--- title: "China Below Zero" description: "7 days from a Qing palace to a city built of ice for one winter" type: "tour" route_id: "harbin-winter-7-days" total_days: 7 price: 1830 highlights: ["Shenyang", "Changchun", "Erdaobaihe", "Harbin"] url: "https://www.lyriktrip.com/en-GB/tours/harbin-winter-7-days" canonical_url: "https://www.lyriktrip.com/en-GB/tours/harbin-winter-7-days" locale: "en-GB" alternates: {"en-US":"https://www.lyriktrip.com/tours/harbin-winter-7-days","en-GB":"https://www.lyriktrip.com/en-GB/tours/harbin-winter-7-days","zh-CN":"https://www.lyriktrip.com/zh-CN/tours/harbin-winter-7-days","zh-TW":"https://www.lyriktrip.com/zh-TW/tours/harbin-winter-7-days","de-DE":"https://www.lyriktrip.com/de-DE/tours/harbin-winter-7-days","fr-FR":"https://www.lyriktrip.com/fr-FR/tours/harbin-winter-7-days","es-ES":"https://www.lyriktrip.com/es-ES/tours/harbin-winter-7-days","it-IT":"https://www.lyriktrip.com/it-IT/tours/harbin-winter-7-days","x-default":"https://www.lyriktrip.com/tours/harbin-winter-7-days"} --- # China Below Zero 7 days from a Qing palace to a city built of ice for one winter China's northeast in one arc. Historic trams, snow forests, volcanic hot springs and Russian-era avenues, with English-speaking guides city by city. - Moderate — up to about 12,000 steps a day, with some stairs — Short, flat walks with shuttles and trains covering the distance; winter cold is the real variable, not the climb. ## Overview Most first trips to China chase spring. This one goes the other way: into the depths of the northeast winter, mid-December to mid-February, when the cold stops being weather and becomes the place. The route runs north and colder by the day: Shenyang, where the Qing dynasty began before it took Beijing; Changchun, where China's last emperor reigned in name only; a volcano under snow; then Harbin, which answers winter by building a city out of it. Three high-speed trains carry the long miles, so you cross the cold in a warm seat. Somewhere past the second train, you stop bracing against winter and start reading how a whole region turns deep cold into a way of life. LyrikTrip travel designers Your route is set before you land; professional English-speaking guides and a warm private vehicle carry you through every scheduled day. ## Summary - Route ID: harbin-winter-7-days - Duration: 7 days / 6 nights - Starting price: $1,830 - Status: active - Highlights: Shenyang, Changchun, Erdaobaihe, Harbin - Cover image: https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/1ttHCmeI.webp ## Hero tags - private - winter - cultural - nature - rail ## City highlights - Erdaobaihe: - Image: https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/6d0f4d1323b1.jpg - Harbin: - Image: https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/68b6ae660c12.jpg - Erdaobaihe (2 days): Erdaobaihe - Image: https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/6d0f4d1323b1.jpg - Harbin (3 days): Harbin - Image: https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/68b6ae660c12.jpg - Shenyang (1 days): Shenyang - Image: https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/c58561aaad22.jpg - Changchun (1 days): Changchun - Image: https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/6773efcfa152.jpg ## Experiences Three high-speed trains run north from the first Qing palace through the last emperor's second court and a snow-covered volcano to Harbin's city of ice. - Shenyang Imperial Palace (Shenyang): the palace the early Qing rulers built before the dynasty moved its court to Beijing: courtyards, ceremonial halls and living quarters on a scale you can walk in a morning. Your guide reads you the ways of the Manchu court, the northern people who founded the Qing, and points out where this complex parts company, in shape and layout, with the Forbidden City it preceded. - Subtitle: the palace the early Qing rulers built before the dynasty moved its - Tags: History - Host: Beijing, Beijing Lens — Imperial capital and Great Wall - Access: Your guide reads you the ways of the Manchu court, the northern people who founded the Qing, and points out where this complex parts company, in shape and layout, with the Forbidden City it preceded. - Images: https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/c58561aaad22.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/244a669dca29.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/78aebac2b8b0.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/a316f02f164a.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/eb84392b6529.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/c3a1f0a3c087.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/37233a8dc252.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/40c668a97929.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/5aeac5d49886.