Snow Town vs Snow Village vs Snow Valley in China: What’s the Real Difference? (And How to Get There from Harbin)
- Hansong Li
- 5 hours ago
- 4 min read
“I booked a room in ‘Snow Valley’… but ended up in Snow Town. Totally different places!”
That’s what Mia from New Zealand told me last January—standing outside Harbin Railway Station, confused and freezing. She’d typed “Snow Valley” into a travel site, but the booking confirmation said “Xuexiang.” Turns out, she’d mixed up Snow Town, Snow Village, and Snow Valley—three totally different destinations with similar names.
If you’re planning a winter trip to Northeast China, this mix-up could cost you time, money, or even leave you stranded in the wrong place.This guide cuts through the confusion. You’ll learn exactly what each place is, what you can do there, and how to get there from Harbin—no Chinese phone number or app needed.
Whether you love cozy fireplaces, quiet villages, or epic snow hikes, you’ll find your perfect match here.
H2: Snow Town (Xuexiang / 雪乡) – The Cozy, Picture-Perfect Winter Resort
Snow Town isn’t just snowy—it’s designed for visitors. Think glowing lanterns, thick “snow mushroom” roofs, and warm guesthouses with hot water.
Official name: China Snow Town (Xuexiang, Shuangfeng Forest Farm, Changting Town, Hailin City, Heilongjiang Province)It’s a former logging town turned full-time tourist destination. Over 100 guesthouses line its main street. Most offer Wi-Fi, English-speaking staff, and heated beds called kang.
Take James from the UK: He brought his parents here. “They were worried about the cold,” he said, “but our room had underfloor heating and hot soup waiting at dinner.”
What to do:
Walk the lit-up main street at night
Try snow tubing on gentle slopes
Take photos of snow-covered wooden fences and rooftops
How to get there from Harbin:
Direct tourist bus from Harbin Central Coach Station (Harbin Long-Distance Bus Station / 哈尔滨公路客运站): departs at 7:00 and 13:00, takes ~5 hours, costs ¥120
Or take a high-speed train to Yabuli South Station (Yabuli Nan Zhan / 亚布力南站), then a shuttle bus (¥80, 2h10m)
Pro tip: Book your stay inside Xuexiang village—not in nearby towns. Only guests with overnight tickets can enter after 4 PM.
H2: Snow Village (Erhe Cun / 二合村) – The Quiet, Authentic Farmstead Experience
Snow Village = real rural life. No neon lights. No crowds. Just wooden cabins, steaming stews, and families making ice lanterns by hand.
The most famous is Shulan Erhe Snow Village (Erhe Cun, Shulan City, Jilin Province). It’s a working village where locals still raise pigs, store cabbage in cellars, and heat homes with wood stoves.
Last winter, Hiroshi from Japan stayed with a local family. “We made dumplings together,” he said. “At night, we walked to a hilltop to see stars—no light pollution at all.”
What to do:
Sleep in a traditional log cabin
Eat sha zhu cai (a hearty pork-and-veggie stew)
Join villagers making frozen lanterns or snow sculptures
How to get there from Harbin:
Take a bus from Harbin Long-Distance Bus Station to Shulan City (3.5 hours, ¥65)
Then hire a local taxi to Erhe Cun (40 minutes, ~¥100 round-trip)
Total travel time: ~4.5 hours
Pro tip: Bring cash. Cards don’t work here. And pack extra layers—many homes have no central heating.
（Snow Town vs Snow Village vs Snow Valley in China for foreign travelers）
H2: Snow Valley (Dongsheng Linchang / 东升林场) – The Wild, Untouched Snow Wilderness（Snow Town vs Snow Village vs Snow Valley in China for foreign travelers）
Snow Valley isn’t a town or village. It’s a natural valley buried in deep snow, surrounded by mountains. Few tourists. Zero souvenir shops. Pure adventure.
Official name: Dongsheng Forest Farm (Dongsheng Linchang, Shanhetao Forestry Bureau, Wuchang City, Heilongjiang)It sits in a bowl-shaped valley beneath Yangcao Mountain. Snow here is often over 1 meter deep—fluffy, untouched, and silent.
Diego from Brazil hiked the classic route: Snow Valley → Snow Town (15 km over Yangcao Mountain). “My phone died in 20 minutes,” he laughed. “But the sunrise over the ridge? Worth every step.”
What to do:
Hike the 15-km trail to Xuexiang (6–8 hours)
Photograph untouched snow forests
Stay in simple forest lodges with shared bathrooms
How to get there from Harbin:
Shared van or private car only (no public bus)
Drive time: ~4.5 hours via Wuchang
Many travelers go through Snow Valley en route to Snow Town
Pro tip: Don’t attempt the hike without proper boots, gloves, and a guide. Weather changes fast. GPS often fails.
Quick Comparison: Which One Fits Your Style?
Feature | Snow Town (Xuexiang) | Snow Village (Erhe Cun) | Snow Valley (Dongsheng) |
Best for | First-timers, families, photographers | Culture lovers, slow travelers | Hikers, adventurers, solitude seekers |
Facilities | Full (hot water, Wi-Fi, restaurants) | Basic (family-run, cash only) | Minimal (shared rooms, no showers) |
From Harbin | 5h by bus or train+shuttle | 4.5h by bus + taxi | 4.5h by private car only |
Night vibe | Colorful lights, music, crowds | Quiet, starry skies, crackling stoves | Silent, dark, wild |
Final Tips & Your Next Step
Remember:
Snow Town = comfort & photos
Snow Village = culture & calm
Snow Valley = nature & challenge
All three are magical—but only if you go to the right one.
And if you’re visiting Harbin anyway, don’t miss the Ice and Snow World, Central Avenue’s Russian architecture, or a hot spring soak after skiing in Yabuli. To make it all smooth, I’ve packed everything international travelers need into one practical guide:
[Click here to read the full online version of Harbin Travel Guide]
Discover Harbin in Winter Within 144 Hours includes:
✅ Exact bus times from Harbin to Xuexiang
✅ 3 vetted kang bed guesthouses that accept foreigners
✅ 50+ local-only food spots (like ¥2 fried glutinous cakes on Hongzhuan Street)
✅ Extreme cold hacks: how to keep your phone alive at -30°C
✅ Bilingual addresses + 1-tap map links for Snow Town, Yabuli, and more
You could spend weeks researching—or get it all for less than $10.Your future self (warm, well-fed, and never lost in a snowstorm) will thank you.