My Summer Escape to Lesser Khingan Mountains in July

🌲 Amid the scorching heat of July, I embarked on a five-day, four-night private car journey between Harbin and Yichun. With no shopping stops, I indulged in pure leisure, savoring the coolness of summer amidst European-style charm and forested mysteries. 🌈D1: A European Breeze in Ice City The sweltering heat at Taiping Airport was quickly dispelled by the chilled 🧊 bottled water handed over by the driver. Within half an hour, I arrived at a 4-star hotel near Central Street. From my window, I could see the green dome of the Modern Hotel, while the century-old cobblestone road below gleamed under the sun. 🎇 In the evening, Central Street turned into a vibrant palette, with Russian-style buildings glowing warmly under the sunset. I savored a creamy Modern ice cream bar while street performers played "Katyusha." ⛪ White pigeons soared past the onion dome of St. Sophia Cathedral, and the evening breeze carried the aroma of black bread and butter. 🌲D2: Breathing Lessons in Deer Park and Forest At dawn, we headed towards Yichun via the Heha Expressway. The cornfields outside the car window gradually gave way to dense forest belts. The wooden walkways of Jinshan Deer Park were hidden among pine trees, where hundreds of deer roamed the meadows. As soon as I spread corn kernels in my palm, a moist tongue swept them away. The highlight was encountering a majestic stag 🦌 with antlers, its reflection merging with moss-covered tree trunks by the creek, creating a scene like an oil painting. By evening, I checked into a 4-star hotel in Yichun city, with the shimmering waves of the Tangwang River visible from my window. The night market's grilled cold noodles wafted a sweet and sour aroma. 🌈D3: Nature's Inspiration in Red Pine Forest and Stone Formations The air in Wuying National Forest Park was so rich in negative ions it felt like mist. The red pine boardwalk was carpeted with pine needles, crunching softly underfoot. From the Observation Tower, the vast red pine forest stretched out like green waves, with sunlight weaving golden threads through the needle leaves. Occasionally, squirrels with bushy tails darted through the trees. In the afternoon, the Tangwang River Stone Forest resembled a natural sculpture exhibition. In the "One-Line Sky" crevice, light spots revealed the geological textures shaped by millions of years. The most fascinating was the "Eagle Rock," whose silhouette was so lifelike 🐦️ it seemed ready to soar through the clouds. 🌲D4: A Symphony of City and Nature On the return journey to Harbin, we detoured to the shaded paths of Sun Island. The Songhua River curved gently here, with its breeze carrying the scent of wildflowers and rustling through the reeds. At a Russian craft shop on Central Street, I picked out a matryoshka doll painted with a Volga River design on its skirt. In the square in front of St. Sophia Cathedral, a vendor selling pigeon feed taught me to call "Little White" in Russian, and white pigeons fluttered onto my shoulder just as the church bells rang, sending a flurry of snowy wings into the air. Dinner was at Huamei Western Restaurant, where the tangy borscht, fragrant stewed lamb, and sweet kvass, accompanied by Russian accordion music from the neighboring table, turned the Ice City's night into a sweet brew. 🌈D5: Returning with Memories of Pines and Cream The driver made a special detour to show me the Songhua River Railway Bridge, its steel frame gleaming silver in the morning light as cargo ships honked below. Before airport security, I touched the pine nuts and deer leather keychain in my bag, recalling the deer that nuzzled my palm at Jinshan Deer Park and the pine needle that landed on my shoulder at Tangwang River Stone Forest. This shopping-free journey felt like embedding the essence of Northeast China's summer into my memory — the deep breaths in the red pine forest, the warmth of the cobblestones on Central Street 🍞, and the ever-receding greenery outside the car window, a symbol of boundless freedom. Wuying National Forest Park Jinshan Deer Park Tangwang River Stone Forest Scenic Area Central Street