China Snow Town (Tips, Photos & Map)

41 thoughts on “China Snow Town (Tips, Photos & Map)”

1. Hi, I am interested in making reservation for a night stay in Days Hotel and Suites on 10/2/2016. Can you advise how do I make the booking? Thank you.

2. Hi,
   The Zhaou Shenglin Family Inn. I just want to re-confirm that each room has 4-Kang Bed? and the price quoted RMB400-500 is per room or per pax?

3. Hi Gina,

   Not quite sure if each room has a 4-bed kang. But last time the room I stayed had a 4-connected-bed kang. Mr.Zhao is glad to have more connected beds on a kang. So I think most of the rooms have a kang with 3 or 4 connected beds. The room rates go with the market. The price RMB 400-500 is not bad.

   Don’t expect too much from the room condition! Small, crowded, basic, just a homestay with limited facilities.

4. Hi, we are a family of 3 wanting to stay in Snowtown or Donsheng for 2 nights, January 2017. We would like to go by car not bus. How do we book for this. Thanks

5. Hi Tracy,

   Well received your inquiry! One of our staff members will contact you on Monday. Thanks!

6. Hi there, I am interested in booking a room for 2 people at Zhao Shenglin Family Inn 赵胜林家庭旅馆 for one night, 26 December 2016. Can you let me know how to book it? And how much?

   Thanks
   Chan

7. Hi Chan,

   Zhao Shenglin Family Inn is very basic and simple. I’m not sure you will be comfortable with this kind of inn run by a family. Personally I suggest you stay in a hotel.

   If you want to book a room at Zhao Shenglin Family Inn, you need to call them. But they cannot speak any English.

8. We (11 Adults & 11 years old) are interested to go to China Snow Town on 25th December 2016 to 26th December 2016 and wanted to book for the package. Can you recommend us the established travel agent who can arrange for transport from Harbin to China Snow Town, 1 night staying in the village, 3 meals and transport from China Snow Town to Yabuli Ski Resort?

9. Hi Shirley THAM,

   Sorry for my delayed reply! One of our staff members will contact you for the details. Thanks!

10. Hi Daniel,

    I’m planning to go to Harbin this coming January and would like to spend a night at xuexiang. Could you help me with the planning/booking of transportation from and to harbin and one night in a kangtou please ? As I will most likely travel alone, is there any bus to take to minimise costs? Thanks a lot

11. Hi Ms Sophie,

    Most of the family inn (kang beds) owners cannot speak any English. They often use the typical Chinese way online or offline to promote their family-run inns. Many of the owners offer pick-up service from Harbin to Xuexiang ( shared SUV or Mini-bus ) a decent price. So if you book one of their kang beds, you can also ask for the transfer service from Harbin to Xuexiang.

    As for the transfer from Xuexiang to Harbin, you can also use their service. Alternatively you take the bus from Xuexiang to Harbin, or take the early morning long-distance bus from Xuexiang to Mudanjiang ( I did last time ), where you connect the train back to Beijing or other places.

    Do you work and live in China? Can you speak Chinese? It is a bit challenging to travel to Xuexiang alone. Last time I toured Xuexiang on my own too. It was hard for me too. Xuexiang is packed with Chinese tourists, especially the tourists from the southern China most of whom have never seen snow in their life.

    The kang beds are very basic and don’t expect too much on the conditions in Xuexiang as a whole. My experience a few years ago tells me that Xuexiang is a nice place, but some areas in Xuexiang are a bit a ripoff.

    Personally, you should first book a kang-bed with shared shuttle service from Harbin to Xuexiang and back to Harbin or Mudanjiang. Actually you don’ have to return to Harbin. Mudanjiang is closer to Xuexiang.

    Last time I used Zhao Shenglin Family Inn 赵胜林家庭旅馆
    Rooms: 6 ( one with a private toilet and bathing)
    Price: RMB 400-500 ( 4-bed kang)
    Tel: 0453 – 7410753

    Zhao Shenglin Family Inn is just so so, very basic,just a kind of experience.

    If you need any further information, please let me know.

