Top 10 alternative ways to spend the Spring Festival

Jilin Snow Willow - Ice Flowers in Fairy Tales

In China's northeast Jilin province, there is an unfrozen river, even in cold winter, running through the province, called Songhua River, both of whose banks are decorated with beautiful Snow Willow, the natural wonder representative of Jilin.

Jilin Snow Willow is well-known for its fantastic fusion of ice flowers hanging on pine trees. It is regarded as one of China's four natural wonders, together with the Stone Forest in Yunnan, Mountains and Waters in Guilin and as the Three Gorges in the Yangtze River.

According to meteorologists, Snow Willow is a kind of phenomenon where winter fog condenses on tree branches and leaves to form individual white ice crystals. The following are some popular locations across Jilin province to witness this great wonder.

Jilin Snow Willow is well-known for its fantastic fusion of ice flowers hanging on pine trees. [Photo/sohu.com]

Songjiang Road

Along Songjiang Middle Road, Binjiang Park, Guofangyuan and then Songjiang East Road, Snow Willow forms at different times in different places. Taking a stroll here in the fog can be a miraculous experience. However, we have to wait and see when the Snow Willow will actually show.

How to get there: Bus line 1, 8, 30, 42.

Snow Willow Island

Boasting the best place to see Snow Willow in Jilin, the Snow Willow Island is a natural islet formed in the center of the Songhua River. The unique geographic location enables Snow Willow Island to be encased in thick fog through the winter, so almost every day in winter, Snow Willow appears here.

At sunrise or sunset, thousands of mallards and swan geese fly over the river. Under the red sun, silver Snow Willow creates an amazing view that draws countless shutterbugs, striving to capture the beauty.

How to get there: walk east along Songjiang River, go down Wula Street, Manchu Town and get into Hantun. The several islets in the River are together called Snow Willow Island.

Tips: The average temperature on the island is minus 18-30 degrees Celsius. Be sure to keep warm. For shutterbugs, keep your lens well protected and also your hands.

A Shi Snow Willow Corridor

Snow Willow is frequently seen at A Shi Snow Willow Corridor. The snow willow-lined long corridor snakes its way along Songjiang River, resembling an extraordinary and surreal wonderland. But the best location for photography is said to be at Wujiashao, just across the river.

Songhuahu Snow Field

The best shooting location is on top of the mountains at Songhuahu Snow Field, where large areas of a well preserved forest are dressed in ice and snow. This place offers a perfect sight, as depicted in late Chinese chairman Mao Zedong's famous poems.

Beidahu Snow Field

Snow Willow is frequently seen at Beidahu Snow Field. Besides the natural wonder, this place boasts a perfect destination to enjoy skiing while admiring the beautiful snow willow.

Huadian Snow Willow appears from November through end of March.[Photo/sohu.com]

Huadian Snow Willow

Located in the southeast of Jilin province, Huadian city belongs to the Changbai Mountain range. Every year, from November to March, visitors can see snow willow here.

How to get there: It takes about two and a half hours to drive from Huadian city to the provincial capital city of Changchun. Two hours of ride from Changchun airport.

Yanbian Snow Willow is crowned as the most beautiful snow willow in China. [Photo/sohu.com]

Yanbian Snow Willow

During the trip from Yanji to Changbai Mountain, you shouldn't miss China's largest and greatest snow willow scenic resort. Situated in a gently rolling plateau, the ten-kilometer-long resort has an altitude of 1,400 meters, surrounded by thick woods. Hit by cold fronts after snowfalls, vast areas of snow willow appear in various shapes. The crystal sculptures often take your mind far away beyond this world, and so it is crowned as the most beautiful snow willow in China.