By www.icefestivalharbin.com
Harbin Ice Festival Brochure
The annual Harbin International Ice and Snow Sculpture Festival is commonly known as Harbin
Ice Festival. It is the largest ice and snow festival in the world. The festival has been held since
1963. It had been interrupted for a number of years during the Cultural Revolution (1966 - 7976)
but had been resumed by 1985.
Officially, the festival starts January 5th and lasts to the end of February. Ice sculpture decoration
technology ranges from the modern (using lasers) to traditional (with ice lanterns). While there
are ice or snow sculptures throughout the city, there are four main theme parks: Ice and Snow
World, Ice Lantern Fair (aka Ice Lantern Show) in Zhaolin Park, Sun Island International Snow
Sculpture Art Expo, Songhua River Ice and Snow Happy Valley. Winter activities in the festival
include skiing, snowboarding, skating, dog/horse/deer sledding, snowmobiling, ice spinning, ice
fishing, winter-swimming, wedding ceremony, cultural performances, all kinds of sport
competitions, ice and snow sculpture competitions, and so on.
Ice and Snow World
Ice and Snow World is located in west part of the Sun Island, Songbei District of Harbin. It is
known as a fantastic winter wonderland, features numerous illuminated full size buildings made
from blocks of 2–3 feet thick crystal clear ice directly taken from the Songhua River.
Sun Island International Snow Sculpture Art Expo
Located on Sun Island, the expo features beautifully carved snow sculptures, massive
dimensions. The expo has different theme in
different year. The snow sculptures represent
different cultural background. On the island,
tourists can enjoy many interesting winter
activities and experience the local custom show.
Ice Lantern Fair
The Ice Lantern Fair is located in Zhaolin Park. Many beautiful ice lanterns are showed there. Best
viewed after dusk.
Songhua River Ice and Snow Happy Valley
Songhua River Ice and Snow Happy Valley is located nearby the Flood Control Monument (the
square at the end of the Central Street). Tourists can take part in many interesting ice and snow
related activities, such as spinning top,
ice bicycle, skating, tire sliding,
rock-climbing, ice karting, curling stone,
ice bumper cars, Counter Strike Cosplay,
snow football and more.
Getting around
Siberian Tiger Park
The park houses more than 800 of the
endangered Manchurian Tiger, also
known as the Siberian Tiger, in a large
grassland enclosure, and, most famously,
allows visitors to ride in buses among the tigers and feed meat to the tigers.
Central Street
This cobblestone lined
street is a pedestrian only
street that could serve as
a perfect remnant of the
bustling international
business activities at the
turn of the 20th century.
The 1.4-km long street is a
veritable museum of
European architectural
styles, including Baroque
and Byzantine facades,
Jewish architectural
wonders, a Russian restaurant, French fashion houses (Fake Chinese Brands), American snack
food outlets (Mcdonalds and KFC and a Chinese owned "American Bar"), and a Japanese
restaurant. In winter, one can walk out onto the ice or take a dog sledge or horse sledge ride. It is
the prettiest site in Harbin as far as the city itself is concerned, however, if you go mid-day during
the weekend be prepared to push through the crowds.
Harbin Polarland
Harbin Polar Land is the first theme park of polar land scenes in China.
The park's highlights are the wonderful polar land animal shows. Kids’
favorite place!
Saint Sophia Church
One of the few still standing Orthodox churches in Harbin, the church
is now converted into a Harbin Museum of Architecture. Inside there are exhibitions of many
photographs from old times. Definitely worth going into, however, if you are used to European
Churches do not expect the quality.
Harbin New Synagogue
Has been restored and contains an impressive collection detailing the history of Jews in Harbin.
There were 20,000 at one point and the synagogue is well worth a visit.
Heilongjiang Provincial Museum
Built in 1922 and claims to have over 14,000 pieces of relics. It is a good place to explore Harbin's
history and culture.
Dragon Tower
Another place to explore Harbin's history and culture, it boasts of the third tallest TV tower in
Asia. Standing on the top of the tower, you can get a commanding view of the city.
