China’s Snow Town 雪乡 and Snow Valley 雪谷
Flew Singapore Airlines to Harbin in Dec 2024 with layover in Shanghai, at a total journey of ~10h!
Highly recommend to spend a night in Harbin to acclimatise to the weather as it was approx. -15deg when we arrived during the week of Christmas.
My itinerary:
SG > Harbin (1n to acclimatise) > bus to Xuexiang (1n) > private car to Xuegu (1n) > bus to Harbin
🚗 Transportation (Harbin > Xuexiang)
Xuexiang (雪乡) and Xuegu (雪谷) are both located approx. 5h bus ride away from Harbin.
1. Bus from Harbin to Xuexiang: RMB120 per pax (we went with this)
2. Private car from Harbin Hotel to Xuexiang accoms: RMB800 (can be arranged by the hotel)
🏠 Accomodation
Xuexiang Hotel (雪乡昊翔酒店)
Xuexiang’s accommodation is very pricey considering its recent commercialisation and popularity. The hotel we chose is not located within Xuexiang’s main attraction itself, it is located approx. 15min away from Xuexiang which the hotel provided to and fro transportation. The room’s amenities were basic with a bed, small toilet and disposable towels - albeit thin and short🥲 Breakfast were included with porridge and buns.
Xuegu Shanshan Hostel (五常姗姗雪谷)
Chanced upon this bnb on XHS and was instantly sold by its yard decorated with fairy lights and outdoor seatings. We stayed in the room with modern furnishings and it was big and sufficient for 3 pax. Xuegu has buses catered for Harbin with standard timings, making it convenient to travel back to the city, iirc it was RMB100 per pax and took approx. 4-5 hours.
I personally enjoyed Xuegu more than Xuexiang as it is a quaint and neat little town without the overwhelming commercialisation like Xuexiang. Xuegu is a small town that is walkable and has winter activities like cycling on ice, and more. The bnb’s hosts are likely able to arrange day trip activities to nearby attractions as well!
I would recommend staying two nights in Xuegu and make a day trip to Xuexiang main attraction area as Xuexiang’s accoms are kinda expensive and bare minimum, at least the one I chose was and it is actually doable as Xuexiang and Xuegu are close to 2h apart only.
It was kinda challenging to plan around these two places as they are located at the outskirts, information was quite limited and mainly requires WeChat to book the transportation and communicate with the bnb hosts, hotels can be booked through Trip.com, my favorite travel OTA for China trips!
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- your typical SG OL who takes AL to travel😎
If you're planning a trip to China's famous snowy destinations, here’s a bit more insight from my experience. Snow Town Xuexiang, also known as Xuexiang, is incredibly popular among tourists but can feel quite commercialized, which you might find overwhelming. The accommodation prices here tend to be high, and amenities can be quite basic, as I found with the hotel I stayed at, located about 15 minutes away from the main attractions with shuttle service provided. On the other hand, Snow Valley Xuegu is a delightful alternative. It’s a cozy, walkable town with a serene atmosphere and some unique winter activities like ice cycling, which you won't easily find elsewhere. The bnb I stayed at had a lovely yard decorated with fairy lights, offering a warm and comfortable stay with modern furnishings. The local hosts can arrange day trips, making it easier to explore nearby hidden gems. Transportation between Harbin, Xuexiang, and Xuegu is relatively straightforward but does require some planning. Tickets for buses from Harbin to Xuexiang cost around RMB 120, while private cars are pricier but more convenient. Buses from Xuegu back to Harbin generally cost RMB 100 and take about 4-5 hours. Booking transportation often requires using WeChat or travel platforms like Trip.com, which I highly recommend for China trips. My suggestion is to stay two nights in Xuegu to soak in the calm winter vibe and make a day trip to Snow Town Xuexiang. This way, you experience the best of both worlds without overspending or feeling rushed. Remember to acclimatize in Harbin due to the cold temperatures—trust me, that night helped me enjoy the trip much more comfortably. In sum, Snow Valley Xuegu and Snow Town Xuexiang offer different but equally appealing winter experiences near Harbin. Depending on whether you prefer a quieter, more intimate setting or the bustling tourist scene, you can tailor your itinerary accordingly.
