Life advice: You must experience the winter in Altay at least once

Life advice❄️ You must experience the winter in Altay at least once ❄️ Winter in Hemu is like a real-life ice and snow fairy tale, with snow-covered wooden houses and curling smoke. A 3-day deep tour lets you check off rime ice, morning fog, and starry skies. Hurry and save this tested guide! ⛩️ Key Information - ✔️ Best time: December to February (thickest snow, 90% chance of rime ice) - 🎫 Tickets: 100 RMB/person (includes Kanas + Hemu + Baihaba, valid for 3 days) - 🚘 Transportation: Fly from Urumqi to Altay, then charter a car for 4.5 hours to the village (4WD + snow tires required, about 200+ RMB per person) 🗓️ Three-day itinerary ▫️D1⃣️: Enter the village and first encounter the snowy land ✔️ After arrival, check into a Tuva wooden house (old village near attractions, new village with better facilities). Drop your luggage and head straight to Hemu Bridge! The frozen Blue River with snow-covered wooden bridge is perfect for backlit photos an hour before sunset. Warm up with lamb hotpot for dinner, then after 19:30 go to the Aid Xinjiang Bridge to capture the blue hour night scene, the warm-lit wooden house atmosphere is perfect. ▫️D2⃣️: Morning fog + ice and snow fun ✔️ Rush to Harden Viewing Platform before 6:30, the scene of morning fog wrapping the wooden houses is breathtaking. If you’re tired, take a horse-drawn sled round trip (80 RMB/person). In the morning, play with water turning to ice near the stone pile east of Hemu Bridge, remember to use warm water and shoot against the light. In the afternoon, try snowmobiling (150 RMB/hour) or horse-drawn sledding, cruising through the birch forest is super healing. In the evening, wait for the pink sunset. ▫️D3⃣️: Off-the-beaten-path secret spots + return trip ✔️ Get up early to go to Hongbas Grassland, fewer people and thick snow, jumping and kicking snow for lively photos. In the morning, ride a horse to Beautiful Peak (round trip 200+ RMB), enjoy snow-capped mountains and forests along the way, and encounter herders’ felt tents. Before leaving, visit village shops to buy dairy curds and dried meat as souvenirs. 💡 Pitfalls to avoid & Tips 1. 📍 Book accommodation 1 month in advance! In December peak season, wooden houses cost 1000-1800 RMB/night, saving 30% compared to last-minute booking. 2. 📍 Must-bring warm gear: windproof face mask, thick snow boots, crampons, and stick 2 warm patches on your phone to prevent shutdown. 3. 📍 Wear bright red or Klein blue; the contrast with white snow doubles your photo success rate. 4. 📍 Snow UV is strong; sunglasses + sunscreen + lip balm are all essential. 5. 📍 Food recommendations: salty milk tea with baursak and hand-pulled meat, warming and authentic.