Harbin Ice Festival 2022 | Opening Ceremony January 5

Harbin Ice Festival 2022
Opening Ceremony January 5, 2022

The 2022 Harbin Ice Festival - officially called the 38th Harbin International Ice and Snow Sculpture Festival officially opens with a ceremony on January 5, 2022

Harbin Ice-Snow World in Harbin, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province (Image courtesy of Xinhua Silk Road)
Harbin Ice-Snow World in Harbin, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province (Image courtesy of Xinhua Silk Road)

More than 400 activities and events will be held in Harbin city for celebrating the 38th Harbin International Ice and Snow Sculpture Festival in 2022. The activities and events are based on ice and snow tourism, ice and snow culture, ice and snow fashion culture, ice and snow trade, and ice and snow sports.

The theme parks and main events of the festival will include the 23rd Harbin Ice and Snow World, the 34th Harbin Sun Island International Snow Sculpture Art Expo, the 59th Ice Lantern Fair at Zhaolin Park, the 2nd Ice Lantern Show at Rongchuang Amusement Park, the 4th Harbin Songhua River Ice and Snow Carnival,  the 3rd Ice Collecting Festival on the frozen Songhua River, and the 19th Yabuli Skiing Festival in Yabuli Town. 

Harbin China by Marc Mooney of Pixabay
Harbin China by Marc Mooney of Pixabay

Harbin, The Ice City

Harbin, also dubbed the ice city, has been harnessing its unique "freezing" resources for development and witnessed thriving growth of the ice and snow economy. Statistics showed that during the recent three-day New Year holiday, the city's 11 major tourist attractions received 530,000 tourist arrivals. 

Harbin is at the same latitude as Montreal, and winter temperatures typically fall between -10 and -30 °C. Temperatures are expected in the -15℃ to -25℃ range during the period of the 38th Harbin International Ice and Snow Sculpture Festival (December 20 to the end of February). 

Heilongjiang Province boasts a snow season as long as half a year. Thanks to its exceptional climate conditions, Harbin hosts many internationally acclaimed ice and snow events such as the Harbin International Ice and Snow Festival and the Harbin Sun Island International Snow Sculpture Art Exposition. It also houses leading winter resorts like Yabuli Skiing Town, China Snow Town and Beiji (North Pole) Village. The Harbin International Ice and Snow Festival has emerged as one of the four global major ice and snow events. And the Harbin Sun Island International Snow Sculpture Art Exposition is the largest and most widely participated ice sculpture expo in China.

Siberian Tiger in Harbin, China (Photo by Thomas Johanna on Pixabay)
Siberian Tiger in Harbin, China (Photo by Thomas Johanna on Pixabay)

What to See and Do during the 38th Harbin International Ice and Snow Sculpture Festival?

Harbin Ice and Snow World: A must-see attraction in winter in Harbin. It is the most important theme park of the ice festival. This wonderland where large ice buildings and statues constructed with lights inside that make them glow Harbin. In the park, visitor can watch performances, films...and do a lot of interesting ice and snow activities, such as snowtubing, snowsliding, snowbiking...

Sun Island International Snow Sculpture Art Expo: This annual expo features massive and beautifully carved sculptures of snow. 

Zhaolin Park:  Harbin's Ice Lantern Festival was firstly held in Zhaolin park downtown in 1963. 

Rongchuang Amusement Park: A theme park features amusement activities, ice lantern show,  and skiing. 

Saint Sophia Church: Built in 1903,this Orthodox church is a wonderful example of Russian Architecture.

Saint Sofia church in Harbin, China (Photo by Holyeagle on Pixabay)
Saint Sofia church in Harbin, China (Photo by Holyeagle on Pixabay)

Siberian Tiger Park: The park has several large caged areas where the tigers and lions roam freely and live as they would in their natural environment. 

Harbin Polarland: This famous aquarium housing penguins, whales, polar bears, seals, dolphins, and wolves and foxes. Seal and whales performances are organized every day.

Russian Architecture: The city is renowned for its unique, Russian-influenced architecture, remnants from the days when Harbin was a crucial stop on the Russian Manchurian Railroad, the dome-shaped structures are nostalgic throwbacks to pre-revolutionary Russia.

Volga Manor: A Russian culture theme garden, complete and full of exotic manor with beautiful scenery, with large gardens, Russian style buildings, churches, museums, and tidal flat wetland.

Jewish Sites: Harbin have many historic Jewish buildings and sites including hospital, bank, church, cemetery, business Hong, synagogue, kitchen, school, and assembly hall, among others.

Central Street: Pedestrian only street, a perfect remnant of the bustling international business activities at the turn of the 20th century. The 1.4-km long street is a veritable museum of European architectural styles, including Baroque and Byzantine facades, Jewish architectural wonders, little Russian bakeries, French fashion houses, American snack food outlets, and Japanese restaurants.

Ice sculpture in Harbin, China
Ice sculpture in Harbin, China

Stalin Park: It is a Soviet-era landscaped park on the bank of the Songhua River with statues and the famous icon building  - Harbin Flood Control Monument (Harbin People Flood Control Success Memorial Tower).

Heilongjiang Provincial Museum: It is a research center for scholars and a popular place to enjoy the exhibits and to learn about history in Harbin.

Gogol Street: Harbin's second biggest shopping district dotted with Russian buildings.

Chinese Baroque Street (aka Lao Daowai): The street is known for its high historic value and integrated architectural style of Baroque façades and Chinese quads (Siheyuan). It is the largest existing area of Baroque buildings in China.

731 Japanese Germ Warfare Experimental Base: The world's largest germ warfare experimental base, which was built by Japanese troops in China during World War II, now opened as a historical reminder of the dark history of the Japanese aggression towards the Chinese.

A grocery market with a difference: An outdoor market that operates at -20 degrees Celsius. Fruit and vegetables are sold in glass cabinets and padded tents, while boxes of popsicles are laid out on the ground. 

Enjoy Skiing at the Ski Resorts: For skiers, many ski resorts can be chosen during the ice festival in Harbin and its nearby areas, such as Yabuli Xintiwei Ski Resort (Yabuli New Physical Culture and Sports Commission Ski Resort), Yabuli Sunshine Holiday Village Ski Resort, among many others.

A look at the 2021 festival:

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