China's northernmost provincial capital, an ice city that lights up in winter. European old buildings, the silvered Songhua River and Northeastern warmth make a one-of-a-kind northern fairytale.
Three classic routes — from the ice-city core to the snow-country hideaway and the far north — the lines on the map show how they thread Heilongjiang together.
Ice City Classics
3 daysCity strolls plus an evening at Ice-Snow World — an easy first visit and family-friendly, with simple food, stays and transport.
See full route →Snow-Country Hideaway
4 daysSkiing plus the red lanterns of Snow Town's cabins — a golden route for rime-frost photography and snow-sports lovers.
See full route →The Far North
5 daysHead all the way north to China's northernmost point — chase 'the north' in winter, maybe the aurora in summer; an expedition for the dedicated.
See full route →Ice and snow breed a distinct northern folk life — the yearly Ice-Snow Festival, snow sleds, yangge and errenzhuan, warmth against the cold.
Northeastern swagger is on the table: sweet-and-sour guo bao rou, garlicky red sausage, the steam of a one-pot stew, and a Modern ice pop even below zero.