Sunrise Glow over China Snow Town

Planning your Northeast China tour in winter? China Snow Village, or China Snow Town (中国雪乡) is worth your stay 1-2 night for exploring snow.

Snow Village, literally “Xuexiang” in Chinese, officially known as Shuangfeng Forest Farm (双峰林场). It is located 170km west of Mudanjiang and 280km southeast of Harbin.

Given the unique geological location – a blend of the cold air from Siberia and the warm air from the Sea of Japan, Snow Village boasts the longest period of snowing in China, nearly 7 months. Snow Village has the best snow in China, thick and sticky, nicknamed “China Snow Village”.

For any new places, I would find a best place for sunrise or sunset view. Snow Village has two good locations for viewing sunrise – Yangcaoshan Mountain (羊草山) and Tudingshan Mountain (秃顶山). Visitors are not able to catch the sunrise over Snow Village since the village is nestled in a valley.

Recommended by my host family, I pay RMB 150 for a side trip to Tudingshan for sunrise view. First get on a shuttle bus going from the northern end of the village to the foot of Tudingshan Mountain, a 15-minute bus ride. At the bus terminal, we are required to take a snowmobile ( two persons for one snowmobile).

Line up for getting on a snowmobile.

Line up for getting on a snowmobile.
Line up for getting on a snowmobile.

Two passengers share one snowmobile.

Two passengers share one snowmobile.
Two passengers share one snowmobile.

It is a 10-minute-snowmobile ride, an exciting experience flying up through the thick snow in a forest. About 10 minutes later, we are on an open space on the mountain where we get off and start anther half hour’s hike up to the top of Tudingshan Mountain.

We trudge up the snow mountain and reach the rugged mountain summit. Windy and extremely cold, people are “foolishly” waiting for a potential sunrise.

Windy and extremely cold

Windy and extremely cold
Windy and extremely cold

Today’s sunrise refuses to come out due to the bad weather.

Climbing down the snow mountain, we meet another group of visitors going up for snow photography.

visitors going up for snow photography
visitors going up for snow photography

Again, taking a snowmobile back to the bus terminal for a ride back to Snow Village. Snowmobiles are waiting for us.

Snowmobiles are waiting for us.
Snowmobiles are waiting for us.

When back to Snow Village, we find part of the village is bathing under the sunrise glow!

we find part of the village is bathing under the sunrise glow
we find part of the village is bathing under the sunrise glow

The traditional houses are blanketed in the sunrise glow.

The traditional houses are blanketed in the sunrise glow.
The traditional houses are blanketed in the sunrise glow.

Rows of rows of village houses are leisurely lying there, looking brilliantly white under the sunrise glow.

oking brilliantly white under the sunrise glow
Looking brilliantly white under the sunrise glow

Walking in the main street in Snow Village under the sunrise glow.

Walking in the main street in Snow Village under the sunrise glow.
Walking in the main street in Snow Village under the sunrise glow.

So the dogsled

dogsleds
dogsled

Add-on

China Snow Town ( Tips, Photos & Map)
Harbin Yabuli China Snow Town Direct Shuttle Bus
Harbin to China Snow Town Road Trip
Sunrise Glow over China Snow Village
Night View of China Snow Village
Yabuli Ski Resort

Tip:  Hassle-free Northeast China Escorted Tours

Don’t want to go the do-it-yourself route? No worries, We at Tour Beijing have some options for Northeast China guided tours with English-speaking tour guides:

Harbin Tour
Harbin 3 Day Tour Package
Changchun Tour
Shenyang Tour
Dalian Tour
Dandong Tour
North Korea Tour
Northeast China Tour

Further Readings


Top Attractions in Northeast China
Top 10 Attractions in Harbin
Top 6 Things to Do in Heilongjiang
Top 10 Attractions in Shenyang
Top 10 Attractions in Dandong
Top 10 Attractions in Ji’an
Top 10 Attractions in Panjin
Top 10 Attractions in Dalian (Tips, Photos and Maps)

Best Time to Visit Harbin
Where to Stay in Harbin
Harbin West Railway Station
Top Things to Do in Winter in Harbin
Harbin Ice and Snow Happy Valley
Harbin Ice and Snow World
Harbin Sun Island International Snow Sculpture Art Expo
Harbin Winter Swimming
Madie’er Popsicles in Harbin
Harbin Jihua Ski Resort
Suan Cai Jiaozi – New Year’s Soul in Dongbei
What to see in Harbin, things to do in Harbin

Qiqihar Taxi: Qiqihar Taxi Fares, Tips and Phones
Mudanjiang Taxi: Mudanjiang Taxi Fares, Tips and phones
Harbin Taxi: Harbin Taxi Fares, Tips and Phone
Yanji Taxi: Yanji Taxi Fares, Tips and Phones
Jilin Taxi: Jilin Taxi Fares, Tips and Phones
Changchun Taxi: Changchun Taxi Fares, Tips and Phones
Dandong Taxi: Dandong Taxi Fares, Tips and Phones
Shenyang Taxi: Shenyang Taxi Fares, Tips and Phones

Any questions, just drop a line.

6 thoughts on “Sunrise Glow over China Snow Town

  1. we want to go to snow town from mudanjiang on the 22nd of January. we want to book a hotel for three nights then travel to harbin on the 26 th can you help?

  2. Hi Rakenna Priede,

    Thanks for your inquiry! One of our staff members will contact you on Monday to further explore the possibility of doing something in planning your trip to China snow town.

  3. I am Planning to come to snow town on February 19 , 2017 . One night stay with family – 2 adults and one kid 5 years. Could you please help for hotel booking / local hotel stay with kang bed preferred. In morning planning to go see sunrise view in morning tour booking. Can you please send me details.

  4. Hi Prakash,

    Happy Holidays!

    1. For hotel booking in Xuexiang ( Snow Town), please check out the link below:
    http://hotel.elong.net/xuexiang/

    2. For the sunrise morning tour booking, you can do it through your lodging hotel when you arrive at China Snow Town ( Xuexiang ).

    Have a nice time in China Snow Town.

  5. Hai, we would like to visit this place on this upcoming december. Unfortunately the link that u posted is in chinese language. Can you help us with the hotel booking and the sunrise trip?

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