Confucius Temple
Initially built in 1926 and completed in 1929, the Harbin Confucius temple is the largest one of its
kind in northeast China.
Things to do during the ice festival
1. Watch ice lantern show/fair in Zhaolin Park in the evening.
2. Visit the Snow Sculpture Art Expo on Sun Island, where displays all kinds of snow sculptures by
artists from all over the world every winter. You can experience different countries' cultures.
3. Visit Ice and Snow World. The park is a wonderland night or day, with numerous ice sculptures
and its interesting winter activities are suitable for all visitors.
4. Make an adventure in the Siberian Tiger Park by special car, feed tigers and lions with flying
chickens or running cattle and watch them capturing their prey is a special experience. Great fun
for both adults & children!
5. Watch fishing, swimming and diving performance on the frozen Songhua River, play ice slides,
enjoy dog sledding and ice sailing.
6. Drink in the ice bars on the street or in the Ice and Snow World.
7. Watch polar animals and performances in Polarland with your kids.
8. Explore Harbin historical sites and Manchu culture
9. Enjoy different style food from all over the world in the Central Street.
10. Go skiing/snowboarding/sledding/snowmobiling in Yabuli, Erlongshan, Jihua or other ski
resorts.
Where to ski during the ice festival
1. Yabuli Ski Resort
Yabuli Ski Resort is about 193km from Harbin downtown. Being the biggest and best ski resort in
China at present, it provides great skiing with high mountains and excellent snow. The resort has
some famous skiing schools. It is also the biggest training centre for alpine skiers in China and
hosts of many professional skiing competitions. In 1996 and 2009, the 3rd Winter Asian Games
and the 24th Winter Universiade were once held here respectively. Yabuli Ski Resort also offers
very excellent hotels and restaurants.
2. Jihua Ski Resort
The Jihua Resort (Jihua Changshou Mountain Ski Resort) is located in Binxi National Forest Park,
about 38 kilometers from Harbin downtown and is one of the best-known ski resorts in China.
Built in a natural basin and surrounded by mountains, the towering peaks snake around and
enclose the resort forming a natural wind-sheltered haven. The resort has 15 different ski slopes,
which in total covers a distance of 30 kilometers, cater for beginner, medium and advanced-level
skiers. The resort is the training base for Harbin Skiing Team. It is a good place for cross-country
skiing.
3. Erlongshan Ski Resort
Erlongshan Ski Resort is about 60 km from Harbin downtown. The resort has 8 trails for different
skiers. The child ski ground is the first of its kind in China. The ski resort covers around 780,000
square meters, and is capable of holding 4,000 skiers at the same time. The lift from the resort
base to the top offers unique views of undulating countryside. Hotels, restaurants, coffee shops,
skiing schools are available in the ski resort. Here, tourists can enjoy many ice activities, such as
snowmobile driving, tyre sliding, sledging, and sleighing, and so on.
4. Harbin Institute of Physical Education Ski Field
Harbin Institute of Physical Education Ski Field is also known as Harbin Institute of Physical
Education Maor Cheonmasan Ski Resort, is located 85 km to the southeast of Harbin and 90 km
away from the urban proper at the outskirts of Maoershan (Mt. Maoer) Town. It is convenient to
public transport because of the available railway and highway. This park has been the venue for
single-board skiing and biathlon competition in the 24th Winter Universiade.
5. Harbin Moon Bay Ski Field
Moon Bay (Yueliangwan) Ski Field neighbors the beautiful Sun Island. It covers an area of 200,000
square meters with a comprehensive building of 2,000 square meters, and it is an integrated
leisure and holiday resort that provides catering, accommodation and entertainment. The ski
field provides exclusive night skiing and some other entertainments like horse riding, bike riding,
and dogs or goats driving sleds, which would create a new field for tourists to enjoy themselves
in the snow.
6. Ice and Snow World Ski Field
The Ice and Snow World Ski Field is adjacent to the Ice and Snow World in southeast, nearby the
Songhua River Highway Bridge (Songhuajiang Gonglu Daqiao). This ski field has only two rails for
the beginners and the intermediate skiers.
