China Snow Town – Amazing Winter Fairy Tale World in North China

Written by Clementine | Updated February 28,2026

In the junction of Zhangguangcai Mountain and Laoye Mountain of the Changbai Mountain range hides a dreamy fairy tale world – China Snow Town, the full name called “China Snow Town National Forest Park”. It covers an area of 17,916 hectares and is 1,100 meters above sea level. The snow here is pure white, fluffy and highly sticky. After accumulating on the continuous wooden houses, it forms various shapes of snow landscapes like “snow mushrooms”, “snow cakes” and drooping “snow tongues”, creating an ice and snow fairyland. At dusk, the big red lanterns hanging in front of every house are lit up, infusing this pure world with a warm and lively atmosphere. Tourists will feel in an elaborate film, making it one of the best winter destinations in China and a hot tourist attraction for a Harbin tour.

There are many scenic spots in China Snow Town, such as primary forest scenic spot, sea wave river drift scenic spot, pear flower village scenic spot, two waves river scenic spot, farm courtyard, film and television base, snow culture exhibition hall, Yangcao Mountain, big snow valley and so on. The beautiful and white snow changes with the wind, and is attractive and charming.

Content Preview

• Basic Travel Information for Visitors
• Top Things to Do in China Snow Town: Attractions & Activities
• Transportation: How to Get to
• Accommodation in China Snow Town
• Practical Tips for a Memorable Visit
• FAQs about China Snow Town
• Plan Your Harbin Tour with China Xian Tour

Basic Travel Information for Visitors

• Location: Mudanjiang city, Heilongjiang province, China, which is about 70 kilometers away from Mudanjiang city and 280 kilometers away from Harbin
• Chinese name: 中国雪乡
• Ticket price: CNY 140 yuan (from November 1st to April 30th of the following year), CNY 70 yuan (from May 1st to October 31st)
• Opening hours: All day
• Time needed: 2 – 4 days
• Iconic scenery: “snow mushrooms”, continuous snow houses, snow reflecting the red lantern, Xueyun Street

The Weather of China Snow Town

Xuexiang is located in the area where cold air from Siberia meets warm and humid air from the Sea of Japan. As the old saying goes, “There are no more than three sunny days in summer, and snow covers the forest in winter”, with an annual snow accumulation period of up to seven months.

So, how cold does it really get in winter? The winter in Snow Town is extremely cold, with temperatures usually ranging from -20°C to -30°C. And the coldest temperature may even approach -38°C.

Why Does the town receive such incredible amounts of snow?

Snow Town is at an altitude of about 1,100 meters. The frequent intersection of the cold air of Lake Baikal and the sea warm current of the Sea of Japan leads to a large amount of snowfall. Due to the cold temperate zone continental monsoon climate, it forms a unique long and cold winter and high air humidity, so the snow period lasts for seven months (from October to May in next year) and the snow thickness can be up to 2 meters. Thus, with the heavy snowfall and high viscosity of the snow, it enjoys a great reputation as famous the “China’s snow town”.

Best Time to Visit

The best time to visit Snow Town is form December to February, when the snow is the thickest, the scenery is the most spectacular, and the festive atmosphere is the strongest. We highly recommend going to Snow Town during the Spring Festival, not only because of the beauty and charm of the snow scene, but also because of the special and traditional life customs there. During the Spring Festival, every household is decorated with lanterns, and everywhere is full of a festive mood. However, it is inevitable that the passenger flow here is very large during the Spring Festival, which may lead to an unpleasant travel experience for you.

Top Things to Do in China Snow Town: Attractions & Activities

Admire the Iconic Snow-Covered Houses

The most fascinating landscape of Snow Town is the wooden dwellings covered by the thick white snow. The thick snow on the rooftops, wooden fences and woodpiles naturally forms a variety of unique shapes and is up to 1 meter thick, especially the round and cute “snow mushrooms” and “snow eaves”. The continuous residential areas are covered with thick snow, resembling “snow houses”. Tourists can walk along Xueyun Street to appreciate the snow houses closely or go to the Bangchui Mountain sightseeing plank road to enjoy a panoramic view of the continuous snow rooftops.

Experience the Magical Night Views

When night falls, the large red lanterns hanging in front of every house are lit up. The colorful lights and the pure white snow complement each other, creating a dreamy and fairy-tale-like illusion. The “Dreamy Homeland” and nearby areas are the essence of the night scenery; do not forget to take photos.

Enjoy Snow Activities:

Besides the beautiful snow scenery, there are also abundant ice and snow entertainment activities, allowing tourists to fully enjoy the fun of the ice and snow world. The most popular and exciting projects are sledding, snowmobiling, snow tubing, dog sleds, and horse-drawn sleigh rides. With ski resorts in Snow Town, tourists can also enjoy skiing. Of course, you can make snowmen and have snowball fights just like when you were a kid.

Visit Yangcaoshan Alpine Ski Resort:

The ski resorts in the Yangcao Mountain usually have multiple ski trails of different difficulties, meeting the diverse needs of skiers from beginners to experts. There is a primary ski resort built in 1999, with 450 meters long and 50 meters wide ski runs and many sets of snow tools and towing equipment. Nowadays, the ski resort is fully equipped with many advanced tourist facilities. The national ski training base, Bayi ski team, is also located here, which has cultivated many excellent world-class skiers for the country.

Located under the ski resort, there is a snow hotel, and the small wooden building looks like a pearl dotted between the mountains and snow, which is an ideal place for you to go sightseeing and relax.

Explore the Film Set and Local Culture

Due to the unique snow scenery and customs of northeast China, Snow Town has been the shooting place of many films and television. There is also a film base where you can see the original shooting scenes and watch the performances of Northeastern folk customs.

