The Harbin International Ice and Snow Sculpture Festival, commonly known as Harbin Ice Lantern Festival or simply called Harbin Ice Festival, which mainly consists of the snow sculptures show in the Sun Island, ice activities on the Songhua River, Ice Lantern Show in the Zhaolin Park, and the Ice & Snow World in the west of the Sun Island.

The festival has been held since 1963. It had been interrupted for a number of years during the Cultural Revolution but had been resumed by 1985. Along with Japan's Sapporo Snow Festival, Canada's Quebec City Winter Carnival, and Norway's Ski Festival. The Harbin International Ice and Snow Sculpture Festival is listed as the top 4 ice and snow festivals in the world.

Traditionally, the Harbin International Ice and Snow Sculpture Festival open in mid-December and last to the late February. But its official opening ceremony usually held on January 5th each year. And the time is usually considered as the official date of the formal beginning of the festival. The festival includes many interesting activities and events, such as ice and snow carnival, international ice sculptures competitions, ice lantern show, sliding, ice-sailing, sledging, ice hockey, ice football, speed skating, cross-field skiing and Alpine skiing competitions, fishing, swimming, ice and snow film art show, painting exhibition, calligraphy display, photo exhibition, folk song and dance performances, wedding ceremonies on ice, trade talks, trade fairs and all kinds of national or international sports events etc.

For years, the Harbin International Ice and Snow Sculpture Festival has become the world’s most important winter tourist destination and photographers’ paradise. On December, January and February, thousands upon thousands of tourists flock to the ice city for their winter vacations, family holidays or honeymoon.

Travel Tips
1. Entrance: The main entrance of the festival’s venue is by the Flood Control Monument.

2. Tickets: To enter different venues (parks) of the festival, you have to buy different tickets in different prices.

3. If you enter the Zhaolin Park before 15:30 pm can get a discount at ticket price, but it is not the best time to see the ice lanterns. After 5:50 pm, the best time there is no discount.