7. Pingshan Shenlu Ski Resort
This ski field is located in A Cheng City,70 kilometers away from Harbin, is Heilongjiang province
SSS tourist resort, which can accommodate up to 3000people skiing, skiing for a period of
11month to second years in March every year.
Special Experience If you want to experience the farmers' life in Northeast China you can pay a visit to the China's
Snow Town (Xue Xiang), which is located in Shuangfeng Forest Farm, under the jurisdiction of
Changting Town, Hailin City (county-level) of Mudanjiang City (prefecture-level), Heilongjiang
Province. The town is about 350 km away from Harbin, and need 6-7 hours to get there by
private car in winter. Xue Xiang has the high mountain, the densest woodlands, the thickest snow,
the most clean and transparent sunshine, and the most authentic life of lumberjack. When come
to the town, demonstrated in front are the igloo and snow, it will make you a pleasing trip and
ensure you a worthwhile trip. In the town you can walk through the villages and forests, drive
snowmobile, enjoy skiing, go horse/dog sledging, view the beautiful sunrise in Yangcaoshan
Mountain, visit the local families and stay at the local family hotels with Kangtou (brick bed
warmed by a fire underneath in Northern China).
Best Time to Visit Winter (late December, January and February) is the best time to visit Harbin Ice Festival. The
peak time starting late January - February.
How to Get
1. By plane
Tourists from outside China must take flight to Harbin via some major China cities, such as Beijing,
Shanghai, Guangzhou, Dalian, Xiamen, Tianjin, Nanjing etc. At present, only these cities offer
international through-flight services to Harbin: Khabarovsk, Vladivostok (Russia); Niigata, Osaka
(Japan); Bangkok (Thailand); Pyongyang (North Korea); Seoul (South Korea) and Los Angeles
(USA)
Tourists in Hong Kong, Taipei, and more than a dozen domestic cities of China can take
through-flight to Harbin.
2. By train
Taking a train to Harbin is very easy and most are overnight trains, including a high-speed train
from Beijing. These China cities have train to Harbin: Baotou, Beijing, Changchun, Changsha,
Daqing, Dalian, Guangzhou, Hailaer, Hangzhou, Hefei, Hegang, Hohhot, Jiamusi, Jilin, Jinan, Jixi,
Manzhouli, Mudanjiang, Nanchang, Nanjing, Qiqihaer, Shanghai, Shenyang, Tianjin, Wuhan, Xian,
Yichun etc.
What to wear The coldest months of Harbin is January and February, its mean temperature ranges from –
13.2℃ to -24.8℃. To visit the ice festival, you'd better wear warm coat, hat, waterproof boots or
shoes, gloves, scarf and etc.
Harbin Ice Festival Sample Tour Itineraries
Itinerary 1:3-day Harbin Ice Festival Tour
Day 1 Arrival in Harbin
Transfer via: plane - your arrangement
Activities for today: Airport to hotel
transfer (Harbin)
Upon arrival at Harbin airport, you’ll be met at
the Harbin Airport and transferred to the hotel.
Free at leisure for the rest of the day.
Day 2 Harbin
Activities for today: St. Sophia Church, Central Street, Snow sculpture at Sun
Island, Siberian Tiger Park, Harbin Ice and Snow World Park
Today we will start tour to visit the largest Orthodox Church in the Far East - St.
Sofia Church. And then free walk through the Central Street. On the streets,
you can find some facts about Harbin's history and culture. Continue tour to visit
the Sun Island Park, where the Sun Island Snow Sculpture Art Expo is held
every winter and you can see various awesome snow sculptures featuring
different cultures. Later transfer to the Siberian Tiger Park, where we're caged
in a specially protected bus to see the tigers and lions. In the afternoon, transfer
to visit the highlights of the Harbin Ice Festival - Ice and Snow World Park
where you stroll through this winter wonderland, marvel at the magnificent
exquisitely-detailed, gigantic ice sculptures. View fabulous creations of notable
buildings and monuments of different architectural types and styles, figures of
animals, people, mythical creatures, ice slides and lanterns. When evening sets
in, multicolored lights illuminate the sculptures, creating a breathtaking display
of these icy works of art.
