Harbin Ice Festival and Jilin Rime Frost: Harbin & Changchun in

Use Harbin as your base for its winter old town and ice attractions, then take the high-speed train to Jilin for a night on Wusong Island and a day trip to Changchun.

This winter combo pairs the city with its surroundings. The first three days cover Harbin's old town, the Harbin Ice and Snow World, and Laodaowai. On day four, take the high-speed train to Jilin City, visit the riverside church and Confucius Temple, then stay at Hantun Village beside Wusong Island. The next morning, see the rime frost and return to Harbin. On day six, take the high-speed train to Changchun and back to visit the Puppet Manchukuo Imperial Palace and the former Changchun Film Studio. Rime frost depends on the weather, so staying next to the island improves your chances of seeing it.

Rime frost is most often seen on clear, cold winter mornings from December to February. Check the forecast before you set out.

Day by day

Day 1 · Arrive and stroll Central Street

Harbin（Central Street (Zhongyang Dajie)、Saint Sophia Cathedral、Songhua River & Flood Control Monument）

Take an airport bus or metro to Central Street, about 1 hour. Explore on foot from the afternoon into the evening.

Stay: Central Street · Daoli

Day 2 · Sun Island, Tiger Park and Ice and Snow World

Harbin（Sun Island、Siberian Tiger Park、Harbin Ice and Snow World）

A taxi across the river takes about 20 minutes. Sun Island, Northeast Tiger Park and the Ice and Snow World are all in Songbei, so take a taxi back to the city at night.

Enter the Ice and Snow World in the evening to see the lights, and buy tickets in advance.

Stay: Central Street · Daoli

Day 3 · Morning market, riverbank, old Laodaowai and ice lanterns

Harbin（Hongzhuan Street Morning Market、Stalin Park、Laodaowai Chinese Baroque Historic Block、Zhaolin Park (Ice Lantern Fair)）

Walk to the morning market and the riverbank. A taxi to Laodaowai takes about 15 minutes. In the evening, return to Daoli to see the ice lanterns.

Stay: Central Street · Daoli

Day 4 · High-speed train to Jilin City and stay on Wusong Island

Jilin City (Rime & Beidahu)（Jilin Sacred Heart Cathedral、Jilin Confucian Temple、Wulajie Manchu Town）

Take the high-speed train from Harbin West Railway Station to Jilin Railway Station, about 2 hours. After exploring the city, take a taxi or hire a car for about 1 hour to Hantun Village.

Hantun guesthouses mostly have heated kang beds. In peak season, book early and confirm the pickup arrangements.

Stay: Hantun Village (Rime Island Ferry Landing)

Day 5 · Dawn on Wusong Island, then back to Harbin

Jilin City (Rime & Beidahu)（Wusong Island (Rime Island)、Jilin City Museum (Meteorite Museum) & Century Square） → Harbin（Chinese Eastern Railway Park & Binzhou Railway Bridge）

Go up Wusong Island at dawn. Return to Jilin City in the morning, about 1 hour. In the afternoon, take the high-speed train back to Harbin, about 2 hours. Take a riverside walk in the evening.

The rime frost is best between 7 and 10 a.m. and starts to fade after 10. Leave plenty of time for your return train.

Stay: Central Street · Daoli

Day 6 · High-speed train round trip to Changchun

Changchun（Museum of the Imperial Palace of Manchukuo、Xinmin Avenue & Eight Ministries of Manchukuo、Changchun Film Studio Museum）

Take the high-speed train from Harbin West Railway Station to Changchun, about 1 to 1.5 hours. Use the metro and taxis within the city, and return in the evening.

Stay: Central Street · Daoli

Day 7 · Heilongjiang Provincial Museum before departure

Harbin（Heilongjiang Provincial Museum）

Take Metro Line 1 to Museum Station. After your visit, take a ride to the airport, about 1 hour.

The Provincial Museum is closed on Mondays. Admission is free but requires a reservation.

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