    Thanks for your inquiry!

12. Hi,

    Would you like prefer the quotation for 2-day Snow town tour from Harbin, baed on 4 people travelling on Feb.12 to Feb.13 ? We can join or private group. We will arrive to Harbin on Feb.11, and plan to go to snow town on Feb.12, stay in village 1 night, back to Harbin on Feb.13 before we leave from Harbin by night train at 21.28. Thank you so much.

13. Hi Wannaporn,

    Thank you very much for reading my travel blog – China Snow Town. I went there on a fam trip in Jan, 2015. It was an amazing place. But the overall condition there is not up to the good standard you will see in big cities like Harbin, Beijing,etc.

    I have forwarded your travel request to our service center. One of our trip advisors will contact you tomorrow for the details. We’ll do our best to facilitate your 2-day Harbin Snow Town tour. It’s a good idea to have a private var or suv for your party of four to share the cost.

    By the way, don’t expect too much on the living and eating conditions in the cold and remote village. Wish you a pleasant trip in advance!!

14. Hi Daniel, I’ve read your article and all the messages above and like a lot of people I would like to go to xueaxiang for a two-three days trip and experience a night in a kangtou . My friend and I live in China and speak basic chinese but would you recommend to travel through a tour guide anyway ? We would like to avoid too much hassle but of course have to consider the budget.. Could you please tell me how to book two beds in the Zhao shenglin Inn ? I only see a phone number and I’d rather book online as my chinese is really not so great. Thanks a lot in advance

15. Hi Ms Sophie,

    It is nearly impossible to book a tour guide in Xuexiang who can speak English or French. Basically you need to hire a tour guide from Harbin, which will be beyond your budget deifinitely.

    If you can book a kang-bed room at a local family inn, normally they can provide shared van transfer service from Harbin to Snow Town.

    So there are two tricky things: 1) how to get from Harbin ( or other cities ) to Xuexiang; 2) how to book a room in Xuexiang.

    Though the snow scene in Xuexiang is amazing, the local service and hospitality are far below expectation. Everything is overpriced. I don’t known if things have been changed for better or even worse.

    Most of the local family inns use the online social media in Chinese ( Wechat, QQ, ….) to sell their rooms. The owners have very much good business and are interested in working with large hotel booking sites and vice versa.

    But I do find a hotel booking site which sells the hotels and kang-bed rooms even including Zhao shenglin Inn. But I’ve never used their hotel booking service to book a small family inn. Just for your reference.

    Xuexiang Hotels
    http://hotel.elong.net/xuexiang/

    By the way, http://www.elong.net/ is largely owned by expedia.com.

    Have a great time in Xuexiang ( Snow Town )!

16. HI Daniel,

    thank you so much for your very helpful answer. I assume like most of the touristy towns in China it will be a bit of a rip off there, but the landscape probably makes it worth it ! Thanks again for the great tips 🙂

17. Hi Sophie,

    Thanks for your feedback and upbeat attitude! You are right and nothing is perfect. Just be vigilant against possile dark sides and look forward to the bright sides.

    Enjoy your trip!

18. Hi Daniel, we are still trying to work out transport from Harbin to Snowtown, we have booked our room. How to book bus in advance is our problem, also we need to book from Snowtown to Mudanjiang. Can anyone that has done this recently, please give advise thanks

19. Hi Tracy,

    Happy Holidays!

    1. Snow Town to Mudanjiang
    There is an early daily long-distance bus going from Snow Town to Mudanjiang. Please reconfirm with your hotel staff. Everybody knows the bus. No worry about this.

    2. Harbin to Snow Town.
    It is a bit tricky to locate the shuttle bus from Harbin to Snow Town. Usually the hotels and inns in Snow Town offer shared-van transfer from Harbin to Snow Town. Again try to contac your hotel in Snow Town for assistance for the shared transfer.

