Xunke County in Heilongjiang Province was recently swept by a severe cold wave, and the icy winds unveiled the year’s most breathtaking sight at the Gunawen Rime Scenic Area. Along a valley stretching for miles, trees draped in frost form a glittering corridor. This winter marvel has drawn visitors from across the nation, all eager to lose themselves in a serene, frost-kissed wonderland.

“Gunawen,” meaning “mysterious” in the Oroqen language, perfectly captures the magic of the rime spectacle. Water released from a hydropower station meets the frigid valley air, giving rise to a gentle mist that hovers above the river. As the vapour freezes, it settles layer by layer upon pine, birch, and willow branches—from slender twigs to sturdy boughs—transforming the forest into a world of jade and crystal.

As one of Heilongjiang’s four iconic winter wonders, the rime here is now at its most magnificent and is expected to last through March. Travellers from around the world are welcomed to witness this visual poetry etched in ice and to wander, enchanted, through this silver-clad fairy tale.