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/db0255c2930c.jpg - Shenyang Night Market (Shenyang): an arrival-evening walk, time allowing, through a market locals actually eat at: dumplings, grilled skewers, and the city's favourite snack, the spiced chicken frame: the bird's bony middle, marinated and grilled or smoked, picked apart hot with your fingers for the richest meat close to the bone. Your guide points out the stalls worth the wait; what you eat is on your own account, and none of it costs much. - Subtitle: an arrival-evening walk, time allowing, through a market locals actually eat at - Tags: Food - Host: Beijing, Beijing Lens — Imperial capital and Great Wall - Access: Your guide points out the stalls worth the wait; what you eat is on your account, and none of it costs much. - Images: https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/ef74dd7ddef0.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/7f688a02bb6b.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/b854c8b2ef32.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/704bf7b8cc30.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/593fd2a6580a.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/5907adfc5bd2.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/76156f6880e0.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/02ece8efd1bb.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/1b9f856370c8.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/98c3e6111bc7.jpg - Museum of the Imperial Palace of Manchukuo (Changchun): the compound in Changchun where Puyi, China's last emperor, was installed by Japan as the figurehead of occupied Manchuria: the story Bernardo Bertolucci put on screen in *The Last Emperor*. You walk the offices, ceremonial rooms and private quarters of a throne with no power behind it, and your guide carries the historical thread through the region's hard first half of the twentieth century. - Subtitle: the compound in Changchun where Puyi, China's last emperor, was installed by - Tags: History - Host: Beijing, Beijing Lens — Imperial capital and Great Wall - Access: You walk the offices, ceremonial rooms and private quarters of a throne with no power behind it, and your guide carries the historical thread through the region's hard first half of the twentieth century. - Images: https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/6773efcfa152.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/14947281189d.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/c102a4084b25.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/a79048834691.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/cbace73085a7.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/3c1213a2a07e.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/eb84392b6529.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/e74bb6a5664e.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/067ec81fc47e.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/db0255c2930c.jpg - Changchun Tram (Changchun): This source is a SINGLE translation unit. Even if it contains many lines, list items, paragraphs, or sub-sections, translate the ENTIRE source as ONE string. Do NOT produce one translation per line or list item. - Subtitle: a short ride on one of the city's traditional tram routes: streets - Tags: City - Host: Beijing, Beijing Lens — Imperial capital and Great Wall - Access: a short ride on one of the city's traditional tram routes: streets sliding past the frosted glass, a working link to Changchun's industrial and transport past. - Images: https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/5eee5a4af86e.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/563cdab67f60.jpg - Winter River Through the Snow Forest (Changbai): An early start for a river run through the forested countryside near Changbai Mountain: snow-covered trees along the banks, frozen riverbanks, and on the coldest mornings the chance of natural frost and rime turning the forest white. It runs when temperature, weather and river conditions permit on the day; afterward you warm up indoors and change before the mountain. Included in your journey. - Subtitle: an early start for a river journey through the wooded countryside near - Tags: Nature - Host: Beijing, Beijing Lens — Imperial capital and Great Wall - Access: Included in your journey. - Images: https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/6d0f4d1323b1.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/8e438afbbcda.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/d0a5d2508289.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/757c6693904e.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/d8a3073e448a.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/1f4089fffa03.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/82a329c7dfb2.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/7bd4cad2fe67.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/7f0a1c7d11ee.