Complete Guide to Chasing the Aurora in Mohe: China’s Only Arctic Fairy Tale Scene

Complete Guide to Chasing the Aurora in Mohe: China’s Only Arctic Fairy Tale Scene
Squatting in minus 40°C for a sea of pink-green light, I waited at the border line for the first aurora of 2025.
Do you believe it?
On the northernmost snowfield in China,
I waited for three nights and finally saw that ghostly light.
It rose from the horizon, like green silk swirling in the night sky, suddenly bursting into pink and purple ripples.
At that moment, I knelt in the snow and cried.
Not sentimental, but the instinctive trembling of a human facing the universe.
📍This is Mohe City, China
At 53°N latitude, facing Russia across the river,
the only place in China where you can see the aurora.
From December to February each year, as long as the night is dark enough and the magnetic field is active enough,
this silent snowfield will be illuminated by light from solar storms.

This is not Finland, nor Iceland,
this is our own edge of the Earth.
🌌Best time: mid-December to early February
✅ Longest nights around the winter solstice (17 hours of darkness = more chances to observe)
✅ High clear-sky rate, transparent air, almost zero light pollution
✅ Increased aurora activity, especially during solar activity peaks
⚠️ Tip: The aurora is unpredictable! It’s recommended to stay at least 3 nights to increase your chances.

🧣Must-read before you go｜Life-saving warmth guide
-Four-layer dressing rule
Thermal underwear + fleece + down vest + long, thick down coat (length past the knees)
Three layers for pants: thermal leggings + wool pants + windproof ski pants
Shoes must be high-top, non-slip snow boots (UGG style or mountaineering grade) with warm insoles
Face mask + knit hat + waterproof gloves set, or your ears will freeze in minutes
-Keep your phone and camera close! They will automatically shut down after 5 minutes in low temperatures

🗺️Four-day essential itinerary So off-the-beaten-path even GPS gets lost

Day 1: Arrive in Mohe, check in at China’s northernmost village, eat your first frozen meal
Fly to Harbin → transfer by train/bus to Mohe Station (even hard seats are worth it! Window views of endless snowy forests)
🏡 Stay at **Arctic Village wooden cabin guesthouses (recommended Aurora Home or Snowy Orion), with heating + private bathroom
📍Check in at:
Northernmost Post Office: send a postcard to your future self
Northernmost Outpost: watch PLA soldiers stand guard in the wind and snow
Arctic Sandbar: take a photo with the China Arctic Point monument
🍽 Dinner: iron pot stewed river fish + sauerkraut pork + frozen pear platter
My thought: The words “northernmost” are not just geographic coordinates, but a kind of lonely romance.

Day 2: Deep into the Daxing’anling wilderness, snow trekking by day, aurora watching by night
🌲 Daytime: hike through pristine white birch forest, look for wild animal tracks (roe deer, fox, moose)
🐍 Afternoon: visit Oroqen hunter tents, listen to elders tell the “bear totem” legend
🌃 Night: drive to a light-pollution-free observation spot (guide takes you to secret locations)
Set up a tent or sit in a heated snow cabin
Use long exposure on your camera to capture aurora trails
If luck is on your side, witness the green curtain suddenly explode into purple-red waves!
When the aurora sounds, no one speaks, only shutter clicks and breaths echo.
It’s like the universe sending us a secret code.

Day 3: Longjiang First Bend + Ice Wedding Square｜Shoot a set of ultra-cold photos
☀ Daytime:
Climb the lookout tower to overlook the S-shaped ice bay of the Heilongjiang River, like a silver dragon coiled
Wear a red cloak to take photos at the ice wedding square, with the China-Russia border marker in the background
Experience horse-drawn sledding, racing across the snowfield like the opening of Game of Thrones
🍷 Evening: gather around the stove, drink blueberry wine, listen to locals tell “aurora stories”
In the 1980s, some elders said if they saw red cloth floating in the sky, a heavy snowstorm would come the next day—that was an aurora warning

Day 4: Last strike before departure｜Make a wish at the Aurora Lighthouse
🕯 Book the aurora wishing ceremony in advance (only open in winter)
Write your wish on a wooden lighthouse and hang it on the rope
Light a pine torch and silently recite your wish to the starry sky
The guide says: wishes made here are more likely to be heard by the stars.

💰Per person budget: 5200 RMB (cheaper if two travel together)
Item Cost
Round-trip transportation 1500 RMB
4 nights accommodation 800 RMB
Meals 600 RMB
Tickets + experiences 700 RMB
Guide + aurora observation 600 RMB
Souvenirs + emergencies 500 RMB
Reserve fund 500 RMB

✅ With good control, you can keep it under 5000 RMB!

📸Photo tips:
Camera settings: Manual mode, F2.8, ISO 1600, shutter 10-20 seconds
Night mode on phones can also capture light bands
Wear bright colors (red, yellow, white), very eye-catching in the snow
📌One last honest word:
Many say the aurora is unpredictable,
But I’d rather wait three nights in minus 40°C,
Just for that one minute when my heart stops.

Because when you see the universe’s light travel 200 million kilometers to your eyes,
You’ll understand
What’s worth pursuing in life is never the hustle and bustle,
But those moments that suddenly make you quiet.

👉 Next stop, I’ll take you to Hulunbuir snowfield to ride horses chasing wolf tracks,
But this time, I want to ask you first:
How long has it been since you last looked up at a real starry sky?