Top 10 Snowy Cities In China

There are many cities in China that must snow in winter, the most famous of which are Harbin, Mudanjiang, Jilin, Shenyang, Changchun, Zhangjiakou, Urumqi, Hulunbuir, etc., and they have been listed on the list of China Tourism Academy for many times. List of “China’s Top Ten Ice and Snow Tourism Cities”. The following will introduce you to these snowy tourist cities in China. The charm of ice and snow in these cities will surely capture you.

1. Harbin City哈尔滨市

Harbin, the Ice City, is an internationally famous city for ice and snow culture. Normally, it starts snowing in Harbin from mid-November until the end of heavy snowfall in early April of the following year (in some cases in early May). Counting it all together, it snows for about 5 months. The winter in Harbin is long, cold and dry, and sometimes there are heavy snowfalls. The average temperature in January ranges from minus 15℃ to minus 30℃, and the lowest temperature once reached minus 37.7℃ (January 26, 1985). Ice and Snow World and Yabuli Ski Resort are two famous ice and snow-related tourist attractions in Harbin. China Harbin Ice and Snow World was founded in 1999. Taking advantage of Harbin’s ice and snow season, it showcases the ice and snow culture and ice and snow tourism charm of Harbin, a famous northern city.

2. Mudanjiang City牡丹江市

Mudanjiang City, also known as Snow City, is a city in China that must snow in winter. The Chinese Snow Village tourist attraction within the territory makes Mudanjiang famous at home and abroad for its ice and snow tourism. Due to the frequent intersection of the cold air of Lake Baikal and the warm and humid air currents of the Sea of ​​Japan, as well as the microclimate influence of high mountains and dense forests, Xuexiang has created a unique microclimate of “winter snow in the forest”. Snow begins to fall every October until April of the following year. , the snow period lasts for 7 months, and the snow thickness can reach about 2 meters. The snow takes different shapes and forms, creating this fairy tale world. With the first and final episode of “Where Are We Going, Dad” coming to an end in Xuexiang, it has pushed the popularity of winter ice and snow tourism in Mudanjiang City to an unprecedented climax.

3.Jilin City吉林市

In Jilin City, the capital of rime, snowfall lasts from November to April of next year, which lasts for 6 months. During the snowfall, various ice and snow-related activities take place one after another. The most famous one is the Jilin International Rime Ice and Snow Festival, which has been held for more than 20 consecutive years – and has now become a bright business card to enhance the tourism image of Jilin Province. There are three main locations where events have been held over the years, namely Wusong Island, Beidahu Ski Resort and Songhua Lake Ski Resort. As a well-known ice and snow tourist attraction in China, the best viewing season for Rime Island is from late December to the end of February of the following year. The ideal time for rime photography is between 10:00-11:30 every day.

4. Shenyang City沈阳市

Shenyang is a popular city for winter ice and snow tourism in China. The winter cold lasts for a long time. In the past six months, there has been less snowfall. The largest snowfall was a 47.0 mm heavy snowstorm on March 4, 2007. Snowflakes usually fall in mid-to-late October or early November every year, and the snowfall ends in March or April of the following year. In the past 60 years, there have been 38 April snowfalls in Shenyang. “When it snows, Shenyang turns into Shengjing.” This is a unique snow scene that belongs to Shenyang people – solemn and classically beautiful. “Snow” has been deeply ingrained in Shenyang’s urban “gene”: Huishan Qingxue is one of the eight scenic spots in Shengjing; Northeast Asia Ski Resort is a famous tourist attraction in Shenyang; even Shenyang’s specialties include fragrant snow flour and snow beer.

5.Changchun City长春市

In Changchun, which has a long and severe winter, the first snow begins around November and the last snow falls in the next four years. Changchun City has an average annual minimum temperature of -22.4°C, a freezing period of 5 months throughout the year, and a snow accumulation period of nearly half a year, with an average thickness of 20 cm. It has ideal climate conditions for the development of ice and snow tourism and ice and snow sports in China. As early as 1998, Changchun City established the first Ice and Snow Tourism Festival. Relying on the good ecological resources of Jingyue Lake in Changchun, since 2003, the Changchun Municipal Government has cooperated with the Swedish company Nordive to jointly organize the Vasa International Ski Festival and carry out cross-country skiing, making China the fourth country after Sweden, the United States and Japan. countries that host the Vaasa cross-country ski race.