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/a9ae0ccbb1a1.jpg - Changbai Mountain North Scenic Area (Changbai): A volcano in full winter, traversed by the park's official shuttles. The accessible circuit runs from the Changbai Waterfall to the volcanic hot-spring field steaming from the snow, frozen waterfalls and forest viewpoints. Heaven Lake sits in the crater at the summit; wind, snow, visibility and the park's safety controls determine summit access on the day, so it cannot be guaranteed: the lower mountain stands regardless. - Subtitle: a volcano in full winter, moved through by the park's official shuttles - Tags: Nature - Host: Beijing, Beijing Lens — Imperial capital and Great Wall - Access: Heaven Lake sits in the crater at the summit; wind, snow, visibility and the park's safety controls decide summit access on the day, so it cannot be promised: the lower mountain stands regardless. - Images: https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/50eeb43ecc55.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/38b034244028.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/42b6c1fad6b7.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/de866695f1be.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/60fa6945f826.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/3c63af2407b9.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/ea4dee897af1.jpg - Hot-Spring Nights in Erdaobaihe (Changbai): two consecutive nights at a hot-spring hotel in the town at the volcano's northern gate: unpack once, and end both mountain days in hot water. Pool access and hours follow the chosen hotel's package and daily operating schedule; indoor and outdoor options vary by property. - Subtitle: two consecutive nights at a hot-spring hotel in the town at the - Tags: Wellness - Host: Beijing, Beijing Lens — Imperial capital and Great Wall - Access: Pool access and hours follow the chosen hotel's package and daily operating schedule; indoor and outdoor options vary by property. - Images: https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/f8f56b75a230.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/ebecb3284c4f.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/4967673c68f0.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/b74142fcf00a.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/1638c6113e47.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/382e24281e52.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/11b97ba3c869.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/b2b97ae9fbb0.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/f3040eaefedd.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/91b473b6187d.jpg - Harbin Ice and Snow World (Harbin): buildings and sculpture at architectural scale, all of it ice, built for one winter at a time. You take it from afternoon into evening, so the lights come on around you; observation decks, ice slides and the rest run on the park's official programme for the season. Meals and drinks inside the park are on your account, with your guide's help. - Subtitle: buildings and sculpture at architectural scale, all of it ice, built for - Tags: Winter - Host: Beijing, Beijing Lens — Imperial capital and Great Wall - Access: Meals and drinks inside the park are on your account, with your guide's help. - Images: https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/ee165b19349c.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/08da7c78dbdc.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/bf9f5fdd03fd.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/b74069dcc031.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/c722bd42073f.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/a6ded071d071.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/f794d3e8e276.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/a8188e5ca08b.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/65670959a75b.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/99c74b1c242f.jpg - Chinese Baroque District & a Harbin Craft (Harbin): streets where Chinese courtyard houses took on European ornament: carved fronts on the street, courtyards behind, the merchant Harbin of a century ago. One small cultural activity is arranged here: a handmade postcard session drawn from the district's architecture, or a visit built around one of the city's traditional food brands, with the final pick confirmed by availability. - Subtitle: streets where Chinese courtyard houses took on European ornament: carved fronts on - Tags: City - Host: Beijing, Beijing Lens — Imperial capital and Great Wall - Access: One small cultural activity is arranged here: a handmade postcard session drawn from the district's architecture, or a visit built around one of the city's traditional food brands, with the final pick confirmed by availability. - Images: https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/68b6ae660c12.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/a84a4f46b0fb.