Add an extra 3 days to your China tour and visit the Harbin Ice Festival during the month of January or early February when the weather is coldest. Explore this winter wonderland and see the impressive ice sculptures and lit buildings that this city creates for their Ice Festival each year. Add this highly recommended addition to your highlights China tour during the winter months!
Highlights
View snow sculptures at Sun Island Park & Grand World of Ice & Snow
Drive through Siberian Tiger Park and view this endangered species
Tour the Provincial Museum featuring the history of Harbin City
Involves minimal physical effort and is typically associated with leisurely activities. Activities are low-intensity or last less than a few hours each day.
Arrive in Harbin and meet your local guide before heading downtown. Enjoy lunch on your own at one of the many local restaurants. Afterward, begin exploring the city’s highlights. Start at Central Street (Zhongyang Dajie), where ice and snow sculptures line the street, creating a magical winter scene. You might even catch a glimpse of winter swimmers performing on stage in their swimwear.
Next, visit the former St. Sophia Church, a stunning architectural landmark built in 1923 and completed in 1932. Once the largest church in the Far East, it served as a warehouse before its renovation in 1997. Now functioning as an architectural art museum, the church is often surrounded by doves, adding to its serene charm.
As night falls, head to Zhaolin Park, built in honor of a patriotic general from World War II. The illuminated ice sculptures steal the show with their intricate designs and ever-changing annual themes, showcasing the incredible talent of artists from around the world.
Day 2: Sun Island Park & Siberian Tiger Park
1 Breakfast
After breakfast this morning at your hotel, transfer to the Sun Island Park on the northern bank of the Songhua River. This is the main spot of the Ice Festival of Harbin and a great place to see some amazing snow sculptures. The Songhua River freezes over in winter and most people take materials for the sculptures directly from the river.
Next drive to Siberian Tiger Park and get an up close look at the endangered Siberian tiger. This is a breeding center that is attempting to repopulate the almost extinct species. The research center now holds quite a few tigers and you have the opportunity to slowly drive through the park to see them through your car window.
Finally, visit the Grand World of Ice & Snow, which is the highlight of the Ice & Snow Festival. It is a large park where you can see many different sculptures made of snow and Ice.
Day 3: Grand World of Ice & Snow
1 Breakfast
This morning, visit the Provincial Museum of Heilongjiang where you can learn the history of the province and Harbin city. Lastly stroll through Stalin Park by the river where crowds of local people typically play on the iced over river. Children ice skating and local vendors fill the chilly air with sounds of bustling activity as the city comes alive during this exciting winter season.
Transfer this afternoon for your flight on to your next destination.
Dates & Prices
Per person starting at
Apologies for the inconvenience. Prices for not yet published. Below per person rate based on previous season. Contact us to confirm upcoming season pricing.
Prices for are estimated based on inflation. Contact us to confirm pricing and availability for your desired departure date.
$1,3272-3 travelers
Notes
Select a Date
Rates based on current exchange rate CNY/US dollars. Please contact us for exact quote in US dollars.
Initial deposit is 30% of Land Cost + Total Transportation Fare required at the time of confirmation of the reservation, and most travelers will call our office and pay the deposit with a credit card.
Final payment is due 70 days (10 weeks) prior to departure by bank transfer, check or credit card. All final payments by credit card may be subject to a surcharge and maximum of $20,000 charge
Our guide and driver were very good with their knowledge and were very helpful with our questions. It was a very pleasant visit that would have been impossible to do on our own. Hotels and restaurants were fantastic. The special places we got to go to, like the kitchens, were great. Enjoyed the entire trip!
