If you want to say the "top stream" in domestic tourism this winter, it must be Harbin.
This city, which is known for its unique ice and snow culture, has done a lot of "flower work" for tourists from all over the world, and it has become completely popular in this winter.
In winter, it's time to see the snow.
If Harbin is too noisy and popular, is there still a place in China where there are few people and beautiful scenery to watch the snow?
The answer is: Arshan.
Here, you can satisfy all your imagination of the snow scene in the north and experience the winter atmosphere of the luxury version!
The tiny town of Arshan
Arshan is not a mountain, it is a border city located in the northwest of the Xing'an League in the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, across the southwestern foothills of the Great Xing'an Mountains. The full name is "Harun Arshan", which means "warm and holy spring water" in Chinese.
Arshan's location is further north than Harbin, so it's no wonder that the snow here lasts for seven months, from October to April.
Although it is called a "city", it is actually the size of a small town, with an urban area of less than 10,000 people.
The whole city is located in a mountain col, and the only main road, the Hot Spring Road, runs through the city. The whole city is only 2 kilometers from south to north, and the width from east to west is only 2 or 300 meters, so you can see the head at a glance.
Because the city is so small, there are not even buses. But it really doesn't take you to get from the street to the end of the street in half an hour, and it takes you two hours to walk around the city.
A few years ago, many people got to know the distant Arshan through the popular variety show "Dear Inn" at that time, and were amazed by the beautiful autumn scenery here.
But what most people may not know is that Arshan in the off-season in winter is incredibly beautiful.
In winter, Arshan is magnificent and deep. The earth and rooftops are covered with snow, the boundless forests are hung with silvery rime, snowfields, forests, rivers, heavenly ponds, hot springs, sunrises, and stations.
Winter in Arshan has all the imaginary winter beauty, romance and dreams.
Arshan in winter, a dreamy fairy tale world
To go to Arshan to enjoy the snow, there are three main areas: Arshan City, Arshan Forest Park and White Wolf Town.
In the urban area of Arshan, there is the smallest but most beautiful railway station in China - Arshan Station.
Arshan Railway Station is the smallest and oldest railway station still in operation in China, built in 1937.
Although the Green Train is gradually retiring from the stage of history, it has been preserved as an imprint of the era and is still in operation.
Stopping here, you can see the Snowpiercer train that can only appear in the movie slowly approaching.
Arshan Forest Park is located in the vast forest of the Great Khing'an Mountains, which is the soul of the entire Arshan. It has the first peak of the Great Khing'an Mountains, Termei Mountain, the first lake, Darbin Lake, as well as the gifts of volcanic activity: Arshan Tianchi and Shitang Forest. It is a geopark that is worth visiting all year round.
In winter, the thick snow turns this place into a real fairytale world.
There is an ice-free river in the park, which is a section of the Haraha River, the mother river of Arshan.
Even in the cold winter of minus 30, the river here does not freeze, and the water still flows and maintains a temperature of several degrees, which is very amazing.
In fact, there is a lot of geothermal heat under the river, and there are hot springs all year round. The mist appears in the sunlight, and the rime and snow scenery by the river are spectacular!
Hump Ridge Tianchi is the essence of Arshan Scenic Area, it is a volcanic eruption, the crater of water and the formation of a high lake, the water surface elevation of nearly 1,300 meters.
It is the third highest Tianchi in China, after Tianshan Tianchi and Changbai Mountain, and is shaped like a jewel pendant.
The most distinctive thing is that a winding and flickering staircase extends upwards in the dense forest, and 998 steps are ascended step by step to reach the top of Tianchi Mountain.
When the snow covers the forests around Tianchi, the Hump Ridge Tianchi looks even more attractive in winter.
If you want to see the most spectacular rime landscape, you can't miss the White Wolf Peak.
The highest elevation of the White Wolf Peak in Arshan, the peak of 1511 meters above sea level has nearly 200 hectares of ice edge stone sea, and the scenic spot has built a natural viewing platform on the top of the mountain, which can overlook the beautiful scenery of the surrounding forests, seas and snowfields.
The rime here is the longest rime in the world, and the jade tree-like ice edges are crystal clear, which is simply a realistic version of "Frozen".
It is worth mentioning that after appreciating the rime of White Wolf Peak, you must go to the nearby White Wolf Forest Village, because it still maintains the most primitive forest production and lifestyle, which is very worth seeing.
White Wolf Forest Village: The village is a museum
Located in the south of Baiwolf Town, Arshan City, Baiwolf Forest Village is a typical village in the northeast forest area.
Surrounded by mountains and trees, the White Wolf Forest Village is covered with snow and silver in winter, and everything is bathed in a pristine natural state.
The village is 300 meters long from north to south, 200 meters wide from east to west, with an area of 60,000 square meters, and there are about 76 households, most of whom are forestry worker families. There are four ethnic groups: Mongolian, Han, Manchu and Xian.
As early as the early thirties of the last century, there were hunters living here, and after the founding of New China, it became the earliest settlement place for forest developers and builders.
The people here have guarded this forest for generations. In the past, people relied on forestry production such as felling trees to make a living, but more than a decade ago it became a no-logging zone. Although everyone still lives on the forest, they have changed their thinking and become rich by developing tourism to get rid of poverty, so as to continue the lifeblood of the forest and benefit and nourish future generations for a long time.
The streets, courtyards, and houses in the village have truly restored the original appearance of the buildings from the 60s of the last century to the present, attracting tourists to experience a different life in the forest area.
Put down the axe and become a tour guide, and you don't have to worry about a well-off life." Today's people in Linshu Village rely on this new road of development to live a prosperous and happy life at their doorstep.
The forest village is like a large-scale museum with a rich collection, which encompasses the colorful life of the people in the forest area.
Arshan is small and the smallest city in China.
Arshan is also very large, with snow fields, forests, rivers, heavenly pools, hot springs, and yellow sheep ......
All the beautiful and romantic dreams of winter can be found here.
Arshan is an irresistible winter destination. This fairytale town will continue to quietly exude its charm in the depths of the Great Khing'an Mountains, waiting for more people to explore and discover.