I. Harbin International Ice and Snow Festival: One of the World's Four Major Ice and Snow Extravaganzas
Harbin International Ice and Snow Festival is China's first international festival dedicated to ice and snow activities. It is one of the world's four major ice and snow festivals, on par with Japan's Sapporo Snow Festival, Canada's Quebec Winter Carnival, and Norway's Oslo Ski Festival.
The Harbin International Ice and Snow Festival offers rich and diverse content and forms. Examples include the Harbin Ice and Snow World, an ice and snow Disneyland built on the Songhua River; large-scale ice sculptures exhibited in Stalin Park; the snow sculpture garden party held on Sun Island; and the grand Ice Lantern Garden Party held in Zhaolin Park, all of which are part of the festival.
During the festival, various events are held, such as winter swimming competitions, ice hockey matches, snow football games, alpine skiing invitationals, ice sculpture competitions, international ice sculpture competitions, ice speed skating races, ice and snow poetry gatherings, ice and snow photography exhibitions, book exhibitions, ice and snow film art festivals, and ice weddings. Here, you will experience not only the extreme cold but also the warmth, creativity, and the pure, fearless spirit of the people of Harbin.
II. Ice and Snow as a Medium, Winter Gala—A Brief History of the Ice and Snow Festival
The idea of holding the Harbin Ice and Snow Festival first emerged in October 1983, and the plan was implemented on January 5, 1985.
On October 16, 1983, in the "Opinions on Strengthening External Propaganda Work," it was first proposed: "We must further develop our city's characteristic sightseeing tourism projects with northern landscape features. Ice lanterns and snow scenery, and ice activities should have new content and new developments. It is suggested that the Ice Lantern Garden Party be organized as an international Harbin Winter Ice and Snow Festival to attract more domestic and foreign tourists." The Harbin Municipal Committee of the Communist Party of China agreed and issued the "Opinions" to the entire city in Harbanfa [1983] No. 70 document.
In 1984, the Second Session of the Harbin Municipal People's Congress passed the "Government Work Report," agreeing to hold an "Ice and Snow Festival Activity Month." A few days later, the municipal government convened relevant experts and some officials to participate in a symposium, unanimously agreeing to establish the Ice and Snow Festival. A request report, Harfa [1984] No. 34, was submitted to the Heilongjiang Provincial Committee and Government. In mid-December, the Heilongjiang Provincial Committee instructed Harbin to establish the Ice and Snow Festival. On December 20, a press conference was held at Harbin Hotel (now Madie'er Hotel). The Harbin Municipal Government announced that starting from 1985, January 5 would be the Harbin Ice and Snow Festival, and January would be the Ice and Snow Festival Activity Month.
On the evening of January 5, 1985, at 4:30 PM, the opening ceremony of the first Harbin Ice and Snow Festival was held in front of the South Gate of Zhaolin Park.
From "Ice Lantern Garden Party" to "World-Class Event":
Early Stage (1985-2000): Initially named "Harbin Ice and Snow Festival," with the Ice Lantern Garden Party and ice sculpture competitions at its core. During this period, the festival continuously innovated, adding snow sculpture garden parties, winter swimming competitions, ice weddings, and other unique activities, and began exporting ice lanterns as cultural commodities to Beijing and even overseas.
International Expansion Period (2001-Present): In 2001, it merged with the Heilongjiang International Ski Festival and was officially upgraded to the "China Harbin International Ice and Snow Festival," marking a new era of internationalization. Themes became increasingly rich, and cooperation extended globally.
Selected Themes from Past Festivals (2005-2025):
- 2005, 21st Session | "Showcasing the Charm of Northern Ice and Snow, Expressing the Passion of Harbin's Millions": Focused on local ice and snow art, expressing urban pride.
- 2006, 22nd Session | "China-Russia Year": As the opening event of a national cultural celebration, highlighting Sino-Russian integration.
- 2007, 23rd Session | "Ice Romance and Snow Charm, Harmonious World": Elevating the beauty of ice and snow, conveying the concept of a harmonious world.
- 2008, 24th Session | "Ice and Snow Olympics": Perfectly echoing the Beijing Olympics, injecting sportsmanship into ice and snow.
- 2009, 25th Session | "Passionate Winter Universiade, Joyful Ice and Snow Tour": As host, welcoming the World University Winter Games.
- 2010, 26th Session | "Five Continents Sing One Song": Partnered with the United States, introducing Hollywood elements to create an East-West cultural feast.
