[Aim]  To investigate the metabolites and metabolic pathways related to cold-resistance in the honeybee Apis cerana cerana, an ecological type of A. cerana native to the Changbai Mountains, during the overwintering period. [Methods]  Changes in metabolites in the guts of overwintering (December) and non-overwintering (August) honeybees were detected using a non-targeted metabolomics methods based on liquid chromatography mass spectrometry. [Results]  125 positive and 219 negative ion mode, differentially expressed metabolites were detected in overwintering and non-overwintering honeybees. Of these, 180 were upregulated and 164 were downregulated. The VIP top 30 metabolites included various differential metabolites, many of which appear related to reducing antioxidant damage, antimicrobic activity, cold resistance, synthesis and the metabolism of nutrients or energy substances, such as melatonin, isorhamnetin, delphinidin, linoleic acid, Y-linolenic acid, quinolinic acid, kynurenine, thiamine, pyridoxine, and syringin. The most significant difference was among the positive and negative ion modes. In addition, the purine metabolism, pentose phosphate pathway, glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI) anchor biosynthesis, as well as the sulfur relay system, nicotinate and nicotinamide metabolism, alanine, aspartic acid, and glutamate metabolism, were the most significantly downregulated and upregulated KEGG pathways. Differential metabolites were significantly enriched in KEGG pathways such as the purine metabolism, pentose phosphate pathway, glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI) anchor biosynthesis, sulfur relay system, nicotinate and nicotinamide metabolism, alanine, aspartic acid, and glutamate metabolism. [Conclusion]  A. c. cerana mainly responds to overwintering stress by regulating its antioxidant metabolism, energy substance synthesis and metabolic rate. These results shed light on the metabolic characteristics and regulatory basis of cold-resistance in A. c. cerana in the Changbai Mountains.