HARBIN ICE AND SNOW FESTIVAL CHINA

Every year, in northeast China's Heilongjiang province, the city of Harbin hosts the Harbin International Ice and Snow Sculpture Festival, featuring massive ice and snow sculptures—more than a million visitors are anticipated this year. At night, the sculptures are colorfully illuminated and visitors can climb and play on some of the structures. The festival officially opened on January 5, and will run through the end of February.

About Festival

The Festival, established in 1985, is held annually from January 5 and lasts for over one month. Harbin is the capital city of Heilongjiang Province and this is China's original and greatest ice artwork festival, attracting hundreds of thousands of local people and visitors from all over the world.

The city's location in northeast China accounts for its arctic climate which provides abundant natural ice and snow. Subsequently, the 'Ice City' of Harbin is recognized as the cradle of ice and snow art in China and is famous for its exquisite and artistic ice and snow sculptures. The fabulous Ice Lantern Festival was the forerunner of the current festival and is still the best loved part of the overall event in the opinion of all who go to that city each year.

The Derivation of the Ice Lantern

Ice sculptures

The first Ice lanterns were a winter-time tradition in northeast China. During the Qing Dynasty（1644 - 1911), the local peasants and fishermen often made and used ice lanterns as jack-lights during the winter months. At that time these were made simply by pouring water into a bucket that was then put out in the open to freeze. It was then gently warmed before the water froze completely so that the bucket-shaped ice could be pulled out. A hole was chiseled in the top and the water remaining inside poured out creating a hollow vessel. A candle was then placed inside resulting in a windproof lantern that gained great popularity in the region around the city.

From then on, people made ice lanterns and put them outside their houses or gave them to children to play with during some of the traditional festivals. Thus the ice lantern began its long history of development. With novel changes and immense advancement in techniques, today we can marvel at the various delicate and artistic ice lanterns on display.

Today's Ice Lantern

Nowadays, ice lantern in broad sense refers to a series of plastic arts using ice and snow as raw material combining ice artworks with colored lights and splendid music. The specific patterns of ice lantern include sculptures, ice flowers, ice architectures and so on.

The Sun Island Park is the site of the Snow Sculpture Exposition displaying a wonderful snow world. It has the world's largest indoor ice and snow art museum and it opens to the public from November every year.

Ice and Snow World came into being in 1999 and is one of the world's largest ice architecture parks. The inspiration for the ice and snow sculptures there usually is derived from traditional Chinese fairy tales or world famous architectures such as the Great Wall, the Egyptian Pyramids, etc.

Ice and Snow Festival in Zhaolin Park

Zhaolin Park is a 'must see' during the Ice Festival because it has a traditional program that shows the most excellent ice lanterns. With water, lights and the natural ice from the Songhua River running through this city as the material, the ice lanterns are made by freezing water, piling up ice or snow, then carving, enchasing, decorating, etc. The ice lantern park touring activities have been held here annually since 1963 and is said to be one of the most wonderful 35 tourist attractions in China. There are numerous pieces of ice artworks in the park arranged in groups according to different themes depicting Chinese classic masterworks, European folktales and customs and so on. A great variety of objects such as buildings, gardens, flowers, waterfalls, European-styled churches, lions, tigers, dragons are carved from ice. In the daytime, the ice sculptures are magnificent and verisimilitude. Moreover, with the interspersion of the sparkling colored lights embedded in the sculptures at night, the park becomes a glorious and amazing ice world.

Today, the Ice Festival is not only an exposition of ice and snow art, but also an annual cultural event for international exchange. Every year, there are many ice sculpture experts, artists and fans from America, Canada, Japan, Singapore, Russia, China, etc. gathering in this city to participate ice sculpting competitions and to communicate with each other in the ice and snow world. Also, Harbin ice lanterns have been exhibited in most of China's main cities as well as in many countries in Asia, Europe, North America, Africa and Oceania. For more than 40 years, the city's local natural resource of ice and snow has been fully explored to provide joy and fun for visitors to the city. Now during the festival, many sporting competitions are also popular including ice-skating, sledding and so on. Weddings, parties and other entertainments are now very much a feature of this ice world, adding their own contribution to the celebrations of this great festival of art, culture, sports and tourism.

