Located in Wulajie, a small Manchu town in the north of Jilin City, Rime Island is a small island on the Songhua River. It is one of the best well-known scenic spots in China which boasts beautiful rime scenery. Along with the natural landscapes in Guilin, stone forest in Yunnan and Three Gorges on the Yangtze River, Rime scenery in Jilin is reputed as ‘China’s Top Four Natural Wonders’.
Popularly known as frost flowers or ice-rimmed trees, rime refers to frost attached to tree branches, different from snow or ice. It only appears in winter because very a low temperature is required. Also there should be abundant water vapors. Embraced by water on all sides, Rime Island enjoys an advantageous position, which is perfect for the formation of frost flowers. The water here does not freeze in winter, generating water vapors continuously. When blown by breeze, they fly to trees nearby and condense to form rime due to the dramatic drop of temperature. In winter, the oddly-shaped weeping willows along the river banks on Rime Island are dressed in pure white. From a distance, the frost flowers look like white clouds or waves. Visitors may feel they are in a fascinating crystal fairyland with jade trees and silver flowers.
How to Appreciate Rime?
To appreciate the beautiful rime scenery, visitors should experience three phases, appreciating the fog on Songhua River at night, the rime on trees in the early morning, and rime fall scenery before noon.
Fog scenery can usually be seen around ten o’clock at night. Generally speaking, the thicker the fog, the more magnificent the rime scenery on the following day. Thanks to the thick fog, willows, pines, cypresses and elms along Songhua River will be coated with rime. After 9 o’clock, the rime on the trees starts to fall in the sunshine, as if it snows.
Best Places to See Rime
Zengtong Village and Hantun Village near Rime Island are good places to appreciate the rime scenery.
Where to Accommodate?
Visitors can lodge either in Zengtong Village or Hantun Village. It costs CNY 100-150 per day, including two meals. They can have a taste of the local dishes and experience the heating brick bed, which only exists in northern China.
Jilin Rime Ice and Snow Festival
Jilin Rime Ice and Snow Festival has been held since 1991, sponsored by Jilin Provincial Tourism Administration and Jilin municipal government. It is usually held from mid-December to the end of February, with a certain theme. A series of activities will be held during the festival, including various sports activities on Songhua Lake Ski Resort, Beidahu Ski Resort, Zhuque Mountain Ski Resort, Wujiashan Ski Resort, Mingshan Oasis Ski Resort, Beishan Ice and Snow World, and Qilinshan Ski Resort.
Tips:
1. As the formation of rime requires certain weather conditions, it is not assured that visitors can see the scenery. Therefore, keep an eye on Jilin weather forecasts before travelling. If it will snow and the temperature is below -21 °C (-70 °F), there is a big chance that rime will form.
2. Please dress warmly because of the extremely low temperatures.
3. Wear a pair of goggles to protect your eyes.
4. Bring some chocolate to replenish energy and a vacuum flask to keep hot water.
5. Bring some medicines in case you catch a cold.
6. Bring extra batteries for your camera because batteries run out quickly at low temperature.
7. Attach a heating pad to your camera to resist the low temperature.
8. Put your camera in a ziplock bag before entering a house to prevent your lens from fogging up.
How to get there
To Zengtong Village:
Take a bus from Chaluxiang Bus Station (located close to Jilin Railway Station) to Zengtong Ferry. It leaves at 08:00, 12:20 and 15:20. Bus ticket is around CNY 7 (including the insurance). Duration is about one hour.
To Hantun Village:
Take a bus from Chaluxiang Bus Station to Wulajie Town. It departs around 15 minutes. Bus fare is about CNY 8. Duration is 40 to 50 minutes. Upon arrival, take a taxi to Hantun Village. It costs around CNY 15 to 20.
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