January 5th – February 28th 2024 and 2025
We took a pretty standard approach to seeing the sites in the short time we had at the Harbin Snow and Ice Festival. Of course, you can spend about a week in Harbin enjoying the many sites but you can also stuff it all into 2 days.
For just 2 days the Ibis Hotel (contact me for the best hotel prices)is convenient and cheap. You can organize your taxi from the airport through the hotel for 150CYN and they have the below-mentioned tour to the Snow and Ice World. It is within walking distance of the pedestrian street and Zhaolin Park.
Harbin Snow and Ice Festival Day 1
Take a taxi driver for about 250CYN-300CYN who will stay with you for the morning. Get him to take you to the Sun Island Scenic Area where the Ice Sculpture Expo is. He should wait while you spend 2-3 hours there.
Then get him to take you to the Siberian Tiger Park. Here you can take the bus through the park, spend some time in the walking area and look around their tourist info/store. Pay the extra 30CYN to have an English speaking guide accompany you and get you good seats on the bus.
From here return to the hotel and rest up until the evening.
From your hotel, you may find that there is a bus tour from the hotel to the Snow and Ice World at 4pm. The bus costs 30CYN each way and you get your entry ticket to the Snow and Ice World from the tour lady so you don’t have to stand in line to buy it once you arrive. Alternatively, take a taxi to the Snow and Ice World in the evening. The site closes at 9 pm and you will want at least 2 hours there.
Harbin Day 2
Day 2 is for the Zhaolin Park festival site; exploring the pedestrian street; taking a walk along the riverside and seeing the activities there; visiting St. Sophia Church and generally enjoying the city. You could also visit Polarland if you choose or the museums.
This is completely incredible. I can’t imagine an entire city made of ice. I was going to head out there last time I was in China, but I didn’t get a chance. Would you say it is worth going to or a tourist trap?
Definitely worth the trip but only if you can get a cheap flight (which you can from Beijing using eLong, Ctrip or other Chinese travel sites). Only go during the festival and only for 1-3 days, but definitely worth it! Entrance is expensive but worth it.