During the winter months in Harbin, temperatures can drop to minus 30 degrees Celsius, which isn’t surprising given that it’s close to Russia. But it’s when conditions get coldest that the capital city of China’s northernmost province, Heilongjiang, truly comes to life.
Snow carvings, ice lanterns, fireworks displays and snow re-creations are some of the highlights of the 28th Harbin International Ice and Snow Festival, which officially kicks off on January 5, 2012 and runs for around a month, weather permitting. Visitors can get into the spirit of this magical winter wonderland with activities like skiing, toboganning and ice-sliding, and even winter swimming in the Songhua River, although this isn’t for the fainthearted.
Drawing a multitude of visitors each year, this is one of the world’s four largest international ice festivals, along with Japan’s Sapporo Snow Festival, Canada’s Quebec Winter Carnival, and Norway’s Ski Festival.
The ice and snow artwork created for the festival grace the snow-covered parks, public squares and major streets, and are lit up brilliantly at night. They come in all shapes and sizes, with designs ranging from animals to pagodas to intricately detailed replicas of famous buildings, such as the Eiffel Tower and the Great Wall.