The bandits’ den, racecourse, wooden house, trestle, hanging tower, cellar and birch forest in Snow Town have formed a primitive cultural style, which reproduces the scene in the period of suppressing bandits in northeast China. Besides, you can live in a homestay to experience the authentic local life. The heated brick bed (called “Kang” by locals) and characteristic local dishes will leave a deep impression on you. You can also send a postcard with the postmark of Snow Town from the post office.

Local performances and cultural shows

In the Snow Town Theater, a folk customs drama is performed every day, which tells the past and present of Snow Town and integrates plenty of intangible cultural heritages. There are also various performances on Xueyun Street, such as Northeast Yangko Dance, flower lantern dance, lion dance and float parade, etc. You can also join in the Yangko Dance to feel the charm and vigorous vitality of the local customs.

Photography – splendid snow scenery

Though located in the deep mountains, the Snow Town is a world-famous and popular tourist destination because many photographic works of this scenic spot have won international awards. It has the highest mountain in northern China, the densest forest, the thickest snow, the cleanest and transparent sunshine and the simplest life of lumbering workers. When you enter the China Snow Town, you will be fully attracted by the snow scenery around you. The best photography spot for the snow town is the Bangchui Mountain sightseeing plank road. You can also not miss the sunrise and sunset in Yangcao Mountain.

Practical Tips for a Memorable Visit

Recommended local delicacies in Snow Town

The cuisine of Snow Town is mainly cooked in stewing, stir-frying, roasting and other cooking methods. All the dishes are processed and cooked with the vegetables grown by the local residents, wild vegetables picked in the forest and poultry raised by the local residents. The specialties of Snow Town are eight stewed dishes, eight stir-fried dishes and others. Sitting on the fire “Kang”, people can eat delicious stewed chicken with mushrooms, braised pork with vermicelli and others. In the cafeteria of Snow Town, there are various foods for visitors to choose from, especially hot pot, barbecue.

What to Pack

1. The average temperature of Snow Town in January and February is -18.3℃ and -10.4℃,So, visitors should bring enough clothes, such as thermal underwear, a hat, a face mask, thick cotton boots and thick cotton gloves. The breathability of the clothes must be strong, otherwise the sweat of the body after the activity is not easy to discharge, which is easy to get a cold. And you had better bring a leg protector on your leg to prevent snow from entering your shoes, which could help you walk in the snow.
2. Sunglasses are the necessities. Because snow strongly reflects light and may cause eye irritation. So, it is necessary for you to wear sunglasses to protect your eyes when you go out.
3. It is best to carry an insulated kettle and make sure there is plenty of hot water. And snacks with high-calorie should be prepared well before you go out.

Budget tips

1. When travelling from Harbin to Snow Town, the tourist direct bus is cheaper than a chartered bus and car pooling.
2. Join in a group tour, which saves time, energy and costs. But remember to choose a legitimate travel agency. And avoid “low-price tours”whose prices are significantly lower than the cost, because it may be illegal and the guide may force you to buy commodities.
3. Book the hotel in advance for a cheaper price. Or choose Monday to Thursday, when the price is usually lower than on weekends.
4. As for dining, try more unique local snacks. You can not only enrich your travel experience, but also spend less money. And there are various choices, like barbecue chilled noodles, frozen pears, Bing Lang Hu Lu, etc.

Transportation: How to Get to

• From Harbin:

1. Tourist direct bus: There are tourist direct buses from Harbin and Snow Townwith stops at Taiping International Airport, West Railway Station and Songhua River Sightseeing Cableway. The journey takes about 5 – 6 hours and costs CNY 100 – 120.
2. High-speed train+ bus: Tourists can also take the high-speed train to Yabuli first and then transfer to the tourist direct bus to the Snow Town directly. It takes about 3.5 hours and costs CNY 150.

• From Mudanjiang: visitors can take a sightseeing bus at the gate of Mudanjiang Passenger Station. The bus sets out at 07:30 and takes CNY 60.

Accommodation in China Snow Town

The accommodation in Snow Town covers from characteristic heated brick bed to high-end hotels, catering to the needs of all tourists. You can choose the business hotel to experience the unique local family hotel in Snow Town. Sleeping on the warm “Kang” and tasting fresh and delicious local food may give you an interesting travel experience and leave you deep impression about the snow town trip. But remember to book one month in advance in winter.

FAQs about China Snow Town

How many days should I spend in China Snow Town?

A 2-day trip is suitable for tourists who are short of time but hope to experience the charm of the Snow Town. You can visit the core scenic spots and try the iconic entertainment projects. While a 3-day or 4-day trip allows you to explore the main attractions and nearby attractions in depth and fully experience the ice and snow activities and folk culture.

Are there family-friendly activities?

Of course, you can make a snowman, have snowball fights, sled, experience snow tubing, and ride a horse-drawn sleigh with your children together. There are also cultural experience activities suitable for kids, such as making sugar-coated haws, cutting paper-cuts, and sending a postcard. In the Snow World Happy Valley, children can have close contact with the rare small animals like deer and watch the animal shows. The Haha Castle inside the Happy Valley is equipped with various amusement facilities and interactive experience areas, as well as a dedicated photo zone.

Is the town very touristy?

Yes, especially during the Spring Festival and the winter holiday from December to February. To avoid crowds, it is recommended to tour during November to early December and March.

Plan Your Harbin Tour with China Xian Tour

The fairy-tale-like Snow Town attracts numerous travelers every year. If you are planning a tour there, China Xian Tour is glad to plan an itinerary according to your needs. Also, we can plan a tour including both Harbin and Snow Town so that you can immerse yourself in the fun of ice and snow and fully experience the characteristic customs of Northeastern China. So do not hesitate to contact us now.