While city kids are still hoping for a light snowfall, here a thousand-mile frozen forest sea has already unfolded. Stop rushing on wheels, hop on a forest train slower than time itself, listen to the wind, admire the snow, chase the deer—this is the romantic rhythm a family winter trip should have.
🌲 Why choose the "Moerdaoga Forest Train"?
• Ultimate relaxation: No need to nervously drive on icy roads; the whole family can fully relax and devote 100% attention to the moving landscape outside the window.
• Deep immersion: Traveling at 20 km/h into the forest’s heartland, unreachable by car, so quiet you hesitate to speak, with your breath and heartbeat syncing with nature.
• Childlike resonance: No child can resist the charm of a train, especially the vintage green carriage puffing white steam, weaving through a magical forest.
🛤️ Full immersive experience guide
- Departure: The ritual of a vintage station
The train station at Moerdaoga National Forest Park looks like it was lifted from an old movie. Wooden signboards, vintage carriages, set against blue skies and white snow, perfect for endless photos before departure. Remember to take a “young explorer sets off” photo with your child in front of the carriage.
- En route: Four movements, four moods
The train route is designed like a symphony, stopping at four stations, each with its own theme.
1. Larch Forest Movement (Majestic): Deep into the primeval larch forest, trees stand tall and straight, snow weighing down the dark green branches. This is a lesson about “vitality”—watch how these trees stand firm through a century of harsh winters.
2. Garden Forest Movement (Lively): Mixed woodland where the snow is like a canvas, signed with footprints of foxes, roe deer, and snow hares. Play a “forest detective” game with your child, guessing who left each footprint.
3. Forest Stream Movement (Tranquil): Traveling along the frozen Moerdaoga River, its surface like a white ribbon. If lucky, you’ll see steam rising from unfrozen patches, sunlight turning it into a fairyland.
4. Forest Pasture Movement (Vast): The climax before the final stop, the view suddenly opens up to an endless sea of snowy forest. This grandeur instantly broadens a child’s perspective.
- Return: The beginning of warmth and reflection
On the way back, the changing sunlight dresses the forest in a different light and shadow. The carriage is warm and cozy; the family can share photos taken earlier, reminisce about animal tracks seen, or simply lean against the window and let the white world quietly pass by.
🏠 Fairy tale stays: Sleep embraced by the snowy forest sea
Moerdaoga Log Cabin Boutique Hotel: A Russian-style hotel made entirely of pine wood, with a strong pine scent that naturally aids sleep. Some rooms have balconies with views of morning frost in the forest.
Yishu Yang Forest Homestay: A family inn on the town’s edge, run by an experienced “forest expert” who tells many forest stories. The heated kang bed is scorching warm, and the authentic local pig slaughter stew and wild mushroom chicken stew dinners are unforgettable.
Accommodation inside Genhe Source National Wetland Park (winter opening must be confirmed in advance): If your itinerary allows, visit Genhe Source about 1.5 hours away by car. Stay in standalone cabins inside the reserve, where the night sky is dazzling with stars, and you might encounter moose drinking by the river at dawn.
🥧 After getting off, a taste adventure
Forest iron pot stew: Must-try “iron pot stewed zheluo fish” or “big goose stewed with sauerkraut.” Gather around the stove; the fish is tender, sauerkraut cuts the greasiness, and the broth mixed with rice can be eaten in two big bowls.
Gifts of the wild: Order “stir-fried fresh daylily” or “hazel mushroom stir-fried with meat” to savor the forest’s fresh aroma.
Blueberry love: Drink a cup of hot wild blueberry juice or buy a jar of blueberry jam to bring the sweet and sour taste of the Greater Khingan Mountains home.
📝 Pre-trip must-reads · Practical tips
• Schedule and ticket prices: Usually 1-2 trips daily in winter (e.g., 10:00, 14:00), heavily weather-dependent, so be sure to call the scenic area a day in advance to confirm. Tickets cost about 150 RMB per person, with discounts for children.
• Warmth is top priority: The carriage has heating, but the viewing platform and stops are very cold. Dress like for the poles: thick down jacket, snow boots, touchscreen gloves, ear protectors, warm packs (on your body and phone back).
• Photography prep: Windows may frost over, so bring a small cloth to wipe anytime. Carry extra camera batteries as cold drains power quickly.
• Best time: Morning trips are recommended for clear light, better forest color layers, and fresher animal activity signs.
• Extended play: Combine with “Aoluguya Reindeer Tribe” or “China’s Cold Pole Village” for a complete Greater Khingan winter story from forest to folk culture.
When the whistle blows, awakening the silent mountains and forests, this slow train becomes the only key to the fairy tale world. It moves unhurriedly, so you don’t miss a single snow-kissed bark or a ray of sunlight filtering through branches. This journey itself is the best winter gift for children—a silent lesson in patience, observation, and the beauty of nature.
MirageLune1113