What to eat in Harbin

Harbin food is influenced by Russia, Korea, Mongolia, and of course North China cuisines, especially Shandong Cuisine. Dishes are usually fumigated, stewed, or pickled in sauce. They have a wide field of selecting materials, and are various in style. You will find that the dishes are saltier and served in a much larger amount than those in other cities in China. You will also find that the dishes have heavy use of vegetables, such as cucumber, cabbage, corn and potato, Shaokao (Chinese BBQ) and Hot Pot are equally popular. Dumplings are a must-taste in Harbin, featuring thin pastry shell and various stuffing.

The following dishes are very common and popular in Harbin: shredded chicken fried with bean curd, shredded chicken stew with mushroom, stewed pig's elbow, vermicelli (bean or sweet potato noodles) stewed with fish, vermicelli stewed with pork, and pork bone seasoned with soy sauce. They are all delicious and sold at low prices. Tossed dishes (like salad) are also popular, and various materials are used, the most common are potato, green pepper, dried bean milk cream in tight rolls, and black fungus, and are usually dressed with soy sauce and aged vinegar. Due to the city’s history with Russian immigrants, there are some western restaurants and cafes in Harbin. Dalieba (or Khleb, a kind of Russian bread) and Hongchang (Harbin Smoked Red Sausage) are typically Russian, and they not only are the delicacies on local people’s table, but are also good gifts for friends and relatives.

Guobaorou (Deep Fried Pork with Sweet and Sour Sauce)

It is a famous food in Harbin and a representative of Harbin cuisine. If you are the first time to Harbin, this food is recommended to you. Guobarou is made of pork and starch featuring fragrant, crisp, sweet and a bit of sour. Color of this food is beautiful. A perfect Guobarou is in the color of golden. When eating an authentic Guobarou, you will find it crisp outside and soft and tender inside.

Harbin Jiaozi

Talking about Harbin, Jiaozi cannot be missed. Harbin Jiaozi is famous for the stuffing. Different from other places in China, local people put lots of meat into the Jiaozi so that the taste of Jiaozi will be excellent. Besides, recipe of Jiaozi here is special. Although Jiaozi can be found in most places in China, the authentic Harbin Jiaozi can be only found in Harbin. It is said the materials used in this food decide that the authentic Harbin Jiaozi can be only eaten in Harbin.

Things to Do in Harbin

Talking about things to do in Harbin for Harbin travel, there are plenty things which must be recommended to tourists. As a city in northern China, Harbin is a charming city in Heilongjiang province. The most beautiful time of this city is in winter. In winter, this city will become a snow world. In following content, you will know top things to do in Harbin. Some are suitable for all year around and some are the ones only recommended in winter.

Top Things to Do in Harbin

Take a visit to the famous St. Sofia Orthodox Church

Traveling in Harbin, St. Sofia Orthodox Church is a must-see place. It is an orthodox church in the style of Byzantinism and was built in 1907. Covering an area of 721 square meters, it is designed by a Russia architect. At present, it has been an architectural art gallery of Harbin. When you go inside this church, you will love this place and never want to leave. It is a world of art. As a landmark of Harbin, St. Sofia Orthodox Church cannot be missed, and you will be amazed by its exterior and the interior design.

Take a stroll in the Central Street to enjoy the exotic features

It is the longest pedestrian street in Asia and the most prosperous street in Haribin. Besides, it is also the top place for people to enjoy shopping and dining in Harbin. When you walk in this street, you will be attracted by various European style buildings on both sides of this street. There are 71 buildings in European style. You can find buildings in the style of Renaissance, Baroque, Eclecticism and the new concept. Central Street likes a gallery of architecture. Besides, there are many activities held in this street all year around. If you take a tour to Harbin, please do visit this street.

Enjoy skiing in the Yabuli

As a small town in the southeast of Harbin, Yabuli is the best place in China to enjoy skiing in winter. When time comes to winter, there will be millions of people. Yabuli has the best condition and landform for ski and facilities here are great for ski. Besides, price for skiing here is reasonable. If you are visiting Harbin in winter and a fan of skiing, you should not miss the chance to ski he