Comprising the city states and provinces of: Heilongjiang, Jilin, Liaoning.
Overview:
Once known as Manchuria, this region blends Russian, Korean, and Manchu influences with dramatic seasonal landscapes, a panorama of jagged peaks, boulder strewn snow fields and waterfalls surrounding Tian Chi Hu, a spectacular crater lake on the border of North Korea. Filling a windswept caldera, the lake’s deep-cobalt-blue waters which forms the centrepiece of the Changbai Shan Nature Reserve. The region is a contender for the title of ‘China’s Greatest views’ yet surprisingly few foreign tourists get to these parts!
Best Time to Visit: Winter (December–February) for snow and festivals; May–September for mountain scenery, hiking, and nature reserves.
Highlights:
- Harbin (Heilongjiang) – Russian architecture, winter ice festival, spectacular rivers
- Changchun & Shenyang – Legacy of the Japanese puppet state, Manchu palaces.
- Tiger parks and snow forests – Nature reserves like Zhalong for cranes.
- Dandong – Border views into North Korea from the Yalu River.