- 2012, 28th Session | "Passionate and Vibrant, Beautiful Ice City": Combined with the "China-Russia Tourism Year," showcasing urban vitality and natural beauty.
- 2013, 29th Session | "A City of Ice and Snow, A World of Joy": Transforming the entire city into an ice and snow wonderland for public participation.
- 2014, 30th Session | "Fifty Years of Ice and Snow, Charming Harbin": Reviewing a half-century of ice and snow history, showcasing brilliant achievements.
- 2015, 31st Session | National Festival: Approved by the State Council, becoming Heilongjiang Province's only national-level festival, with supreme status.
- 2016, 32nd Session | "Pearl on the Crown of Ice and Snow": Established Harbin's brand position as China's crown jewel of ice and snow tourism.
- 2018, 34th Session | "Pearl on the Crown of Ice and Snow—Harbin": Deepened the brand, complementing the "East Asian Cultural Capital" activities.
- 2019, 35th Session | "Building Dreams in Ice and Snow, Sharing Gold and Silver Mountains": Practicing ecological development concepts, unleashing the value of the ice and snow economy.
- 2020, 36th Session | Seven Major Themes, Four Routes: Introduced diversified in-depth experiences to meet all tourists' expectations.
- 2021, 37th Session | Extra-Long Ice and Snow Season: The festival was extended for the first time to nearly 5 months, creating an "extended duration" ice and snow carnival.
- 2022, 38th Session | Supporting the Beijing Winter Olympics: Fully integrated with the Winter Olympics theme, popularizing ice and snow sports, contributing to "300 Million People Participate in Ice and Snow Sports."
- 2023, 39th Session | "Sixty Years of Ice and Snow, Embarking on a New Journey Together": Standing at a new sixty-year starting point, looking forward to the future of ice and snow.
- 2024, 40th Session | "Passionate Welcome to the Asian Winter Games · Ice and Snow Warm the World": Warming up for the 2025 Asian Winter Games, showcasing enthusiasm amidst ice and snow.
- 2025, 41st Session | "Date with Harbin · Ice and Snow Warm the World": Continuing to create a warm atmosphere, extending a sincere invitation to the world.
Looking Ahead to 2026: Traditionally, the 42nd Harbin International Ice and Snow Festival is expected to open around January 5, 2026, with activities running throughout the winter. Please follow official channels for the latest themes and event information.
III. Harbin International Ice and Snow Festival—Detailed Activity Sections
1. Grand Opening Ceremony
- Time: January 5th annually
- Location: Main stage of Ice and Snow World
- Highlights: Parade of international ice and snow art delegations, large-scale ice and snow live performances, fireworks and light shows, ice and snow sports demonstrations, officially kicking off months of ice and snow revelry.
2. Ice and Snow Art Section
- International Ice Sculpture Competition: More than 30 artist teams from various countries create over 100 ice sculptures on-site within 72 hours, judged by internationally renowned ice sculptors.
- International Snow Sculpture Competition: Witness the birth of giant snow sculptures up to 25 meters tall, using over 2000 cubic meters of snow, showcasing the magnificent grandeur of snow around a specific theme each year.
- Public Ice Sculpture Competition: Everyone is welcome to participate! There are professional, amateur, and youth groups, as well as warm family ice sculpture experience activities, with professional ice sculptors providing on-site guidance.
3. Ice and Snow Sports Section
- Professional Competitions: Watch thrilling international snow football invitationals, endurance-testing ice and snow marathons, high-level international ice hockey invitationals, and graceful figure skating performances.
- Public Sports Activities: Participate in fun activities like ice dragon boating, snow tug-of-war, ice cycling, and snow tubing relays in the "Ice and Snow Fun Valley" created on the frozen Songhua River.
- Extreme Sports Performances: Experience the visual impact of ice cliff climbing, snowmobile stunts, and breathtaking ice acrobatics.
4. Ice and Snow Culture Section
- Ice and Snow Photography Season: Participate in ice and snow photography contests and master workshops, and head to the best shooting spots with professional guides to capture the different charms of day and night scenes.
- Ice and Snow Music Festival: Experience unique performances with ice instruments, listen to concerts in the snow, and enjoy Russian-style performances and a special ice and snow edition of Northeast Errenzhuan (a local folk art).
- Ice and Snow Food Festival: Experience the hot and cold contrast of hot pot in an ice house, taste authentic Russian BBQ, traditional Northeast frozen delicacies, and dispel the chill with a hot drink at the hot beverage market.
