Upon arrival of each winter, people living in Changbai Mountain areas begin to make glutinous buns filled with bean pastes, New Year cakes (made of glutinous rice flour), and tofu. These food normally will be frozen in jars of various sizes and taken out when people want to eat. In December, every family slaughters pigs, sheep, chickens and ducks, catches fish and shrimps, and hunts birds and animals. The prey is buried in the thick snow to keep fresh, while the newly slaughtered pork and mutton are frozen with water. When eating, knock off the ice shell that covers the meat. The meat inside is as fresh as before, without any air drying deterioration.
In the ice and snow world of Changbai Mountain, there are many games related to ice and snow. The custom of making snowmen, snowballing, snowball fights, ice rowing, skiing, playing whip tops, and chiseling ice lanterns has been passed down to today. In winter, the rime of Changbai Mountain creates a dream world. The pure ice and snow of Changbai Mountain brings people endless fun.
Sleigh is also called "boat of land". Changbai Mountain has a long winter with ice and snow covering the earth. At this time, the most convenient and fastest means of transportation is a sleigh. A sleigh pulled by dogs, moose or horses are commonly seen in the areas. Sleighs made by people living in the areas are of the similar style and size. And nearly all the sleighs share the same distance between runners. It is conventional. On the smooth and bright ice and snow road, the sleigh is light and nimble, running at a flying speed.
In Changbai Mountain areas, a sledge can carry both people and things, and it is the main vehicle of snow transportation in winter. Its speed and function are far better than cars. For different transportation purposes, there are different designs of sledge. Along the winter tour routes opened up for the tourists in Changbai Mountain, a sledge with a canopy, animal skin and a fire basin is specially designed for tourists, which provides more comfort than a car. The local people call it "ice bed". This kind of sledge is more stable than a car. Tourists can sit in the warm sledge and enjoy the ice and snow world of Changbai Mountain through the small window.
Changbai Mountain areas are endowed with good-quality snow because the areas have high snowfall and less sand, so are free of pollution. Cross country skiing routes have been created. Cross country ski runs and other ice and snow sports training bases are hidden in the Changbai Mountain areas. The ski runs pass through the virgin forest, with an altitude of 1400-1600 meters. The temperature is usually between - 15 ℃ and - 25 ℃, and the average snow depth is about 1.5 meters. The snow quality, snowfall and snow cover days are all at the first-class level in Asia. For more than ten years, national ice and snow events have been held here every year.
The long winter in Changbai Mountain areas forms a crystal like world of ice and snow, with abundant and long-lasting snowfall. All the landscapes (mountains, pools, woods and meadows) are covered with snow. Although we can't see the rich colors of summer, we are in a fresh and elegant mood. Especially just after the snow, the mountains look like silver screens. The forest is dyed white by the ice and snow. Thousands of trees and silver flowers swing as the north wind blows. The white snow waves emerge one after another.
The humid climate of Changbai Mountain produces many hot springs and mineral springs. The endless running water from Tianchi Lake all the year round together with continuous waterfalls causes the phenomenon that the rime comes into being more frequently in Changbai Mountain areas, up to 165 days each year, ranking No. one in the country. The rime here has a characteristic style. At the Bank of Tianchi Lake, around the waterfall and on both sides of the Baihe River, the dense fog has whitened the branches and leaves of trees, the rocks and the earth. All over the mountains and fields, it is like a white plum blossom blooming, a unique scene of northern China, which brings endless fun to tourists.