First time traveling to Harbin! Follow this guide to avoid any pitfalls!

Who knows! From Harbin's Snowy Sophia Cathedral to the red lanterns of Snow Town, then to Changbai Mountain's Heavenly Lake and Yanji's Korean cuisine aroma, this trip fills winter with romance❄️

👜 Travel Essentials
✅ Clothing: Long waterproof down jacket, fleece-lined pants, high-top anti-slip snow boots, touchscreen waterproof gloves, and a Lei Feng hat to protect your ears
✅ Must-haves: Heat packs (for body and phone), ice cleats (for snow traction), sunglasses (to prevent snow blindness)
✅ Others: High-moisture face cream + lip balm, high-capacity power bank, stomach medicine, carry some cash (weak signal in mountainous areas)

🚥 Transportation Guide
✈️ Major transport: Fly into Harbin and out of Yanji, no backtracking, direct flights to both airports are more convenient
🚘 Car rental: Choose a reputable cross-city fleet, 5-seat SUV costs about 600-800 RMB/day, vehicles must have snow tires, the road from Snow Town to Changbai Mountain is mountainous, avoid unlicensed cars

📝 Itinerary Overview
👉 Day 1: Gather in Harbin → Central Street → Sophia Cathedral → Stay in Harbin
👉 Day 2: Harbin → Yabuli Ski Resort → Horse-drawn sled → Stay in Yabuli
👉 Day 3: Yaxue Highway → Datudingzi Mountain → Ice and Snow Gallery → Stay in Snow Town
👉 Day 4: Snow Town → Xueyun Street → Jingpo Lake Winter Fishing → Stay in Erdaobaihe
👉 Day 5: Changbai Mountain Heavenly Lake → Green Pool → Hot Springs → Stay in Erdaobaihe
👉 Day 6: Demon Realm Rafting → Yanji Folk Culture Park → Popular Bullet Screen Wall → Stay in Yanji
👉 Day 7: Yanji → Water Market → Return from Yanji/Harbin/Changchun

🏡 Accommodation Recommendations
🔶 Harbin: Near Central Street, walking distance to Sophia Cathedral, convenient for shopping and dining
🔶 Snow Town: Xueyun Street heated kang bed guesthouse, red lanterns with snowy scenery create a great atmosphere, book 30 days in advance
🔶 Changbai Mountain: Erdaobaihe hot spring hotel, soaking in outdoor pools while watching the snow is super healing
🔶 Yanji: Guesthouses near Yanji University, walking distance to the popular wall and food street

🍲 Food List
🍱 Harbin: Old Chef’s Guobaorou (sweet and sour pork), Madie’er popsicles, iron pot stewed goose
🍱 Snow Town: Frozen pears, candied hawthorn sticks, grilled little dumb chicken
🍱 Changbai Mountain: Hot spring boiled eggs (egg whites like jelly), Korean ethnic rice cakes
🍱 Yanji: Jeonju bibimbap, Fengmao grilled skewers, Water Market rice sausage, kimchi makes a great souvenir

⚠️ Notes
1. Best time to view Changbai Mountain Heavenly Lake is 10 AM to 1 PM, buy tickets 7 days in advance via the official WeChat, opening depends on weather
2. Ask prices before spending in Snow Town, renting snow gear is more cost-effective than buying, accommodations provide disposable items
3. No photos allowed in Yanji Folk Culture Park without permission, the popular wall is free for photos and very photogenic, lights off at 10 PM
4. Walk like a penguin on snow, do not enter undeveloped areas, there may be ice cracks under the snow

Keep this guide handy and make this winter a snowy rendezvous in the North!