Xuexiang (Snow Town)

Xuexiang (literally "snow village") sits at 1,100 metres in the Greater Khingan forest, where heavy snowfall begins in November and persists until March. The village's signature feature is the "snow mushrooms" — mounds of sticky snow piling improbably high on rooftops, wood stacks, and tree stumps. Red lanterns glow against white walls; strings of golden corn and red chili peppers decorate the eaves. Horseback rides through snow-covered forest tracks at dawn and snowmobile tours through the forest are among Heilongjiang's most magical winter experiences.