Northeast China Private Tour: Harbin Ice Festival and the Northeast

Northeast China has one season that everyone wants and three that almost nobody visits. Harbin's ice festival in January is the reason to come; Changbaishan's crater lake, Shenyang's Qing palaces and Inner Mongolia's grasslands are the reason to stay longer.

包車 — charter, car and driver

A charter is the only sensible way in winter: the roads are icy, distances are long, and a driver who knows them is worth more than any hotel upgrade. In summer the grasslands and the border country need one too.

包團 — private tour, the route planned too

A private tour adds hotels within walking distance of the ice park, the thermal clothing that is not optional in January, and the internal flights that make a Harbin-and-Changbaishan route work in a week.

Routes that work

• 4 days: Harbin — ice festival, St Sophia, the Songhua river, local food.
• 7 days: add Changbaishan's crater lake and the hot springs below.
• 9 days: add Shenyang's palace and Inner Mongolia's Hulunbuir grasslands in summer.

Getting around

Harbin to Changbaishan is a flight of about an hour, or a long rail day. Harbin to Shenyang roughly two and a half hours by high-speed rail. Shenyang to Beijing about two and a half hours.

When to come

Late December to February for the ice festival — it is genuinely cold, often below minus twenty. June to September for Changbaishan and the grasslands, which are green and cool.

Frequently asked questions

How cold is Harbin in January?

Often minus twenty to minus thirty. Proper layers are essential, and we tell you exactly what to bring before you pack.

When is the ice festival?

Officially from early January, with the ice structures opening around the first week and lasting into late February depending on the weather.

Is Changbaishan worth the trip?

Yes in summer, and in winter for the snow and hot springs. The crater lake is often clouded in, so two nights gives you a second chance.

Can we combine with Beijing?

Yes — two and a half hours by high-speed rail from Shenyang, which makes a Harbin-Beijing route easy.

Do your guides speak English?

We match the guide to the party. Tell us the language you need when you ask.