Is this China's coolest town?

Taking the scenic route;Row of ice pagodas line one of the park's central road

Every winter, Heilongjiang, China's northernmost province, puts on a magical show with spectacular sculptures illuminated in bright colours

Never mind the cold, to more than million visitors enjoying the massive snow and ice sculptures - each beautifully handcrafted and illuminated with lights - the Harbin ice festival  is truly a magical winter wonderland. So plan a winter trip via flight or train from Beijing and prepare to be blown away  by an otherwordly display of artistic genius in a surreal, frozen landscape 

When does it start?

officially, the Harbin International Ice and Snow festival  runs for a month from January 5 and often stretches through late february when weather permitted. While the festival often open up to visitors in late December , the official launch is a firework extravaganza that is well-worth experiencing.

Why is festival so famous?

Barring a few years during China's cultural revolution, Harbin's snow and ice festival has been running continously since 1963. Over the years,the ice and snow sculptures have become increasingly extravagant , drawing sculptures and artists from around the world to create frezing Behemoths ranging from 103 meters long human figure to 40 meter tall crystalline pagodas built from shimmering bricks of ice and snow. As these structures have grown in number and quality, so has the festival, Harbin now houses three distinct theme parks showcasing a wide variety of sculptures.

Workers polish a snow sculpture ahead of the Harbin Ice and Snow World on December 22

How are the sculptures created?

Ice used in Harbin's festivals has been sourced from the nearby songhua river. China Daily reported that more than 50 workers extracted nearly 180,000 cubic meters of ice from the river over the course of three weeks for the festival. To do so, they use electric saws to cut out gargantuan 700kg blocks, which take four men to lift.

A Huge Ice sculpture of an Elephant

What to see?

As the world's largest ice and snow festival, Harbin showcase over 750,000 square meters of displays. Originally, the Harbin festival was a lantern show, and one of the three venues today, Zhaolin Park, plays tribute to this history through its illuminated lantern display ( the lantern are naturally, cut from blocks of ice). At night, Zhaolin Park, along with the Ice and snow World, are animated with dazzling LED lights. Third Park, the Sun Island Scenic Area, contains displays that can only be viewed during the day. While a reconstruction of the Roman coliseum made completely of ice may inspire awe in some, there are winter-themed alternatives for sporty travellers, including skiing, swimming, ice sailing and fishing. There's a reason Harbin has been nicknamed Ice City in the winter months, it truly becomes a freezing aasis and a marvellous monument to all things winter.

Harbin Ice and Snow festival

Wonderful Winter Quotes

“I wonder if the snow loves the trees and fields, that it kisses them so gently? And then it covers them up snug, you know, with a white quilt; and perhaps it says, “Go to sleep, darlings, till the summer comes again.” – Lewis Carroll

“Winter is the time for comfort, for good food and warmth, for the touch of a friendly hand and for a talk beside the fire: it is the time for home.” – Edith Sitwell

“What good is the warmth of summer, without the cold of winter to give it sweetness.” – John Steinbeck

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