A large heated brick bed, two kang tables, and around ten to eight people gathered together make for an absolutely lively atmosphere.
Strolling down the street, the air is filled with the sounds of vendors and the aroma of delicious food wafting through. The market is packed shoulder to shoulder, with people carrying goods in their hands and on their shoulders. The roadside is lined with a dazzling array of New Year goods and daily necessities, and everyone’s faces are lit up with smiles and joy. Kids tug at adults for their favorite candies and snacks; pots bubble over with all kinds of stews; live chickens are slaughtered and plucked on the spot; there are also big live fish, large tobacco leaves, and twisty fried dough sticks — in short, nothing that will leave your mouth bored.
That’s right, this is the most common New Year scene in rural Northeast China. Once the twelfth lunar month begins, the towns and villages here come alive, and the festive spirit grows stronger by the day.
Of course, how people celebrate the New Year varies across different regions of the Northeast. For instance, in China’s Snow Town, the festive vibe fills the air as soon as Laba Festival is over. The scenic area also offers a variety of food, fun, and entertainment activities for families who come seeking authentic New Year experiences. But one crucial thing must not be forgotten: the snow here is simply breathtakingly beautiful.
Actually, for those who have lived in cities for a long time, the traditional New Year with all its festive flavor has become a memory from childhood. Urban life gradually dulls our sense and understanding of such traditions. As a result, recapturing that childhood New Year feeling has become a dream for many.
Snow Town has stunning scenery and authentic rustic New Year charm.
In recent years, spending the New Year in Snow Town in Northeast China has become a trend. Here, you can not only admire the purest snow, play in it and ski to your heart’s content, getting up close and personal with the white stuff, but also experience the most genuine New Year atmosphere.
“Snow Town” is just a colloquial name; its official title is Shuangfeng Forest Farm. Located in Changting Town, Hailin City, Heilongjiang Province, it’s a forestry area. As you drive into the farm, the first thing you see are the snow eaves protruding from the rooftops of every household...
Snow Town is famous not only for its beauty but also for bringing endless joy and evoking the true essence of the New Year.
From New Year’s Eve to the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, the simple folks of Snow Town hang up bright red lanterns. The pure white snow, illuminated by the red lanterns, resembles clouds drifting down from the heavens, creating ever-changing magical views. Snow falls frequently here, forming naturally thick, mushroom-shaped drifts, turning the entire town into a joyful kingdom straight out of a fairy tale. Every home is decorated with lanterns and colored banners, Spring Festival couplets and paper-cuts adorn every house, and the whole snowy mountain village is enveloped in festive cheer. Even the -30°C cold can’t dampen the rich New Year spirit.
If you come here with your family, you can choose to stay in cozy five-star hotels that feel like home, experience the warmth of a local Snow Town farmhouse, or even celebrate the New Year with the locals. Imagine a big group of people gathering together to make dumplings, steam bean buns, and prepare for the festivities in a lively circle — it’ll melt your heart.
The long and heavy snow season in Northeast China’s Snow Town is well known nationwide. The quality of the snow here is excellent, with high stickiness, which you can see from the snow eaves on every household's roof — thus the title “China’s Snow Town” is truly well-deserved.
Just imagine stepping out in the morning to see snowdrifts nearly one meter high piled up against houses, layer upon layer, stretching continuously across hundreds of households — a sight of “snow houses” like this can only be found in Snow Town.
The most popular spots for visitors coming to Snow Town for the New Year are Snow Rhyme Street and Sigou. Snow Rhyme Street is the town’s only main road, about 500 meters long. It not only boasts some of the most stunning snowscapes but is also the perfect place to experience the local culture and lifestyle. The street is lined with all kinds of local mountain produce, and there are plenty of restaurants and hotels. If you need help, you can always turn to the Snow Town Scenic Area Management Office and Customer Service Center nearby.
Snow Town’s Sigou is divided into four areas: Xianjingou (Fairyland Valley), Zhengmeigou (Perfect Beauty Valley), Daxigou (Big West Valley), and Dabeicha (Big North Fork). Each area offers unique scenery, giving you a different experience of snow’s beauty. If you want to watch the sunrise, head toward the southernmost road in the western part of Snow Town. The hillside along the road is a great spot to photograph villages with curling smoke during sunrise or sunset.
A full round of eating, drinking, and having fun will keep you bragging for a year.
The unique food culture is one of Snow Town’s defining features. Visitors often say that Snow Town cuisine is as hearty as the locals themselves — generous portions and low prices. With a wide range of cooking methods including stewing, stir-frying, braising, roasting, sautéing, and quick-frying, if you can think of it, you can probably eat it. Moreover, many ingredients come from vegetables grown by locals, wild greens picked from the forest, and poultry raised in their own yards.
In recent years, the number of tourists visiting Snow Town has been increasing steadily, and it surges even more during the holiday season. To enhance visitor satisfaction, Snow Town has introduced ten free attractions, including the Photography Viewing Area at the Source of Snow Scenery, Bangchui Mountain Stockaded Village, and Sightseeing Plank Walkways.
Want to experience the thrill and speed of a snowmobile on New Year’s Day? Want to ride the “Snow Dragon” mountaineering vehicle on New Year’s Day 2 to climb to the top of Heilongjiang’s highest peak and enjoy breathtaking views? Planning to try out the scenic area’s newly developed attractions — Dream Home, Bangchui Mountain Amusement Park, skiing, snow tubing, spinning tops, ice sleds, dog sledding, and horse-drawn sleigh rides — from the third to the seventh day of the New Year? Don’t hesitate. What this place offers is nothing but unlimited joy.
In addition, Snow Town offers highly interactive and engaging entertainment activities. Imagine gathering in the square on New Year’s Eve, dancing the Northeast yangge together, watching bonfire parties and float parades — what a sight that would be. Meanwhile, the town’s theater also puts on large-scale performances and Northeastern Errenzhuan (a folk comic dialogue performance). It’s truly a vibrant carnival full of New Year cheer.
For Snow Town, the Spring Festival period is peak season, so making reservations in advance is essential. Also, don’t underestimate the cold here — packing enough warm clothing and specialized snow gear is a must.
With the Spring Festival just around the corner, the festive spirit in Snow Town is growing stronger by the day. Just standing here, you can already feel the celebratory atmosphere.
What to do for the New Year? Go to Snow Town, of course.