The international ice and snow sculpture festival is a major event that takes place every year in the city of Harbin in Heilongjiang province. This festival is Harbin's principal attraction and has gained considerable popularity in recent years.

Chinese tourists, international visitors, and locals alike come to enjoy a winter wonderland and admire magnificent sculptures crafted with remarkable attention to detail.

History

Harbin organized its first ice sculpture festival in 1963. The event was halted during the Cultural Revolution and resumed in 1985. Since then, the festival has taken place every year from January 5th to February 15th.

The Harbin Ice Festival marked the transition of winter season in northern Chine. During the Qing dynasty, peasants and fishermen crafted ice lanterns to use as lamps during the long winter months. The techniques gradually evolved, and the festival was born with increasingly impressive sculptures.

The Harbin Ice Festival

Discover at the heart of Harbin an entirely unique universe made of snow and ice. The ice and snow sculpture festival runs each winter from January 5th to February 15th and presents visitors with a stunning sparkling and wondrous world.

Each year, a specific theme is chosen to guide sculptors from around the globe in their work and to create a coherent narrative for visitors. Carved from immense blocks of ice, faces, monuments, scenes, and stories come to life for the delight of tourists.

Artists work for several weeks or even months before the festival's opening to ensure everything is perfect when the park opens to the public on January 5th.

During the day, you can enjoy this universe entirely dressed in white where sunlight reflects off the sculptures, bringing out every small detail. As night falls, the atmosphere transforms into a magical realm filled with color. The artworks blaze under neon projectors for an unforgettable experience.

Do remember to dress warmly, as in addition to the extreme temperatures of January in Harbin, the festival consists entirely of ice, intensifying the cold. The chill will soon be forgotten, however, once you discover the first sculptures.

The festival also includes several activities such as sculpture competitions, swimming in frozen waters, sledding, bobsleigh, snow rafting, skiing, and ice skating.

The sculptures are spread across 3 exhibition sites:

Zhaolin Park: the most visited exhibition park during the festival. It showcases the most beautiful ice lanterns and features numerous activities. The exhibitions are perfect for families with children.

Sun Island Park: the park features snow sculptures exclusively and can only be visited during the day.

Ice and Snow World: considered one of the world's largest ice sculpture parks, you'll find enchanting artworks, castles, temples, and other monuments carved in ice.

Harbin has an extensive bus network making it easy to reach any of the exhibition parks.

Zhaolin Park: take buses 8, 53, 74, 83, 113, 114, or 206

Sun Island Park: take buses 29, 80, 85, or 88

Ice and Snow World: take buses 88, 125, or 126

You'll easily find taxis on-site that will gladly take you to one of the parks.

Plane

There are abundant flights of 3 hours between Beijing and Harbin during festival season.

Train

Train travel is a very affordable option. High-speed and regular trains from Beijing ensure the journey to Harbin.

Hours and Rates

Zhaolin Park: 150 CNY per adult – Free entrance for children under 1.2 meters and seniors over 70 years old.

Zhaolin Park is open for ice exhibitions from January 5th through the end of February, 9am to 9pm.

Sun Island Park: 240 CNY per adult

120 CNY per child between 1.2 and 1.5 meters; free for children under 1.2 meters

Ice and Snow World: Rates vary by time of day

9am to 12pm: 150 CNY per adult and 120 CNY per child over 1.2 meters

12pm to 9pm: 300 CNY per adult and 160 CNY for seniors over 70 and children under 1.2 meters.