There's a giant thermometer by the river in Genhe, and it's not decoration. This small city in northern Inner Mongolia holds the record for the lowest temperature ever recorded in China: a savage -58°C. Locals have leaned into it, dubbing the place China's Cold Pole and building a whole cold-weather tourism village nearby to celebrate the fact.

Genhe sits deep in the Greater Khingan Mountains, not far from the Russian border, and grew up around forestry and the railway that opened up this isolated corner of the northeast. It's tiny by Chinese standards, a bit shabby in places, and refreshingly unlike the polished China of social media. Hotels are simple — expect to pay around $15 a night for a clean room, with no real upscale options in town.

The other big draw is reindeer. The Ewenki community at nearby Aoluguya keeps alive a tradition of reindeer herding that's unique in China, and visitors can arrange trips to working herder camps to meet the animals and learn about the forest lifestyle. The region is also home to Mongols, Manchu, Daur and Oroqen communities, each with their own language and traditions — a surprisingly layered mix for such a remote spot.

Beyond that, the list is short but characterful: photo stops at the Cold Pole thermometer, the birch forests and wetlands of Genheyuan National Wetland Park, and the vast Khingan woodlands, which reportedly put on a fine autumn colour show. Food-wise, think Dongbei BBQ — you cook your own meat with your own sauces — plus hot pot, dumplings at Genhe market, and a local roasted pork. Adventurous eaters can hunt down reindeer hot pot, though the writer of the source guide couldn't find it open. Nightlife means BBQ joints with beer, baijiu and impromptu karaoke rather than bars or clubs.

Getting here takes commitment. There's no commercial airport, so most people fly to Hulunbuir Hailar Airport (HLD), about 250 km away, with connections to Beijing from roughly $67 one-way. From Hailar it's a four-hour drive (a taxi runs about $70-92) or a slow but cheap train: hard seat to Genhe costs just $6.40, with sleeper berths around $13 on services taking seven to eight hours. Many travellers use Genhe as a stopover between Manzhouli and Mohe, as the source author did — though even that drive is six hours.

Genhe won't suit everyone, and honestly it isn't trying to. But if you're drawn to genuinely off-the-map places, extreme weather bragging rights, or a rare chance to see reindeer herding culture in China, this frostbitten little city delivers something you won't find anywhere else in the country.