Located just 1.5 hours by train from Harbin, this small town takes visitors into a space that is both wild and cinematic. A trip to Hengdaohezi is not only a journey to see the snow, but also an opportunity to feel the peaceful life of Northeast China, where nature and people blend into a separate world amidst endless white.
The distinctive yellow roofs covered with white snow create a fairy tale-like scene.
Pham Minh Thuy - a girl working in the IT industry but with an endless passion for travel and photography, came to Hengdaohezi by chance. She shared: "This year I had a trip to Inner Mongolia, flying back from Harbin and had two free days there. Because I had visited the famous places here last year, this time I wanted to find something new. By chance, I saw Chinese friends reviewing Hengdaohezi - a small village but with beautiful scenery, I decided to go".
Snow village with Japanese atmosphere
From Harbin, Hengdaohezi is only 1.5 hours by train, much more convenient than the 5-hour journey to the famous Snow Village. One would think that a much-mentioned place would be crowded with tourists, but no, Hengdaohezi is completely different from crowded Harbin. The first feeling when arriving here is a rare peace. No noise, no hustle and bustle, the small town seems to be immersed in a long winter sleep. The roads covered in white snow, the quiet yellow houses, all evoke the image of a remote village in Japan.
Not as crowded as Harbin, the village offers a peaceful and pristine feeling.
"The village was quite deserted, at first I was a bit disappointed because many shops were closed, the atmosphere was somewhat desolate. But in return, the architecture of the village was very beautiful. The warm yellow houses stood out against the white snow, the roads covered with ice and snow made the scene more magical than ever," Thuy recounted.
Her first stop was the Hengdaohezi Old Railway Station, a symbol of the town. The snow-covered yellow-brown walls and the small platform created a nostalgic scene like something out of an old movie. But what impressed her most was the trail above the village – where she could take in the entire picturesque beauty of Hengdaohezi.
"This view from above is the reason I decided to go to Hengdaohezi. Although the road up is quite slippery and I have to pay a fee of about 30 yuan, the feeling of standing high up, looking down at the snow-covered roofs, and taking in the cold but fresh air is really worth it," said the female tourist.
Panoramic view from the elevated trail
Meet the "lords of the Taiga forest"
A trip to Hengdaohezi cannot miss the Siberian Tiger Park – one of the largest tiger reserves in the world. Initially, Thuy did not expect too much, but the moment she came face to face with the giant Siberian tigers made her amazed: "At first, I just wanted to go because everyone recommended it after reading the reviews. But when I got there, I was like 'oh wow' – because the Siberian tigers are really huge. This is one of the largest tiger species in the world, and seeing them with my own eyes is really an impressive experience."
The Siberian tiger is also known as the “King of the Taiga”. In addition to its original name, it is also known as the Amur tiger, Ussuri tiger or Manchurian tiger, distributed mainly in the Russian Far East, throughout the Korean Peninsula, Mongolia as well as northeastern China.
One interesting experience was feeding the tigers. For 10 yuan, visitors received a small bucket of meat and a long skewer to hand-feed the "kings of the Taiga". However, because of the cold winter, the tigers were a bit lazy, lying around enjoying the pale winter sunlight. She also found that wildlife parks like this not only provided a unique tourist experience but also helped raise awareness of wildlife conservation among visitors.
In addition to observing the mighty tigers, visitors also have the opportunity to participate in tiger feeding activities.
For 10 yuan, visitors receive a small bucket of meat and a long skewer to throw food to the "lords of the Taiga" with their own hands.
Fireworks by the river – the perfect end to the day
Sunset in Hengdaohezi comes earlier, at around 4 pm, the sky has already begun to tinge orange-red. This is also the most suitable time to set off fireworks – a popular cultural feature of the people in Northeast China.
Thuy went to Golden Triangle Farm, a riverside area where people often gather to set off firecrackers. The journey here was full of surprises as all the firecracker shops in the village were closed, but luckily a milk tea shop owner helped her call a taxi and showed her how to buy firecrackers on the road.
"This area is a few kilometers from the village, it cost us 25 yuan to get there by taxi. On the way, the driver will stop along the way for everyone to buy firecrackers. I think the prices here are very reasonable and there are many interesting designs. Since we didn't know how to light them up there, we only bought a few, which was a bit of a pity," Thuy said.
A brilliant moment at Golden Triangle Farm when fireworks light up the white snow
One lesson learned was to save the driver's number before going to this area, because after the fireworks were set off, there was almost no public transportation around. Luckily, she had connected with the driver in advance, so she had no trouble returning to the train station to return to Harbin.
The lasting impressions
The people of Northeast China are known for their tall stature and loud voices, but to Thuy, they brought a feeling of warmth and enthusiasm. Although the language barrier was a bit difficult, their sincerity made the trip more memorable.
Regarding cuisine, she especially loves the sweet and sour meat typical of the Northeast region and Dayao carbonated water - a simple drink but with a distinct flavor of this land.
Although not as cold as Inner Mongolia or Harbin, Hengdaohezi still has the characteristics of a northern winter with temperatures ranging from 0 to -10 degrees Celsius.
Although not as cold as Inner Mongolia or Harbin, Hengdaohezi still has the characteristics of a northern winter with temperatures ranging from 0 to -10 degrees Celsius. "I find this temperature quite pleasant, but the ice and snow make moving quite slippery. Everyone should prepare shoes with spikes or walk carefully to avoid falling," Thuy suggested.
Hengdaohezi may not be bustling, not too many entertainment activities, but it is that peace that makes it an ideal stopover for those who want to escape the noise and bustle. With a full day, from walking around the village, visiting the tiger park, watching the sunset from the high hills to setting off fireworks by the river, the journey in Hengdaohezi ends with both strange and memorable experiences.
Not a very prominent destination on the tourist map, but Hengdaohezi has its own beauty that only when you set foot there can you fully feel.
