Eastern Heilongjiang

Mudanjiang and six cities of the Sanjiang Plain: Snow Town ice and snow, Jingpo Lake waterfalls, Heixiazi Island at China's eastern extreme, and Sino-Russian border-river scenery.

This region corresponds to "Eastern Heilongjiang", one of the province's four tourism zones, and includes the six cities of Mudanjiang, Jixi, Qitaihe, Shuangyashan, Jiamusi and Hegang. One exception to the administrative boundaries is "China Snow Town and Yabuli": Snow Town lies in Hailin, which is under Mudanjiang, while Yabuli is in Shangzhi, which is under Harbin. Because the two are often visited together, they are grouped under Mudanjiang and included in this region. In winter, Snow Town is famous for the "snow mushrooms" on its rooftops and its lantern-lit scenery at night, and Yabuli is one of China's best-known ski resorts. Jingpo Lake in Ning'an, Mudanjiang, is a barrier lake formed by volcanic lava; the Diaoshuilou Waterfall is spectacular in the high-water season, and the volcanic crater underground forest is nearby. Suifenhe is a land border port city with Russia, with a strong atmosphere of Russian-style architecture and cross-border trade. Lake Xingkai, in Mishan, Jixi, is a border lake shared by China and Russia, with long sandy beaches along its shore. Fuyuan, under Jiamusi, is one of the first places in China to see the sunrise, and Heixiazi Island sits at the confluence of the Heilongjiang and Wusuli (Ussuri) Rivers. Tongjiang is where the Songhua River flows into the Heilongjiang at the "three-river confluence" and is also home to the Hezhe (Nanai) people. Raohe, in Shuangyashan, lies along the Wusuli River, where Hezhe fishing and hunting culture meets border-river scenery. Classic routes: in winter, Harbin – Yabuli – Snow Town – Mudanjiang, four to five days; in summer, the border route of Jingpo Lake – Suifenhe – Lake Xingkai – Fuyuan – Tongjiang, seven to ten days. For transport, the Harbin–Mudanjiang and Mudanjiang–Jiamusi high-speed railways link the main cities, and Mudanjiang, Jiamusi, Fuyuan, Jixi and other places have airports. Accommodation in Snow Town is tight in peak season and price gouging is a risk, so be sure to book in advance; in border areas, carry your ID and follow border-defense rules.

Destinations

Itineraries