6.Zhangjiakou City张家口市

Zhangjiakou City belongs to the temperate continental monsoon, with cold and long winters. It starts snowing in December every year and lasts until April of the next year. It is one of the most popular ice and snow tourism cities in China in winter, and it also hosts international and national ice and snow events. One of the popular cities for sporting events. Zhangjiakou has excellent ice and snow conditions and can host all snow sports competitions except snow removal, sledding and alpine skiing. Beijing joined hands with Zhangjiakou to win the right to host the 24th Winter Olympics in 2022. The previous “Great Rivers and Mountains·Passionate Zhangjiakou” ice and snow seasons held in Zhangjiakou have been brilliant and highly prestigious. In addition, Chongli and Chicheng in Zhangjiakou are famous natural ski resorts in North China and are known as the Davos of the East.

7. Urumqi乌鲁木齐市

It usually starts snowing in Urumqi in late October, and the last snow falls in January of the following year. Winter in Urumqi lasts for 150 days every year from November 3 to April 8 of the following year. Urumqi is surrounded by mountains on three sides, and its northern part looks like a trumpet facing the Junggar Basin. Because of the Tianshan barrier, cold air tends to stay in the basin. There is a “warm zone” in the foothills of the southern suburbs, where the temperature in January is 4 or 5 degrees higher than in the urban area. Urumqi is suitable for ice and snow tourism activities in winter. The Silk Road ice and snow tour has become Urumqi’s unique city card, and it has successfully hosted the International Snow Federation Cross-Country Skiing China Tour. The Silk Road International Ski Resort is located in the Tianshan Mountains, 38 kilometers south of Urumqi.

8. Hulunbuir City呼伦贝尔市

The annual average temperature in most areas of Hulunbuir is below 0°C, with only a few areas east of the Greater Khingan Mountains and a small number of areas in the west above 0°C. The annual average temperature in the Lingdong agricultural area is between 1.3-2.4°C, and in the Greater Khingan Range area it is -2.0-5.3 ℃, pastoral areas are 0.4-3.0 ℃. The average temperature in the coldest month (January) is between -18–30℃. It has snowed in Hulunbuir from October until the end of May next year, a time span of 7 months. Since the 1980s, every New Year’s Day, Spring Festival and Lantern Festival, Hulunbuir’s towns and forest areas have held art exhibitions that use natural ice from the river to carve shapes. Every winter, ice sculptures of various shapes come out one after another, including figures, animals, buildings, landscapes and other works.

9. Altay City阿勒泰市

Altay City’s annual average temperature ranges from 0.7°C to 4.9°C, with an extreme minimum temperature of -51.5°C. Winters are severely cold, with snow starting in October and lasting until March of the following year. A winter snow has transformed Altay City into a snowy and enchanting city. The most beautiful snow scene in Altay is in Hualin Park. The snow falls on the graceful white tree trunks. It looks noble and refined from a distance, but simple and noble up close. It is picturesque, dreamlike, and full of romance. Winter ice and snow tourism in Altay City mainly focuses on ice skating and skiing, watching ice sculptures and winter fishing. After playing, you can have a delicious hot pot meal and enjoy the warm aroma in the cold, which has a unique flavor.

10. Heihe City黑河市

Heihe City has a long, cold and dry winter, with the lowest temperature being -40°C. Generally, it starts snowing from mid-October every year and lasts until March of the following year. The snow scene is famous for its beautiful scenery. The scenic spots in Heihe in winter are snow-themed. The Wudalianchi Scenic Area, which holds the Volcano Ice and Snow Festival every year, is of course the most famous. The Wudalianchi Volcano Ice and Snow Festival opens before New Year’s Day and ends on the second day of the second lunar month. During the festival, there are activities such as the Wudalianchi Volcano Ice and Snow Tour, the International Sino-Russian Winter Swimming Invitational Tournament, the Volcano Ice and Snow Park Tour, skiing, hunting, winter fishing, and winter fishing.