Day 3 Depart Harbin
Transfer via: plane - your arrangement
Activities for today: Stalin Park, Winter Swimming Performance, Airport
transfer (Harbin)
In the morning, visit the Stalin Park. The park stands as evidence of the
friendship between the world’s two most powerful communist countries at that
time. At the center of Stalin Park stands the Flood Control Monument built to
commemorate the tremendous feat of the Harbin people in controlling the
massive flood of 1957. You will watch winter swimming performance on
Songhua River. And you may choose to take part in some ice activities with own
expense, such as ice sloping, dog-sled (about RMB30/pp, US$5 per time), etc.
After that, transfer to the airport for the flight back to your sweet home.
Service ends.
Itinerary 2: 5-day Harbin Winter Adventure Tour
Day 1 Arrival in Harbin
Transfer via: plane - your arrangement
Activities for today: Airport to hotel transfer
(Harbin)
Upon arrive in the exquisite and historic Harbin
City, you'll be met and transferred to the hotel,
where the staff will assist you with your check in (if room available). Free at
leisure for recovering from the cold weather.
Day 2 Harbin / China's Snow Town
Transfer via: private vehicle
Activities for today: China's Snow Town, Snow Charm Avenue
Get up early and drive about 6-7 hours to the beautiful Xue Xiang (China's Snow
Town) via Yabuli and Snow Town. Upon arriving there, we will have lunch in a
local farmer's restaurant, and then take your time, walk around the Snow Town,
look at the nature and experience the lifestyle of Snow Town people. Enjoy
dinner and the beautiful countryside night scene. Stay overnight at a local
hostel, which offers very comfortable Kangtou (brick bed warmed by a fire
underneath in Northern China, very basic facilities). This is a special experience!
Take a walk on the "Snow Charm Avenue", which is full of simple farming village
characteristics in Northeastern China.
Day 3 China's Snow Town / Harbin
Transfer via: private vehicle
Activities for today: Yangcaoshan Mountain, Snow Activities
Get up in the early morning, we will drive or you may choose to take the
snowmobile (self-paid item, about RMB220/pp or $36/pp) to Yangcaoshan
Mountain, where you will enjoy the beautiful sunrise and snowscape. After
simple Chinese breakfast, free at leisure to enjoy the snow activities in the
village (self-paid item), like dog-sled. After lunch, drive back to Harbin and free
at leisure in the evening. Dinner is your arrangement.
Day 4 Harbin
Activities for today: Central Street, Snow Sculpture Art Expo on Sun
Island, Siberian Tiger Park, Ice and Snow World
Today we will walk through the Central Street on your own pace, and drive to
visit the Sun Island Park, where the Sun Island Snow Sculpture Art Expo is held
every winter and you can see various awesome snow sculptures featuring
different cultures. Later transfer to the Siberian Tiger Park, where we're caged
in a specially protected bus to see the tigers and lions. After lunch, In the early
afternoon, visit the Ice and Snow World - an interesting site that operates each
night and features illuminated full size buildings made from blocks of ice.
Day
5 Harbin Departure
Transfer via: plane - your arrangement
Activities for today: Stalin Park, Winter
Swimming Performance, Airport transfer (Harbin)
After breakfast, we’ll pay a visit to the Stalin Park. The park stands as evidence
of the friendship between the world’s two most powerful communist countries at
that time. At the center of Stalin Park stands the Flood Control Monument built
to commemorate the tremendous feat of the Harbin people in controlling the
massive flood of 1957. You will watch winter swimming performance on
Songhua River. And you may choose to take part in some ice activities with own
expense, such as dog-sled, ice boating. Transfer to the airport for the flight to
your next destination.
Service ends.