20. Hello,

    I want to go to Jingpu lake from mudanjiang and on the way back I want to go to China snow town and spend a night there…is it possible that I come directly to China snow town from Jingpu lake ? is yes then how ?
    we are 2 person and we also need 1 nigt stay at china snow town..

    can you please advise via email … Thanks

21. Hello,

    I want to go to Jingpu lake from mudanjiang and on the way back I want to go to China snow town and spend a night there…is it possible that I come directly to China snow town from Jingpu lake ? is yes then how ?
    we are 2 person and we also need 1 nigt stay at china snow town..

    can you please advise via email …

    Thanks

22. Dear Farhan,

    I’m not sure whether you can go directly to China snow town from Jingpu lake. Basically you may first go to the city of Mudanjiang where you take the long-distance bus to China Snow Town.

23. Dear Farhan,

    As far as I Know, you need to first go to the city of Mudanjiang where you take a long-distance bus to China Snow Town.

24. Hi Daniel,

    I’ve read through all your post and information. Very informative about snow town. I’m planning a DIY trip with my family this December to Snow Town and Yabuli. I have 4 days 3 night for Yabuli and Snow Town. Need to seek your advice which itinerary sound more doable Harbin to Yabuli stay 2 night then to Snow town stay 1 night then back to Harbin 5 hours by bus or
    Harbin direct to Snow Town stay 1 night then to Yabuli stay 2 night then back to Harbin.
    I’m not sure which is more convenient considering the transport transfer.

    Please advice 🙏🏻
    TQ

25. Dear Leanne,

    Thanks for reading the information!

    Sorry, as for your question, I’m not 100% sure which is better. But for me, I would choose Harbin to Yabuli stay 2 night then to Snow town stay 1 night then back to Harbin 5 hours by bus. It seems the two make no big difference. Have a good time!

26. Hi Daniel,

    We are planning to go on a 2D1N trip to Snow Village this Dec. 25. I was wondering: Would it be doable to go without joining a local tour? We can speak basic Chinese. Also, for the different activities such as: visiting 羊草山, dogsledding, skiing, snowmobiling,etc, how do we join those activities? And what else would you recommend us to do when we visit snow village. THanks!

27. Dear Jan,

    Not quite sure whether you can visit 羊草山 in the early morning for the sunrise on your own. Basically you need to buy a ticket via your hotel or other agents to use the local transfer service.

    You can do dogsledding, snowmobiling on your own, but I don’t know where to ski in China town.

    Sorry for my limited knowledge about the present situation of China Snow Town. Good luck!

28. Hi Daniel,

    Do you know around how much is the cost to rent the snowmobile to Yangcao Maountain and dogsledding in Snow Town? Also, do you know how we can rent the snowmobile?

29. Dear Victoria,

    Sorry, I don’t have the update price information on the rental of the snowmobile to Yangcao Mountain and dog sledding in Snow Town.

    Last time I bought the voucher for the activity of seeing the sunrise at Yangcao Mountain, and the voucher included the snowmobile service.

30. We are planning to go on a 2D1N trip to Snow Village this Dec. 22. We can’t speak Chinese. How much for 2 persons to join trip ? . Thanks!

31. Dear jaja1579,

    Thanks for your inquiry! One of our trip adviors will contact you for the details. Much appreciated!

32. Hi Daniel
    We will be in Harbin on 10 April 2018 for 3 days, then will get a train to A Cheng (1N). 2N stay at Yabuli & train to Hailin for 1N. Will there still be snow? Any economy accommodation for just 1 night. Thank you for your kind advice.

33. Dear Elin,

    It is too late to visit Harbin, Yabuli and China Snow Town in April. For snow scene, February latest for Harbin and March for China Snow Town.

34. Hi Daniel, it was delightful to read ur post on the China Snow Town. I will be going to Harbin in Jan next year and would love to stay a night in Snow Town. We are a group of 4, planning to DIY, hence we would be most appreciative of your help! The shuttle bus that we can take from Nangang Bus Terminal, would there be space for each of us to bring along our full-sized luggages? Also, would it be easy to find the boarding area in Snow Town for the shuttle bus to Yabuli? Lastly, do we buy tickets from the driver when we board the bus, or should we book/purchase in advance from the bus terminal to guarantee our seats? Thank u!

