yanji is just 1 hour. Snowy roads are safer and more convenient this way.

📅 Itinerary Overview
👉 Day 1: Arrive in Harbin → Central Avenue → St. Sophia Cathedral → Stay in Harbin
👉 Day 2: Harbin → Yabuli Ski Resort → Horse-drawn sled ride → Stay in Yabuli
👉 Day 3: Yabuli to Snow Town Highway → Datudingzi Mountain → Ice and Snow Gallery → Stay in Snow Town
👉 Day 4: Snow Town → Snow Charm Street → Jingpo Lake Winter Fishing → Stay in Erdaobaihe
👉 Day 5: Changbai Mountain Heavenly Lake → Green Deep Pool → Hot Springs → Stay in Erdaobaihe
👉 Day 6: Moguai River Drift → Yanji Folk Culture Park → Internet-famous Wall of Comments → Stay in Yanji
👉 Day 7: Yanji → Water Market → Return from Yanji/Harbin/Changchun

🏨 Accommodation Recommendations
🏡 Harbin: Stay near Anning Street or Aijian Road for better value and proximity to the subway, compared to Central Avenue.
🏡 Snow Town: Book a guesthouse inside the scenic area in advance. Snow Charm Holiday Hotel is in the core area, right next to the iconic snow mushrooms.
🏡 Changbai Mountain: Stay in Erdaobaihe Town near the North Slope. Blue View Hot Spring Hotel offers outdoor snow hot springs.
🏡 Yanji: Stay near Yanbian University for convenient access to food and shopping. You can walk to popular spots like Quanzhou Bibimbap and Grandma Yuan’s Rice Wraps.

😋 Food Recommendations
🍱 Harbin: Lao Chu Jia’s sweet and sour pork, and eating a Madieer ice cream at -20°C is a must.
🍱 Snow Town: Iron pot stewed goose with corn pancakes, and sticky bean buns dipped in sugar.
🍱 Changbai Mountain: Ginseng chicken soup to warm up, and iron pot stews made with local cold-water fish are incredibly fresh.
🍱 Yanji: Street-side grilled cold noodles, army stew, and freshly made rice cakes at the West Market are must-tries.

⚠️ Tips
1. Changbai Mountain Heavenly Lake is often closed in winter; check real-time weather before heading out. Hold on tight in strong winds.
2. Always ask for prices in Snow Town, and buy souvenirs at Yanji’s West Market for better deals than at tourist spots.
3. Beginners should hire a ski instructor (around 200 RMB/hour) to avoid injuries.
4. Stick hand warmers to your phone and power banks to prevent them from freezing and shutting down.