Itinerary 3: 6-day Ultimate Harbin Tour Package
Day 1 Arrival in Harbin
Transfer via: plane - your arrangement
Activities for today: Airport to hotel transfer (Harbin)
Upon arrival in Harbin, meet the driver (no guide service) at the airport, and
then check into the hotel to have a rest. Free at leisure for the rest of the day.
Day 2 Harbin
Activities for today: Snow Sculpture Art Expo on Sun Island, Siberian Tiger
Park, Ice and Snow World
This morning drive to explore the Sun Island Park. The enormous snow
sculptures at the Sun Island are the main attraction for the Harbin Ice and Snow
Festival in each year. In the afternoon, proceed to visit the Siberian Tiger Park,
where you will be caged in a specially protected bus to visit the tigers. Late
afternoon, enjoy a wonderful night at the Ice and Snow World - an interesting
site that operates each night and features illuminated full size buildings made
from blocks of ice. The ice carvings and ice lanterns at the Ice and Snow World
are regarded as some of the world’s finest examples of ice art, with visitors able
to admire some of the largest and most majestic ice sculpted masterpieces.
Transfer back to your hotel and free in the evening.
Day 3 Harbin
Activities for today: Stalin Park, Winter Swimming Performance, Jile
Temple, St. Sofia Church,Central Street, Ice Lantern Fair at Zhaolin Park
In the morning, transfers to visit the Stalin Park. The park stands as evidence of
the friendship between the world’s two most powerful communist countries at
that time. At the center of Stalin Park stands the Flood Control Monument built
to commemorate the tremendous feat of the Harbin people in controlling the
massive flood of 1957. You will watch winter swimming performance on
Songhua River. And you may choose to take part in some ice activities with own
expense, such as ice sloping, dog-sled (about RMB30/pp, US$5 per time), etc.
Followed visit to the Jile Temple, and then the largest Orthodox Church in the
Far East - St. Sofia Church. And visit the Central Street. On the streets, you can
find some facts about Harbin's history and culture. Late afternoon, we will
transfer to watch the Ice Lantern Show in Zhaolin Park. The magical and
extraordinary ice lanterns and sculptures have literally made the park an icy
wonderland. Transfer back to your hotel and free at leisure.
Day 4 Harbin/Yabuli
Transfer via: private vehicle
Activities for today: Yabuli Ski Resort
Driver Service: After breakfast, we will drive about 3 hrs to Yabuli Ski Resort -
the biggest and best ski resort in China (the charge of Skiing is at your own
expanse as it will calculate based on time). Yabuli Ski Resort has some famous
skiing schools. It is also the biggest training center for alpine skiers in China and
hosts of many professional skiing competitions. In 1996 and 2009, the 3rd
Winter Asian Games and the 24th Winter Universality were once held here
respectively.
Day 5 Yabuli/Harbin
Transfer via: private vehicle
Activities for today: Yabuli Ski Resort
Free Ski at Yabuli Ski Resort (Ski is your arrangement). Late afternoon, drive
about 3 hours back to Harbin City and free at leisure in the evening.
Day 6 Harbin Departure
Transfer via: plane - your arrangement
Activities for today: Hotel to airport transfer (Harbin)
After breakfast, transfer to the airport by the driver (no guide service) for the
flight to your next destination.
Tour ends.
Itinerary 4: 7-day Harbin Yabuli Xuexiang Tour
Day 1 Arrival in Harbin
Transfer via: plane – your arrangement
Activities for today: Airport to hotel transfer
Upon arrival at Harbin Taiping Airport, meet your
guide and then transfer to your hotel (check in if
room available). Free at leisure for the rest of the
day.
Day 2 Harbin/China’s Snow Town
Transfer via: private vehicle
Activities for today: China's Snow Town
Morning, we will drive about 6-7 hours to the beautiful Xue Xiang (China's Snow
Town) via Yabuli. Upon arriving there, we will have lunch in a local farmer's
restaurant, and then take your time, walk around the Snow Town, look at the
nature and experience the lifestyle of Snow Town people. Enjoy dinner and the
beautiful countryside night scene. Take a walk on the "Snow Charm Avenue",
which is full of simple farming village characteristics in Northeastern China. Stay
overnight at a local hostel or hotel, family hostel offers very comfortable
Kangtou (brick bed warmed by a fire underneath in Northern China, very basic
facilities). This is a special experience!