35. Dear Priscillia，

    Thanks for your inquiry! My article only serves as a reference for you. It is a big shuttle bus and normally you can easily put your large suitcases, or give larger suitcases to the driver for him to store in the luggage compartment of the bus.

    It is better to buy your tickets in advance from the bus terminal to guarantee our seats.

    By the way, If you arrive in Harbin by high speed train at Harbin West Railway Station, you don’t need to go to Nangang Bus Station for the shuttle bus, you can easily take the shuttle bus starting from Harbin West Railway Station to Yabuli or China Snow Town. The shuttle will pass by Nangang Bus Station.

    It is very easy to find the boarding area in Snow Town for the shuttle bus to Yabuli since the so-called China Snow Town is basically a one-street town.

36. Hello, I’ll be visiting China snow town this march.i would like to know how to get there from Harbin? And there’s another way i can go to china snow town if there is no shuttle bus? Hope can hear from you soon.

    Thanks.

37. Dear Nzaaaaa,

    You can two choices if you don’t want to use the public tranport.

    1. Hire a car with drier

    2. Share a van usually offered by the inn or hotel you are going to stay in China Snow Town.

    Have a nice time!

38. I plan to visit China Snow Town in early Dec. When exactly does the shuttle bus service from Harbin operate in Dec?

    As for night light-up, do they decorate lights from early Dec?

    Thanks.

39. Dear Paul,

    Basically it will be lit up in early Dec. But as for the shuttle bus, it is too early to give a clear reply. Thanks!

40. Hi Daniel,

    Im visiting harbin this dec 2019 and would like to go to snow town how much is the bus fare nangang is there a straight route to snow town rather stopping at yabuli?

    But if we stop a yabuli how many hours is being alocated before going to snow town.

    Please also share the updated entrance ticket to snow town.

    Regards,

    Alan Sy

41. Dear Alan,

    Thanks for your inquiry!

    I have just updated the direct shuttle between Harbin and Snow. Please check out the below （ also the updated the page）:

    The direct shuttle service between Harbin and Snow Town

    Harbin – – Snow Town Shuttle Service:
    There are two starting points for the shuttle bus from Harbin to Snow Town. Check out the two starting points below:

    1. Depart from the entrance to Longyun Tourism
    Add: 4-1 Jiuzhan Street, Harbin
    龙运旅游门前 (九站街4-1号）

    2. Depart from Beidahuang International Hotel
    Add: 175 Hongqi Avenue, Harbin + 60 minutes
    北大荒国际饭店门前（红旗大街175号）+60分钟

    Shuttle Bus Timetable ( from Harbin to Snow Town)
    6:00 – 12:00
    8:00 – 14:00
    9:00 – 15:00
    10:00 – 16:00
    12:00 -18:00
    13:00 – 19:00

    Snow Town — Harbin Shuttle Service:
    The shuttle bus starting from the service center of Snow Town to the following places in Harbin:

    1. Beidahuang International Hotel
    Add: 175 Hongqi Avenue, Harbin
    哈尔滨北大荒国际饭店门前（红旗大街175号）

    2. At the crossroad of West Erdao Street, Zhongyang Avenue, Harbin
    哈尔滨中央大街西二道街交叉口

    3. No.4-1 Jiuzhan Street in Daoli District, Harbin
    哈尔滨道里区九站街

    Shuttle Bus Timetable ( from Snow Town to Harbin)
    7:00 – 13:00
    9:00 – 15:00
    10:00 – 16:00
    12:00 – 18:00
    13:00 -19:00
    13:30 – 19:30

    Bus fare: 120 yuan per person ( single bus trip)
    Ticket booking inquiry : 18045399579 / 15714539993
    24-hour enquiry in China Snow Town: 400-000-0453

    The main entrance to China Snow Town: 95 Yuan
    Ferry Bus: 10 yuan
    See the sunrise at Yangcao Mountain : 280 Yuan
    Hotel: about 400 – 600 per night
    Three meals a day: about 100 yuan

    It is said that there are some tourist scams at Snow Town. Just be vigilant!

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