Not Nara! Northeast hides a 21℃ summer retreat for kids, a 3-day 2-night forest fairy tale adventure with children

📍 This is Yichun, China’s only “Forest City”
🌳 With an 83.3% forest coverage acting as natural air conditioning, the average temperature in July is 21℃, more comfortable than air conditioning!
🦌 Thousands of wild deer frolic in the forest, more natural than Nara, no crowds～
💦 Waterfalls and streams flow through the woods, Nordic-style wooden houses hide in the red pine forest, every photo with kids looks like a fairy tale blockbuster!

🚗 3-day 2-night kid-friendly itinerary: easy, relaxing, and photogenic

DAY 1: Get close to the deer · Chase a forest sunrise

✅ Jinshan Deer Park (Entrance 45 RMB)
The “Little Nara” of Northeast China! Thousands of sika deer roam the grasslands and streams. Bring a bag of carrots to feed them; the deer will gently nuzzle your palm for food, super healing～
👉 Tip: Go at 5 AM or 5 PM to catch the feeding time when the deer gather most, perfect for photos without empty shots!

✅ Jinzu Peak (Entrance 40 RMB)
Hike at 3 AM to catch the sea of clouds sunrise! The wooden plank trail is gentle and easy, kids can easily reach the top. Sunlight filters through the trees creating beautiful light spots, like stepping into a picture book～

✅ Maolan Valley (Entrance 80 RMB)
The “Little Jiuzhaigou of the East” lives up to its name! Babbling streams and splashing waterfalls, the water in Heilong Pool is cool and refreshing, perfect for kids to splash around and beat the heat～

DAY 2: Explore the primeval forest · Encounter amazing stones

✅ Tangwang River Forest Sea Strange Stones (Entrance 88 RMB)
A natural oxygen bar with 98.8% forest coverage! Strange stones and bizarre rocks hide in the forest sea. The wonder of “trees growing on stones” is stunning. Hike with kids to breathe fresh air, rest on wooden benches and listen to birdsong～

✅ Wuying National Forest Park (Entrance 60 RMB)
Asia’s largest red pine forest is here! Ride a vintage train through the woods, you might spot jumping chipmunks. It’s a great way to teach kids about pine trees up close～

DAY 3: Fairy tale wooden houses · A slow and healthy trip

✅ Shangganling Creek Park (Entrance 68 RMB)
A forest secret full of negative oxygen ions! Russian-style wooden houses hide among green trees. Walking on the boardwalk feels like entering a fairy tale. Kids can collect pine cones and listen to the stream, so relaxing～

✅ Jiufeng Mountain Yangxin Valley (Entrance 30 RMB)
A family-friendly attraction! You can go rafting and take forest baths. The mountaintop “Sky Mirror” reflects the whole family’s image, overlooking the forest sea for amazing photos. Kids run and play without getting tired～

🍽️ Must-eat with kids: natural forest delicacies

- Wild vegetable tender shoots: refreshing in salad or scrambled eggs, slightly bitter then sweet, a wild vegetable flavor kids can accept～
- Chicken stewed with mushrooms: wild forest mushrooms + free-range chicken slow-cooked, the broth is so fragrant you’ll lick the plate, a warm bowl to soothe the stomach～
- Blueberry ice dessert: made from local wild blueberries, sweet, sour, and refreshing, perfect for cooling down after a day of exploring!

🚆 Transportation guide: hassle-free travel with kids

- Train: About 4 hours direct from Harbin to Yichun Station, or get off at Nancha Station or Jinshantun Station, then a 10-minute taxi to the attractions～
- Self-drive: About 5 hours from Harbin, the Wudai Highway along the way is stunning (one of China’s top ten most beautiful roads), kids won’t get bored watching the scenery from the car～

📌 Kid-friendly tips: avoid pitfalls & be prepared

- Big temperature difference between morning and evening! Bring a light jacket + long pants, avoid shorts (for mosquito and branch protection)～
- Stay near Tangwang River or Wuying, close to attractions, no need to get up early to rush～
- Best time: June to September for summer cooling, late September to early October to see the “Five-Flower Mountain” autumn colors, perfect for kids to enjoy the colorful forest!