Experience the chill of Northeast China at the Harbin International Ice and Snow Festival in sub-zero temperatures

In November and December, Beijing starts to see snowfall, and the crisp winter scenery makes people even more eager for the upcoming “Harbin International Ice and Snow Festival.” As the Northeast begins to embrace the winter vibe, snowfall, ice sculptures, Christmas trees, and other festive elements start to spread across the streets and alleys. To allow more people to experience the beauty of the Northeast, this year Harbin has expanded the scale of the International Ice and Snow Festival. It is set to showcase what can be called the world’s largest ice and snow art and entertainment event, where you can enjoy the thrill of eating ice in temperatures below minus 30 degrees Celsius!

The frigid northern climate is the Northeast’s proud advantage, with its crystal-clear large-scale ice sculptures and stunning rime landscapes that always leave subtropical visitors in awe. Established in 1985, the Harbin International Ice and Snow Festival is one of the world’s four major ice and snow festivals. This year’s 26th edition, themed “Celebrating Prosperity with Ice and Snow, Sharing Harmony Together,” has invited newly crowned actress Fan Bingbing as its ambassador. The festival will feature five major segments with hundreds of activities: ice and snow art, ice and snow culture, ice and snow tourism, ice and snow sports, and ice and snow trade. During the festival, international snow sculpture, ice sculpture, and winter swimming competitions will also take place.

Aitravel – Yingjia International Travel Agency has exclusively launched the “Northeast Four Seasons Tour” super-value 8-day itinerary covering Dalian, Shenyang, Changchun, and Harbin during the Christmas season, celebrating new ways to enjoy the Northeast together. This year, Aitravel has collaborated with local tourism operators in the Northeast to create the “Fire and Ice Dual Experience – Romantic Ice House.” In this ice house, you can enjoy premium cocktails and dine in an ice-house hot pot. The ice house offers two completely different atmospheres day and night. By day, sunlight pours in, making the ice blocks bright and translucent, like a crystal palace. By night, when the ice is lit up, the walls and ceiling become a colorful wonderland.

The Harbin International Ice and Snow Festival features many activities, among which the larger and more significant ones include the Ice and Snow World, the Sun Island International Snow Sculpture Art Expo, and Ice and Snow Disneyland (the Zhaolin Park Ice Lantern Art Expo). Aside from enjoying the snow in the Northeast, you can also explore many historical sites, such as the Shenyang Imperial Palace, the Zhang’s Mansion, and the Shenyang World Cultural Heritage site of Beiling. For more details on a joyful trip to the Northeast, visit the Aitravel official website.

Read more: Hokkaido Snow Festival (provided by Tripass Scenic Spots)