Qiqihar's Zhalong nature reserve is home to nine of the world's 15 crane species, including red-crowned cranes. Winter visitors can watch hundreds of cranes take to the sky over the wetlands.

Longsha Zoological and Botanical Garden houses rare plants and animals from South America and Africa, such as blue wildebeests, zebras and ostriches.

The garden hosts ice sculptures of exotic fauna in winter.

Harbin-Mohe

Mohe is for adventurous types.

It's the country's northernmost county and one of its coldest places.

Sunrise comes at 9 am, and sunset arrives by 3 pm.

Beiji village sits a river away from Russia and is an ideal place to see the aurora borealis.

Visitors can experience polar day and night.

Christmas World contains a holiday-themed post office, gift shops and Finnish Santa Clauses. The place blends China's polar climate with Christmas culture.

Harbin-Mudanjiang

The route offers fishing on the Jingpo Lake and sacrifices before Manchu deities to bless your angling.

Tourists can get a feel for ancient Manchu hunters' lives.

The Diaoshuilou Waterfall freezes in winter.

Huoshankou national forest park is pocked with craters. Each runs about 100 meters deep and exceeds 100 meters in diameter, and is ringed by primitive forest.

Harbin-Yichun

Yichun is celebrated for its sunrises, rime and giant stone "mushroom" formations. All are striking when blanketed in snow.

White crystals glaze tree branches and stones for four months.

It renders an other world for cross-country skiing, curling or snow soccer.