Day 3 China’s Snow Town/Yabuli Ski Resort
Transfer via: private vehicle
Activities for today: Yangcaoshan Mountain,
Snow Activities
Get up in the early morning, we will drive (cost is included in our quotation) or
you may choose to take the snowmobile (self-paid item, about RMB220/pp or
$36/pp) to Yangcaoshan Mountain, where you will enjoy the beautiful sunrise
and snowscape. After simple Chinese breakfast, free at leisure to enjoy the
snow activities in the village (self-paid item), like dog-sled. After lunch, drive
about 3.5 hours to Yabuli Ski Resort and free at leisure in the evening. Dinner is
your arrangement. Yabuli Ski Resort is one of the best ski resorts in Yabuli. It
hosted many professional competitions successfully, including the 3rd Winter
Asian Games in 1996 and National University Winter Games in 2008. It has
advanced, intermediate runs and beginner runs that suit for different types of
customers.
Day 4 Yabuli Ski Resort
Activities for today: Yabuli Ski Resort
Enjoy free skiing or snow activities at Yabuli Ski Resort (your arrangements).
Arrange your time and have fun in the Ski Resort.
Here is a list of general idea for ski prices:
2 hours skiing: ￥240(weekday)￥280(weekend)￥360(holidays)
Half day skiing:￥320(weekday)￥380(weekend)￥460(holidays)
Full day skiing:￥480(weekday)￥580(weekend)￥680(holidays)
2 hours ski course price for 2 persons:￥180(weekday)￥240(holidays)
2 hours ski course price for 5 persons:￥120(weekday)￥150(holidays)
Note:
1. The information of the ski fee is a reference. Please double check the
up-to-date prices on arrival.
2. Prices may vary according to your travel time and are higher on weekend and
holidays. Weekends are Friday to Sunday. Holidays are New Year, Spring
Festival.
3. The resort prices above include a set of ski gear (skis, ski boots and ski poles)
and lift fee. Children below 1.2 meters are half price.
Day 5 Yabuli / Harbin
Transfer via: private vehicle
Activities for today: St. Sofia Church, Central Street, Ice Lantern Art Fair at
Zhaolin Park
Morning drive about 3 hours back to Harbin. Afternoon guide tour to visit the
Saint Sofia Church and has a walk on the Central Street on your own pace. Late
afternoon, drive to watch the Ice Lantern Show in Zhaolin Park. The magical and
extraordinary ice lanterns and sculptures have literally made the park an icy
wonderland. After the tour, drive back to your hotel.
Day 6 Harbin
Transfer via: private vehicle
Activities for today: Snow Sculpture Art Expo on Sun Island, Siberian Tiger
Park, Ice and Snow World
In the morning, meet the local guide at your hotel lobby and then transfer to
visit Sun Island Park, where the Sun Island Snow Sculpture Art Expo is held
every winter and you can see various awesome snow sculptures featuring
different cultures. Later transfer to the Siberian Tiger Park, where we're caged
in a specially protected bus to see the tigers and lions. After lunch, we will visit
the Ice and Snow World - an interesting site that operates each night and
features illuminated full size buildings made from blocks of ice. And you may
choose to enjoy skiing (ski is your arrangement), snow activities, like
snowmobile, ice cycling, Snow Karting Car, and then watch the Snow Acrobatics.
After that, the day will become a bit dark and you will see the night view of the
ice and snow sculptures in the park. Drive back to your hotel and free evening.
Day 7 Harbin Departure
Transfer via: plane– your arrangement
Activities for today: Hotel to airport transfer
Free at leisure until meet the guide and transfer to the airport for the flight to
your next destination.
Service ends.
For more information about Harbin Ice Festival or book a Harbin Ice Festival Tour, please visit our
official website: www.icefestivalharbin.com
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