Head to China’s northern Hēilóngjiāng province in early January to mid February to see the International Ice and Snow Festival.
Photo © iStock/aphotostory
Location
Zhaolin Park and Sun Island Park, Hāěrbīn, China
Dates
5 January–15 February
Description
China’s northern Hēilóngjiāng province may be cursed with one of the coldest climates in Asia, but its capital Hāěrbīn has made the best of a bad thing with its International Ice and Snow Festival. Held in the depths of winter, the festival revolves around an amazing array of fanciful and elaborate ice sculptures, including re-creations of famous buildings and structures. Past displays have included a scaled-down Forbidden City and a Great Wall of China that doubled as an ice slide.
The bulk of the sculptures can be found in central Zhaolin Park and Sun Island Park, while the hardiest of festivalgoers can join Hāěrbīn’s winter swimmers for a dip in the frozen Songhua River.
Level of Participation
3 – whoosh down the ice slides and stick around until the festival’s end for the fun of destroying the sculptures in an ice-axe free-for-all.
Essentials
Temperatures in Hāěrbīn can drop near to -40˚C in February, so bring every bit of warm clothing you’ve ever owned.
Other Local Attractions
Admire Hāěrbīn’s Russian heritage in the Dàolǐqū area and the Church of St Sophia, while the city’s Siberian Tiger Park has a mission to breed, release and ultimately save the Siberian tiger from extinction – there are estimated to be less than 400 remaining in the wild. Travellers on the Trans-Siberian Railway to or from Moscow can start or finish in Hāěrbīn.
More Info: China National Tourist Office
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