Linjiang

A small border town on the Yalu River, where the snow-capped log cabins and chimney smoke of Songling Snow Village have become a new social-media favorite beyond Snow Town, and summer brings cool riverside border drives.

Linjiang is a city under Baishan, Jilin Province, on the southwestern slopes of Changbai Mountain and the north bank of the middle-upper Yalu River, facing Junggang County in North Korea's Chagang Province across the water. It is a small border town and nationally known for the longevity of its residents. This destination centers on downtown Linjiang: in town are Chen Yun's Former Residence, the Memorial Hall of the Four Defenses of Linjiang campaign, the Linjiang Yalu River Bridge and a riverside promenade; west of town are Wangjiang Tower and the Dalizi site where Puyi's abdication edict was proclaimed. Huashan Town, about 24 km northwest, is the hub of winter tourism, where the log cabins topped with "snow mushrooms," chimney smoke and rime ice of Songling Snow Village and Laosandui Village have recently become popular; nearby are Huashan National Forest Park and Linjiang Valley Forest Park. Heading east, the Yalu River border road leads past Sidaogou and Liudaogou to Changbai County.

Winter (Dec–Feb) is the best time to see the snow villages, with temperatures often below −20°C, so bring a heavy down jacket and non-slip shoes. Summers are cool, good for escaping the heat and rafting, and autumn colors peak from late Sep to mid-Oct. Take a train or high-speed train to Baishan or Tonghua and transfer by bus; Changbaishan Airport and Tonghua Airport are also options. The snow villages are in the mountains, and snow tires are essential for winter driving. Plan on 2–3 days: spend a night in a snow village sleeping on a heated kang bed and eating iron-pot stew, then tour the town's revolutionary history sites and the Yalu River border. Carry your ID in the border area, follow border regulations and do not photograph military installations. Check official sources for scenic area information.

Top sights

• Songling Snow Village – An old northeastern hamlet in a mountain hollow at the foot of the Changbai Mountains. Log-cabin roofs are piled with “snow mushrooms,” and…
• Laosandui Village & Linjiang Valley Forest Park – A longevity village at the foot of the Laoling Mountains, with 94% forest cover. Snow scenes, sacred spring water and forest wellness trail…
• Chen Yun's Former Residence & Linjiang Campaign Memorial – The residence and command post of Chen Yun during the Defense of Linjiang campaign of the civil war. The former residence and memorial pres…
• Linjiang Yalu River Bridge – A border bridge linking Linjiang with Jungang County in North Korea. From the riverside path you can look across the river at North Korean…
• Wangjiang Tower – A viewing tower on a hillside above the western riverbank of Linjiang, offering views of the city, the Yalu River and Jungang County in Nor…
• Site of Puyi's Abdication at Dalizi – The site at the Dalizi iron mine where Puyi, emperor of the puppet state of Manchukuo, read his abdication edict in 1945. It is now a memor…
• Huashan National Forest Park – A forest park around Zhenzhu Gate in Huashan Town, with peaks, streams and dozens of waterfalls. In autumn, maple leaves redden the valleys.

Itineraries

• Jilin Longwan, Yalu River, G331, Changbai Mountain & Yanbian 10-Day Self-Drive Itinerary – Depart from Changchun, pass through Longwan and Ji'an, follow the G331 highway to Changbai Mountain, and end in Yanbian…
• Self-Drive from Shenyang to Changbai Mountain via Ji'an – From early Qing Dynasty historical sites to the Goguryeo capital, drive along the Yalu River to Changbai Mountain, and…