Genhe: Dancing with Ice and Snow at China's Cold Pole

Here lies China's most extreme winter, where your breath instantly crystallizes into ice in the air, and beneath your feet is pure white snow knee-deep. The birch forest is draped with rime like a crystal palace. With some luck, you might witness unique astronomical phenomena, experiencing a surreal sensation akin to an alien world in the bitter cold of minus 40 degrees Celsius. While most places are still talking about the chill of minus ten degrees, Genhe is already immersed in the extreme cold of minus 30 to 40 degrees. This is the true "Cold Pole of China," once recording an astonishing minus 58 degrees. Visiting Genhe is not just a trip; it’s a gentle test of limits and a deep embrace with ice and snow. Recommended Experiences: Cold Pole Village: At minus 40 degrees in Cold Pole Village, you will rediscover the joy of life. Sleep on a traditional Northeast kang bed and feel the nearly 60-degree temperature difference between indoors and outdoors; taste cold-water fish caught through ice fishing, a fresh sweetness you won’t find elsewhere; make your own ice lantern to light up your own brightness through the long night. Unfrozen River: A miracle of life amid ice and snow, there is a river that never stops flowing in a world where everything else is frozen. The river surface steams with thick white mist, the banks are hung with sparkling frost-covered trees, and sunlight passing through the mist creates dazzling beams—a natural ode to life composed in the harsh cold. Aoluguya: Step into China’s only reindeer homeland and meet these forest spirits. They gently chew the moss in your hand, frost clings to their long eyelashes, and their eyes are as pure as this snowy plain. Forest Sea and Snowfield: Travel through a pure white canvas, ride a horse-drawn sleigh through the birch forest, with the crisp sound of hooves on snow. Or put on skis and glide freely down deserted snowy slopes. The snow here is dry and fluffy, crunching delightfully underfoot—pure, primal joy. Throwing Water to Freeze: Capture the ultimate moment. On an extremely cold morning, throw a cup of hot water forcefully into the air—the hot water instantly turns into thousands of ice crystals, blooming like fireworks or fairy petals, sparkling brilliantly in the sunlight. This act requires strict conditions: temperature below -30°C, hot water above 90°C, a morning backlit scene, and utmost safety to avoid splashing hot water on yourself. Hold the hot water with both hands and throw it forcefully upward at an angle. It’s recommended to shoot in slow motion to clearly capture the falling ice crystals’ trajectory. This striking photo might become the most special in your travel album. Ice and Snow Festival: If you happen to be here during the Ice and Snow Festival, you will witness the most passionate side of this icy town: ice sculpture contests, snowmobiles, extreme cold marathons... The vibrant life boiling in the cold will completely change your perception of "cold." In Genhe’s winter, cold is no longer an enemy to resist but a playful companion. Here, the most extreme low temperatures coexist with the warmest human kindness. Here, the silent falling snow meets the bustling warmth of human life. In this extreme cold land, life is never lacking vitality, often hiding the most passionate love for living.