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/963e4126c9b0.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/a8188e5ca08b.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/ce63cd2e1551.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/379121d50fc6.jpg - Cathedral, Central Street & the Railway (Harbin): This source is a SINGLE translation unit. Even if it contains many lines, list items, paragraphs, or sub-sections, translate the ENTIRE source as ONE string. Do NOT produce one translation per line or list item. - Subtitle: Saint Sophia, the green-domed former cathedral, opens the story: how railway building - Tags: City - Host: Beijing, Beijing Lens — Imperial capital and Great Wall - Access: You end at the Songhua River and the historic railway bridge, where your guide brings the Chinese Eastern Railway story together: the line that brought the world to Harbin. - Images: https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/9d5647226bd3.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/f67ab6e42b9b.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/fa4a2b53fbd3.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/d540b8136a6f.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/cc1e691b3047.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/0b007795326a.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/271b19108b73.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/7e28a8741566.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/b5ca9625737a.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/85d6e7d36970.jpg - One Featured Meal, Your Choice (Route-wide): one full regional meal is included, chosen with us and confirmed before departure. The four options: a traditional Shenyang dumpling meal; a Korean table near Changbai Mountain, hotpot or barbeque from the area's Korean food traditions; a Northeast iron-pot stew, one big pot simmering at the centre of the table, generous and informal, made for this climate; or a Russian-influenced home-style dinner in Harbin, from the city's historic Russian-speaking communities. Subject to restaurant availability. - Subtitle: one full regional meal is included, chosen with us and confirmed beforehand - Tags: Food - Host: Beijing, Beijing Lens — Imperial capital and Great Wall - Access: Subject to restaurant availability. - Images: https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/f48ba08ef58a.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/004c2f626e6d.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/1a4b43f22e3e.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/1e436fd99a54.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/61a0bdc0d694.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/07094c5dbb4e.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/7682d9a655ee.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/666c637f95a6.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/c32e16844882.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/6428d79cd857.jpg - Harbin Morning Market (Harbin): on the departure morning, schedule permitting, a walk through a neighbourhood market at breakfast time: steam over every stall, residents shopping in the cold, and two things worth your hands: grilled cold noodles, a chewy noodle sheet grilled flat with an egg, brushed with sweet-savory sauce and folded hot into paper; and sticky bean buns, soft sticky-flour buns packed with sweet bean paste, a northeast winter staple. Sampling on your account; a stop at a local food store for take-home Harbin specialities can be added. - Subtitle: on the morning of departure, schedule permitting, a walk through a neighbourhood market - Tags: Food - Host: Beijing, Beijing Lens — Imperial capital and Great Wall - Access: Sampling at your own expense; a stop at a local food shop for take-home Harbin specialities can be added. - Images: https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/9957911f3d40.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/82ba01d36854.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/65f9104d90b7.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/51ecf304f401.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/c4b254b77e67.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/f6d19efa5a1c.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/f18d002a3236.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/ce63cd2e1551.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/ac3728eec71d.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/817caa74b57f.jpg ### Capture banner - Label: Save this itinerary - Title: Send the full route to your inbox - Subtitle: We will include the latest hotels, hosts and pacing notes. - Placeholder: Email address - CTA: Send route - Sent label: Sent ## Itinerary ### Two courts in the northeast - 2 days Shenyang and Changchun #### Shenyang (1 days) - Subtitle: Shenyang - Recommendation: The route starts before the Qing court reached Beijing. - Transport: High-speed rail - Transport mode: train Use the first morning for the palace, then travel north in a warm train seat. - Images: https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/c58561aaad22.