Northeast China
Bordering Inner Mongolia, the long winters of the Jilin and Heilongjiang provinces transform them into a wonderland of snow and ice. The renowned Harbin Ice and Snow Festival draws visitors from across the globe to marvel at the ice architecture lit up with a rainbow of neon. Discover the ski fields and vast national parks of neighbouring Jilin, home to pristine lakes and elusive wildlife.
The city of Harbin is synonymous with ice and snow. Every winter, the city is glitters with vast ice sculptures for the annual Ice and Snow Festival. This magical annual event has put Harbin on the map, but the city’s Russian-style architecture and interesting history makes it a fascinating place to spend a few days. During Jilin’s lengthy winter, visitors flock to see the frost-rimmed trees on Wusong Island. On the eastern edge of Jilin lies Changbai Shan, China’s largest nature reserve. Undoubtedly the jewel of the reserve is Heaven Lake, a turquoise volcanic crater lake with its mirrored surface and infamous mythical inhabitant, the guaiwu.
