Dapingtai Rime Scenic Area

Dapingtai Rime Scenic Area

The Dapingtai Rime Scenic Area in Xunke is located in Kelin Township within the southeastern mountainous region of Xunke County. The Kurbin River flows continuously from south to north through this area, with the Kurbin Hydropower Station situated upstream. In winter, temperatures here often drop below minus thirty degrees Celsius. As the river water passes through the turbine units, its temperature rises and becomes warmer,

carrying a tremendous amount of thermal energy, creating the remarkable phenomenon of the Kurbin River remaining unfrozen for dozens of miles. The continuous evaporation of water vapor from the river surface fills the entire river with thick, lingering mist. Under certain conditions of air pressure, temperature, and wind direction, the vapor rising from the river condenses upon encountering the cold, forming rime. Rime appears in the Dapingtai area of Xunke from late November each year to March of the following year. As long as there is no wind or snowfall, it can be seen every day.

The beauty of rime lies in its grandeur and uniqueness. Looking out, the mountains are blanketed in snow, and the skies are pure white. Nature uses mist as its material and wind as its brush, painting the world into a crystal-clear realm. Bathed in sunlight, everything resembles newly formed glass — pristine ice and jade gleaming with flowing radiance. The blue sky is tranquil, and soft snow blankets the land. The jade-like trees and silver branches across the hills look like meticulously carved ice sculptures. Some resemble blooming snow lotuses, others closed white chrysanthemums, and still others like massive white coral formations. Pavilions appear draped in delicate veils, while the earth spreads out a pristine white carpet. The weeping willows, weighed down with silvery-white rime, look from afar like venerable elders standing solemnly in place. The proudly upright evergreen pines, tinged with ink-green beneath their silver coating, exude even more vitality. The small shrubs resemble adorable, charming little animals — comical and delightful. At this moment, mist rises from the mysterious river, forming colorful, drifting clouds that make you feel as if you are in a fairyland. Along the way, rugged peaks rise sharply, strange rocks are strewn about, and valleys are deep and serene. Under the refraction of sunlight, the rime and surrounding scenery shift constantly, presenting North China’s landscape at its most vibrant where water meets sky.