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/ef74dd7ddef0.jpg ##### Day 1: arrival in the north - (transport) — Your guide meets you at Shenyang Taoxian airport or the railway station, and a warm private vehicle takes you to the hotel. - (dining) — If the evening allows, stroll through a working market for dumplings, skewers and spiced chicken frame; your guide points out stalls and food is on your account. #### Changchun (1 days) - Subtitle: Changchun - Recommendation: Changchun carries the imperial story into the hard first half of the twentieth century. - Transport: High-speed rail - Transport mode: train Walk the palace compound, ride the tram and continue by rail toward the volcano. - Images: https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/6773efcfa152.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/5eee5a4af86e.jpg ##### Day 2: the palace before Beijing - (sight) — Walk the courtyards, halls and living quarters the early Qing rulers built before taking Beijing, reading how this court differs from the Forbidden City. - (transport) — After lunch on your account, travel north by high-speed train while frozen farmland passes the window. - (sight) — If the confirmed train and your energy allow, visit a contemporary indoor hillside of lanes and small shops. ### A volcano under snow - 2 days Changbai Mountain #### Erdaobaihe - Recommendation: Two nights keep the river, mountain and hot springs in one settled base. - Transport: High-speed rail - Transport mode: train The lower mountain remains the core experience even when summit weather closes Heaven Lake. - Images: https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/6d0f4d1323b1.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/50eeb43ecc55.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/f8f56b75a230.jpg #### Erdaobaihe (2 days) - Subtitle: Erdaobaihe - Recommendation: Two nights keep the river, mountain and hot springs in one settled base. - Transport: High-speed rail - Transport mode: train The lower mountain remains the core experience even when summit weather closes Heaven Lake. - Images: https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/6d0f4d1323b1.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/50eeb43ecc55.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/f8f56b75a230.jpg ##### Day 3: the borrowed throne - (sight) — Walk the offices, ceremonial rooms and private quarters where Puyi was installed by Japan as figurehead of occupied Manchuria. - (sight) — Ride a traditional tram route as the city slides past frosted glass, a working link to its industrial past. - (transport) — Travel to Changbaishan Station, then continue by local transport to Erdaobaihe and check in for two nights. - (sight) — The hotel pools follow their daily timetable and the package confirmed with your named stay. ##### Day 4: Changbai Mountain: the volcano in winter - (sight) — Start early for a river cruise among snow-covered banks and possible rime; it operates only when temperature, weather and river conditions permit. - (sight) — Use official shuttles through Changbai Waterfall, the volcanic hot-spring field, frozen waterfalls and forest viewpoints. - (note) — Wind, snow, visibility and park safety controls determine summit access, so Heaven Lake cannot be guaranteed; the lower mountain remains the main experience. - (sight) — Return to Erdaobaihe for the hotel’s hot springs, in accordance with the confirmed package and operating hours. ### The city that builds with winter - 3 days Harbin #### Harbin - Recommendation: Harbin turns the cold from weather into architecture, food and city life. - Transport: High-speed rail - Transport mode: train Give the ice park its own afternoon and evening, then read the railway-built city in daylight. - Images: https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/68b6ae660c12.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/9957911f3d40.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/9d5647226bd3.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/ee165b19349c.jpg #### Harbin (3 days) - Subtitle: Harbin - Recommendation: Harbin turns the cold from weather into architecture, food and city life. - Transport: High-speed rail - Transport mode: train Give the ice park its own afternoon and evening, then read the railway-built city in daylight. - Images: https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/68b6ae660c12.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/9957911f3d40.