5. Ice and Snow Economic and Trade Section
- Ice and Snow Industry Expo: Learn about cutting-edge ice and snow equipment, tourism products, and technology, and participate in professional forums and investment negotiations.
- Ice and Snow Creative Market: Shop for exquisite ice and snow-themed cultural and creative products and handicrafts, participate in artist studio open days, and bring a piece of ice and snow creativity home.
IV. Ice and Snow Festival Special Events—Schedule
- Pre-festival Activities (Early December): Witness the traditional Songhua River "Ice Harvesting Festival," observe the groundbreaking ceremony for the Ice and Snow World, and the snowmaking launch for the Snow Expo.
- Core Activity Period (January):
- First Week: New Year's Ice and Snow Carnival Night (Jan 1), Grand Opening Ceremony (Jan 5), International Ice Sculpture Competition (Jan 6-8).
- Second Week: International Snow Sculpture Competition, Ice and Snow Film Festival, Romantic Ice and Snow Group Wedding.
- Third Week: University Ice and Snow Creative Competition, Ice and Snow e-Sports Competition, Ice and Snow Poetry Recitation Contest.
- Fourth Week: Ice and Snow Photography Exhibition, Closing Ceremony and Ice and Snow Artworks Charity Auction.
- Extended Activities (February-March): Participate in the Lantern Festival Ice Lantern Fair, experience spring skiing events, and visit indoor ice and snow art exhibitions.
V. Practical Guide: How to Plan Your Trip?
1. Pre-trip Preparation: Staying Warm is Key
- Dressing Rules: Adopt a "layering" approach. Wear inner layer quick-drying, breathable thermal underwear (avoid pure cotton), a mid-layer fleece or wool sweater, and an outer layer windproof and waterproof down jacket or shell jacket.
- Warm Accessories: Wool socks, waterproof and non-slip snow boots, thick gloves, an ear-covering hat, and a scarf or face mask are crucial.
- Device Protection: Phones and cameras drain power extremely quickly and may even shut down in low temperatures. Keep them close to your body and bring a power bank. You can also buy "hand warmers" to stick on the back of your devices and on your body.
2. Transportation Guide: How to Arrive and Get Around the City
- Arrival: Harbin is well-connected to major domestic and international cities via Taiping International Airport and multiple high-speed rail stations.
- City Transportation: Dedicated tourist bus routes usually serve major ice and snow attractions. Taxis and ride-hailing services (such as Didi Chuxing) are also convenient, but may be in high demand during peak hours.
3. Tickets and Costs
- Ticketing Secret: Strongly recommended to purchase tickets online in advance! Buy through official websites, WeChat mini-programs, or trusted travel apps (e.g., Trip.com, Klook) to avoid long queues in the cold.
- Main Attraction Ticket Prices: Tickets for Ice and Snow World and Sun Island Snow Expo typically range from 300-500 RMB, while Zhaolin Park ticket prices are relatively more affordable.
4. Language and Communication
- English is not widely spoken in Harbin. But rest assured, the people of Harbin are very friendly and hospitable.
- Essential Tools: Download translation apps like Google Translate or Baidu Translate to your phone in advance and ensure they can be used offline.
- Simple Phrases: Learning to say
"Hello (Nǐ hǎo)","Thank you (Xièxie)", and"How much is this? (Zhège duōshǎo qián?)"will be very helpful. - For more comprehensive travel preparations for China, such as visas, payments, and internet, please read our First-Time Traveler's Guide to China to ensure a worry-free trip.
5. Participation Tips: Best Viewing Times
- Daytime (9:00-16:00): Ample light, perfect for appreciating the crystalline texture and carving details of ice and snow sculptures.
- Golden Hour (16:00-18:00): At sunset, the colors of the sky and the translucence of the ice sculptures complement each other, making it an excellent time for photography.
- Nighttime (18:00-21:00): With all the lights illuminated, the ice and snow landscape transforms into a colorful dream world, an absolutely unmissable experience.
VI. Embrace Your Frozen Fantasy in 2026
The Harbin International Ice and Snow Festival is not just a celebration; it's an experience, a spectacle, and an extreme passion and beauty that blossoms in the bitter cold. Bravely embrace this world of ice and snow, and you will gain not only breathtaking photos but also an eternal memory of light, art, and winter magic.
On January 5, 2026, we await your ice and snow rendezvous in Harbin!...
