China Snow Town (Xuexiang)

 Chinese Name: 中国雪乡
 English Names: China Snow Town, China Snow Village
 Location: 217 miles (350 kilometers) east of Harbin City, in the northeast of China

China Snow Town, formerly known as the Shuangfeng Forestry Center, is a good place for visitors and photographers to view the splendid snowscape. This town will go through seven-month snowy period annually from October to next May. Because of the frequent snowfall, the 470-acre land will be covered by snow with an average thickness of 6.6 feet (2 meters) in winter. During that time, this town is turned into a white fairy wonderland. In addition to the beautiful natural scene, visitors can also enjoy the entertainment activities such as skiing, snowballing, and horse-sledding.In winter, houses there are covered under the thick snow, looking like clouds, rabbits and mushrooms. Xueyun Avenue is the liveliest place in the town, gathering various shops and inns along the 547-yard (500-meter) street. You can have a taste of the frozen pear or sugar-coated haws, or take photos with the bar renovated from the old-fashioned locomotive while walking down the street. The village is even beautiful in the night. Local people will decorate their houses with red lanterns. Under the light of the lanterns, the town looks like a graceful painting of winter full of the rural features. At night, it must be an unforgettable experience for visitors to sleep on the traditional heated kang bed, a common bed piled up with bricks and warmed by fire in northern China.
 With an elevation of 4,429 feet (1,350 meters), Yangcao Mountain is located to the northwest of the village. The plants are sparse on the top. Without any obstacle blocking the vision, the peak provides visitors a perfect viewing platform to enjoy the wide stunning snowscape of the hills, valley, and rimes. Because of the advantage in height and the broad perspective, Yangcao Mountain is the best place in China Snow Town to view the scene of sunrise and sunset.It must be the dream of most visitors to speed among the mountains and forests, wearing a vivid ski suit. This dream can be achieved in the Snow Town Ski Resort. As an important entertainment venue in the village, the resort offers activities like skiing, horse-sled, dog-sled and circle-sled.
 Dream Home is a comprehensive area of food, accommodation and entertainment on the west of Xueyun Avenue. There is an old-fashioned inn in this area, which is the location of over ten movies and TV dramas. Visitors can also enjoy the folk culture and famous Northeast Song-and-dance Duet (Er Ren Zhuan) in this area.
 Many movies and TV dramas are shot in the Snow Town. Located to the southwest of the village, there are more than 30 houses in the Film and Television Base to reflect the living situation of people of different classes in different times, including the bandits’ lair, the dormitory of the educated youth (1966 to 1976), and courtyards of the wealthy families.

The base is also a place to feel the mysterious Shaman culture, which is a primitive religion in northern China, through traditional God-invitation ritual and other religious activities.The Snow Town is 217 miles (350 kilometers) away from Harbin. There is a through bus shuttling between the two destinations. You can also go take a train to Hailin first, and then take a taxi to the scenic area.
 

Departure Place	Time	Ticket Price
Nangang Passenger Station in Harbin	6:40 – 13:00, 12:10 – 18:30	CNY 120
Tourist Center in the Snow Town	8:00 – 14:30, 13:30 – 20:00

*Visitors who return to Harbin by the bus departing at 8:00 can be taken directly to the Harbin Taiping International Airport.
 Take a train in Harbin Railway Station or Harbin East Railway Station to Hailin Station. The trip would take about five hours. Upon arrival, take a taxi to the scenic area.

Admission Fee	Adult Ticket: CNY 95
	Half-price Ticket for juniors aged between 6 and 18 (including 18)
	Free entry for children less than 3.9 feet (1.2 meters) (including 3.9 feet) in height or aged under 6 (including 6)
	Tour Bus: CNY 30 (Optional)
Opening Hours	November 16 to March 31 Next Year: 07:00~18:00
	April 1 to November 15: 08:30~17:00

 1. The best time to visit the China Snow Town is during December to next March. You can enjoy the large-scale snowscape and play snow sports like skiing, sledding, and snowboarding. The average temperature during that period is around -4 degrees Fahrenheit (-20 degrees Centigrade). You should well prepare the cold-proof outfits.
2. Going there during the Spring Festival is strongly recommended. Besides the scene of snow, every house is decorated with red lanterns and streamers during that time. At night, there will be firework show, creating a joyful and festive atmosphere.

Further Reading: Top 10 Things to Do in Harbin