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/9d5647226bd3.jpg, https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/ee165b19349c.jpg ##### Day 5: the city switches winter on - (transport) — Take a morning train from Changbaishan Station; your Harbin driver and guide meet you on arrival. - (sight) Harbin Ice and Snow World — Spend the afternoon and evening among buildings and sculpture made from ice for one winter, with park activities following the official seasonal programme. - (dining) — Meals and drinks are at your own expense, with your guide helping to arrange the timing and venue. ##### Day 6: the railway that built a city - (sight) — Stroll along streets where Chinese courtyard houses adopted European ornamentation and take part in a postcard photo session or food-brand visit, subject to availability. - (sight) Central Street — Begin under the green dome, then walk the stone-paved avenue while your guide explains railway building, migration and international communities. - (sight) — End at the river and bridge where the Chinese Eastern Railway story brings the day together. - (dining) — If your pre-selected meal arrives tonight, choose the confirmed Northeast iron-pot stew or Russian-influenced home-style dinner. ##### Day 7: the market, then home - (dining) — If departure allows, visit a local market for grilled cold noodles, sticky bean buns and other samples at your own expense. - (transport) — Transfer privately to Harbin Taiping Airport or the railway station; an early departure goes directly. ## Hotels ### Holiday Inn Express Shenyang North Station - City: Shenyang - Image: https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/fe5631ab3dfe.jpg ### Shangri-La Changchun - City: Changchun - Description: Shangri-La Changchun. A selected stay in Changchun. - Image: https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/736cd947b8a7.jpg ### Home Inn Selected Hotel (Erdao Baihe Town, Enduli) - City: Erdaobaihe - Description: Home Inn Selected Hotel (Erdao Baihe Town, Enduli). A selected stay in Erdaobaihe. - Image: https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/696d6f745292.jpg ### Aoluguya Hotel Harbin - City: Harbin - Description: Aoluguya Hotel: luxury stays in Harbin's Songbei District with an indoor pool, free Wi-Fi and airport shuttle service. - Image: https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/36a6ad6af127.jpg ### Shangri-La Hotel, Shenyang - City: Shenyang - Image: https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/8dMCQMyb.webp ### Sheraton Harbin Xiangfang Hotel - City: Harbin - Description: Sheraton Harbin Xiangfang Hotel offers bright rooms, a spa, fitness centre, restaurant and family rooms. ### Hampton by Hilton Changchun Eco Plaza - City: Changchun - Description: Hampton by Hilton Changchun Eco Plaza. A selected stay in Changchun. - Image: https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/de7309651030.jpg ### Kempinski Hotel Shenyang - City: Shenyang ### Changbai Dongwo Grand Hotel - City: Erdaobaihe - Description: Changbai Dongwo Grand Hotel. A selected stay in Erdaobaihe. - Image: https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/f526b58de1db.jpg ### Kempinski Hotel Harbin - City: Harbin - Description: Kempinski Hotel Harbin: a modern riverside hotel on the scenic Songhua River, with an indoor pool, spa and sauna. ### Hyatt Place Changchun Jingyue - City: Changchun - Description: Hyatt Place Changchun Jingyue. A selected stay in Changchun. - Image: https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/7d94ef9d5d7f.jpg ### NorthYorker Hotel Service Apartment Shenyang - City: Shenyang ## Included / Excluded ### What's Included - Private vehicles: Private air-conditioned vehicles for airport and station transfers and all listed sightseeing - Hotels: 6 nights in selected hotels, twin or double rooms, breakfast daily - Rail: Second-class high-speed rail tickets for Shenyang to Changchun, Changchun to Changbaishan, and Changbaishan to Harbin - Guides: Professional English-speaking guide service throughout the scheduled programme - Tickets and experiences: Listed admission and experiences, including the weather-dependent river run, Changbai official transport, Ice and Snow World, one Harbin activity and one regional meal - Also: Hot-spring access where included in the chosen hotel package, travel accident insurance, touring-day water and disposable heat packs ### Not Included - Flights: International and domestic flights - Meals: Beyond daily breakfast and one featured meal, lunches and dinners remain flexible and on your account, including food inside Ice and Snow World - Personal: Visas, gratuities, single supplement, personal spending, minibar and optional activities not listed as included - Disruption: Additional costs caused by severe weather, road or attraction closures, or railway disruption beyond reasonable control ### Special Notes A few aspects of this route depend on weather, seasons or operators. Here they are, with the backup already arranged. - Ice and Snow World season: The park's opening and closing dates vary with each winter's temperatures. Your dates are checked before