Area

Xuexiang (Snow Town)

China's snowiest fairytale village buried in winter magic

Snow mushrooms (iconic piled snow formations on rooftops and stumps)Snow-blanketed wooden houses with red lanternsHorseback riding through snow-covered forestChina's deepest natural snowfall regionWinter photography destination

Best Time to Visit:December–February for peak snow depths and most magical conditions; January is the ideal month with deepest snowfall

Asia/Shanghai

CNY

Mandarin, Northeast dialect

Tours available:0 packages available

About 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.

Highlights

Dawn walk through the deeply snow-covered village

Horseback riding through forest snow trails

Snow mushroom formations on every rooftop and stump

Snowmobile tours through the fir forest

Photography of lantern-lit houses in deep winter snow

Dog sledding and ice sliding activities

Climate & Best Time to Visit

Subarctic forest climate. Extreme winters with temperatures regularly below -20°C. Snow covers the ground October–March. Summers are warm and green. The area receives over 2 metres of annual snowfall — one of China's highest-snowfall regions.

Getting There

Xuexiang is 280 km from Harbin and 85 km southwest of Mudanjiang city. From Harbin: 4–5 hours by coach or private car via Hailin. From Mudanjiang: 2 hours by private car. No direct public transit to the village — private car or organized tour package is necessary. Most visitors book packages from Harbin.

Practical Tips

Book accommodation at least 2 weeks in advance for January — the most popular month by far

Dress in extreme cold-weather gear: thermal base layers, insulated jacket, waterproof shell, warm hat and gloves, insulated waterproof boots

The village is small and can feel crowded in peak season — early morning is best for uncrowded photography

Snowmobile and horseback experiences book out fast — reserve when booking your accommodation

Cold drains phone batteries rapidly — bring a power bank and keep it warm inside your jacket

Ready to explore?