Harbin International Ice and Snow Sculpture Festival is the world's biggest ice and snow event see huge and beautifully illuminated ice and snow sculptures, ice lanterns and enjoy winter activities. The event, which has become among the major winter attractions of China, is mainly based in the Zhaolin Park, the Sun Island and a segment of the bank of the Songhua River (in the west of the Sun Island).

The 2025 Harbin International Ice and Snow Sculpture Festival, also referred to as the 41st Harbin International Ice and Snow Sculpture Festival, is scheduled to commence on January 5, 2025. The festival is expected to last for about two months, concluding in early March 2025. If you are contemplating a visit to Harbin this winter, here are some important factors to consider as you prepare for your trip. Let's begin planning your journey!

STEP 1

Select your mode of transportation based on the time you have available to explore the city and the budget you have allocated. Harbin Taiping International Airport (HRB) serves the city, offering direct flights to all major cities in China. Transportation to the city is convenient with taxis and shuttle buses readily available. Taxis typically take around 1 hour to reach the downtown area and operate on flat rates mandated by law. Harbin Train Station and Harbin West Train Station are the city's primary railway stations, serving as the final stops for high-speed trains from Beijing, Shanghai, Shenyang, Qingdao, Jilin, Changchun, and several other major cities.

STEP 2

Select your accommodation wisely. Hotel prices tend to be high during winter, especially around Chinese New Year and Christmas. To save money, consider avoiding the Christmas period (Dec 24-26) and the Chinese New Year holiday (Jan 28 - Feb 3rd, 2025), and opt for staying in an inn or a standard-class hotel. Accommodation in an inn or standard-class hotel can cost less than half of what you would pay for a room in a first-class or deluxe hotel. The Daoli District is the city center and home to most popular attractions, so it's advisable to book your hotel in this district. This choice can help you save on transportation costs and time.

STEP 3

Decide on a mode of travel from one sight to another. Taxis, buses and subways are not convenient and not cost effective for a stranger, especially for those who cannot understand Chinese. It is advisable to rent a car or booking a tour package including a guide and driver.

STEP 4

Make a list of what you want to see and prioritize. Apart from the theme parks of the ice festival (Ice Lantern Fair in Zhaolin Park, Sun Island International Snow Sculpture Art Expo, Harbin Ice and Snow World), Harbin has many major attractions, including St. Sophia Church, the Confucious Temple, Jile Temple, Dragon Tower, Siberian Tiger Park, Harbin Polarland, Heilongjiang Province Museum and the Jewish sites. If you love Russian culture and art, consider including Harbin Volga Manor and Russian Town. Walk along the Central Street, see all kinds of historical Western style buildings and enjoy all kinds of food.

STEP 5

Visit China’s Snow Town, Chagan Lake, Yabuli or Jilin, if time allows. Take a trip to the China’s Snow Town to take some pictures of the snow covered wooden houses or drive the snowmobile to watch sunrise in the Yangcao Mountain. In Chagan Lake, you can experience the Mongolian fisherman’s life and watch people catching fish in the frozen lake. Yabuli have many famous ski resorts, where you can enjoy skiing for 1-3 days. Jilin is famous its rime and historical sites. It takes only 1.5 – 2 hours to ride to Jilin by high speed train.

STEP 6

Book your airfare in advance. Because airfare will probably be the most expensive part of your trip, you'll want to book it before anything else (car rental, hotel, etc.). This will allow you to be more flexible with your dates, which is a great way to save money on your flight.

STEP 7

Choose your tours after you book your flights! Our tours with the 2025 Harbin ice festival are only available from December 24, 2023 to February 25, 2024. You just need to fill the form for a chosen package and click SUBMIT REQUEST, we will send you the quotation and details within 5 minutes - 24 hours. The early bird catches the worm. Booking our tour before October can get discount!

STEP 8

Get your documents in order. If you don't have a passport, it will take at least four to six weeks from the time of application for you to receive one. Expedited services can trim the process down to two or three weeks, but it will cost you an additional fee, so it's best to take care of this well before your trip. Already have a passport? Check its expiration date. The last thing you need is to find out your passport has expired while you're in line at airport check-in.

STEP 9

Prepare Winter Clothing. In winter, the temperature is from -25°C (-13°F) to -10°C (14°F), and that's without wind chill! Hence thermal underwear, gloves, (scarves, earmuffs), hats, (face masks), and thick arctic clothing and boots are necessary. If you have ski boots they would be ideal.

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