booking; a missed season means shifting dates or redesigning Harbin. - Heaven Lake: Wind, snow, visibility and park safety controls determine access to the summit; the waterfall, steaming springs and snow forest remain the lower-mountain plan. - Winter river run: It operates only when temperature, weather and river conditions permit; the Changbai Mountain day trip goes ahead regardless. - Hot springs: Pool access and opening hours depend on the chosen hotel package and daily schedule; indoor and outdoor options vary by property. - Featured meal: Choose one option before departure, subject to restaurant availability: Shenyang dumplings, a Korean table, Northeast iron-pot stew or Russian-style dinner. - Harbin cultural activity: A postcard session or food-brand visit is subject to availability. - Zheyou Mountain evening: Optional, set by the confirmed train time and your energy. - First and last days: The D1 night market and D7 morning market run only if arrival and departure times allow. - Hotels and venues: Named in your confirmation; or similar means the same class and comparable location. ## Is Seven Days Your Length? Tell us your dates and who is coming: we will shape the winter around you. ### Got a week to spare? This is the full arc, from empire to ice, in its proper order. ### Fewer days? We remove a city, not the pace; tell us what matters most and the line shortens around it. ### Travelling with kids or older parents? The walking is short and flat; days can slow down further and move indoors more often. ## Good to Know - Group: Private; from 1 guest: no minimum - Arrival: Day 1 is your arrival day: transfer and rest, with the night market only if the evening allows - Language: English-speaking guide service throughout the scheduled programme - Shopping Policy: No shopping stops or commission detours on the route; your time is dedicated solely to the places listed here. - Tailoring: Fully flexible. Days, stops, and pace can be added, removed, or swapped. We'll reshape the plan together before you confirm and pay. - Payment: A 10% deposit, minimum $399, secures your dates and resources; the balance is due 14 days before departure. - Season: Mid-December to mid-February; ask for a packing brief for your exact dates - Flexibility: Walking adapts to your pace and the day's cold; weather-dependent items and backups are listed in Special Notes - Ports: Shenyang In · Harbin Out - Gateway markets: Lead country marker: FR. Gateway markets from inventory: WEU. Both ends may need a connection; winter conditions can affect rail and road timing. ## Your Private Concierge - Name: Jason Hu - Title: Private China Route Concierge - Tagline: A bilingual planning desk for tailor-made China journeys. - Bio: Our China team tailors the pacing, hotels and local hosts to suit each route style. - Avatar image: https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/c0TBypRh.png ### Stats - 20+ Years - 300+ Trips designed - 24/7 On-trip care ### The Conversation Every LyrikTrip journey begins with a conversation. Tell us your dates and who's coming — and if this length isn't right for you, we'll say so and shape a shorter arc. First reply within four hours; a clear price for your dates within one business day. - CTA: Start the conversation ### Step 01: Tell us what excites you Not your dates and budget — your curiosity. Where have you always wanted to go? What do you want to feel? We start there. - 24h: First concept delivered ### Step 02: We design it around you Your specialist builds the itinerary from scratch — routes, hosts, hotels, and experiences you won't find anywhere else. - 100%: Bespoke, never off-the-shelf ### Step 03: Lock it in with 10% When the plan feels right, a 10% deposit holds your entire trip. Balance due 30 days before departure. - 10%: Deposit to secure everything ### Step 04: Travel. We handle the rest. Your Trip Pack arrives before you fly. On the road, your concierge is one message away — for the expected and everything you didn't plan for. - 24/7: Support throughout your journey - Free cancellation up to 30 days - English-speaking concierge - Secure payment via Stripe - CTA: Talk to Us ## Guest Reviews - Overall rating: 4.9 - Total reviews: 523 - Count label: from 523 verified reviews 4.9 / 5 ### Platforms - google: 4.9 (312 reviews) - tripadvisor: 5.0 (211 reviews) - Filter tabs: All, Google, TripAdvisor - Emily Carter (🇺🇸 Seattle, USA · 5★ · May 2026 · google): Perfect for couples - My partner and I had an amazing time in China. Everything was arranged for us — transfers, hotels, guides. No stress at all. - Claire Brooks (🇬🇧 London, UK · 5★ · Apr 2026 · tripadvisor): Great for families - Traveled with my two kids and had zero issues. The team made sure the pace wasn't too rushed and included things the kids would enjoy. Communication was easy throughout. Will definitely use them again for our next Asia trip. - Laura Bennett (🇨🇦 Toronto, Canada · 5★ · Mar 2026 · google): Alisa made the whole experience easy - Alisa was our point of contact throughout and she was brilliant — patient, knowledgeable, and always quick to reply. The trip itself was wonderful. Beijing and Guilin were highlights. - Mark Henderson (🇺🇸 Denver, USA · 4★ · Feb 2026 · tripadvisor): Good service, minor hiccup but sorted quickly - Really good service. There was a small mix-up with one of our restaurant bookings but it got sorted quickly. The rest of the trip was seamless. - Rebecca Miller (🇺🇸 Boston, USA · 5★ · Jan 2026 · google): Really listened to what we wanted - Really helpful team. They listened to what we wanted and delivered. Beijing and Xi'an were incredible. ## China Ready We've solved the hard parts. Here's everything a first-time Western traveller needs to know before arriving. ### VPN & Internet Access - Badge: Do this before you fly - What's blocked: Google, Gmail, YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, WhatsApp, and most Western news sites are inaccessible in China without a VPN. - Download before you leave: It's nearly impossible to download a VPN once inside China. Install and test at home. Recommended: Astrill (most reliable), Mullvad, ExpressVPN — subscribe to at least two in case one stops working. - Hotel Wi-Fi tip: Some hotels block VPN connections on their Wi-Fi. Use your phone's mobile data as a hotspot if the VPN drops. - Good news: WhatsApp works perfectly through a VPN, so your messaging stays unchanged. Apple iMessage and Signal also work. ### Paying in China - Badge: Your concierge sets this up on Day 1 - China is cashless: Alipay and WeChat Pay are used for almost everything — restaurants, taxis, markets, tickets. Cash is rarely accepted in cities. - International cards now work: Foreign Visa/Mastercard can now link directly to Alipay (set up in minutes, $5,000 single transaction limit). Your concierge walks you through the setup on your first morning. - Carry some cash: We recommend ¥500–800 RMB in cash for the rare vendor that won't accept digital payment, and for small towns. - Booking this trip: Your deposit and balance are charged via Stripe — the same trusted platform used by Airbnb and Booking.com. USD billing, no surprise conversion fees. ### Visa & Entry - Badge: We handle the paperwork - Do you need a visa?: Most US, UK, EU, Australian, Canadian, and New Zealand passport holders need a tourist (L) visa for stays over 10 days. We provide a visa invitation letter with every booking — it significantly speeds up approval. - 240-hour visa-free transit: Citizens of 55+ countries (including USA, UK, most of EU, AUS, NZ, Canada) can enter China visa-free for up to 10 days if transiting through eligible ports. This covers our 12-day itinerary only if you have a confirmed onward flight. - Processing time: Apply 4–6 weeks before departure. Standard processing: 4–7 business days. Express (3 days) and same-day options available at most Chinese consulates. - What we provide: Visa invitation letter, hotel confirmation for all nights, suggested itinerary document — everything the consulate needs, formatted correctly. ### Safety & Practical Tips - Badge: Our responsibility, always - Is China safe?: China consistently ranks among the safest countries for foreign tourists. Violent crime against visitors is extremely rare. Cities have extensive CCTV coverage and a visible police presence. - Emergency numbers: Police: 110. Ambulance: 120. Your concierge is your first call for any non-emergency situation — she has local contacts for every city on the itinerary. - Health & medications: Bring a full supply of any prescription medication. International pharmacies exist in major cities but may not carry your brand. Travel insurance is required — we can recommend policies that cover China specifically. - Language: English fluency outside hotels and tourist sites is limited. Your guides all speak English. We provide a printed pocket card with essential Chinese phrases and emergency contacts for every traveller. ## Before You Book Everything worth knowing before you book. ### How cold does it get, honestly? Cold enough to be the point. From mid-December to mid-February, days run well below freezing. The route uses short flat walks, a warm vehicle, indoor breaks, daily heat packs and hot-spring nights. ### Will we see Heaven Lake? It cannot be promised. Wind, snow, visibility and safety controls decide access; if the summit road stays shut, the waterfall, steaming springs and snow forest remain. ### Will Ice and Snow World be open on our dates? The park is rebuilt each winter and sets dates according to temperatures. Your window is checked before booking; if it does not align, dates shift or the Harbin days are redesigned. ### Why is only one full meal included? Tastes diverge over a week. Breakfast is included, plus one regional meal chosen from four options before departure; your guide recommends and books the rest around your tastes.