Travel Tips

Go see the Harbin Ice & Snow Sculpture Festival before it melts away

Experience the magic of the Harbin International Ice and Snow Sculpture Festival! From giant ice castles to interactive snow art, here’s what to expect from China’s frozen kingdom!

Think ice kingdoms exist only in Disney movies and sci-fi films? Think again.

If you want to visit a real-life ice city that looks like a scene from Frozen, head to Harbin in China. Every winter, Harbin hosts one of the world’s largest winter events: The Harbin International Ice and Snow Sculpture Festival.

	Harbin International Ice & Snow Sculpture Festival
Location	Harbin, Heilongjiang Province, China
Main venues	Ice & Snow World, Sun Island Snow Sculpture Expo, Zhaolin Park
Dates	Early January – mid February 2026 (varies by weather)
Peak season	First 2–3 weeks of January
Tickets	Between ¥300-330 RMB ($44-47 USD) – Book online or buy tickets at the gate
Best visiting time	After sunset (lights) / Morning (snow detail photos)

Using 300,000 cubic meters of ice and snow, the festival has HUGE full-scale ice sculptures of buildings, castles, and famous landmarks.

And it’s not just a spectacular thing to look at. With ice bars, ice hotels, and themed zones like ice mazes, it’s a fully immersive experience that will make you feel like you’re in your own sci-fi movie!

In this guide, we’re sharing everything you need to know to plan a trip to the Harbin International Ice and Snow Sculpture Festival. You’ll discover the best time to go, what to see and do, and other places to visit nearby.

In this article

Festival timeline: What happens and when?

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While the park starts allowing visitors in late December, it’s not until early January that all the attractions are open. Here’s a breakdown of what happens and when:

Early December: Harbin’s ice collecting season begins with ice blocks carved from the Songhua River. Artists begin crafting the large ice sculptures.
Late December: The major sculptures are completed, and the park opens to the public. In 2025, Harbin Ice & Snow World is expected to open on Christmas Day.
January 5th: The official opening ceremony of the Harbin International Ice and Snow Sculpture Festival. This kickstarts all the festival’s activities and exhibitions.
Early to mid-January: This is the peak visiting period. Expect the clearest weather with blue skies, but also the busiest crowds.
Late January–February: Various side events such as ice swimming, skating, snow sports, and competitions take place.
Mid to late-February: The ice structures begin to melt, and the festival closes.

So when should you visit?

December: Smaller crowds, but some sculptures are still being built, and not all attractions are open.
January: Coldest weather with all attractions open and ice structures at their largest, but crowds are also at their largest!
February: Less crowded, but the weather is warmer, so some ice may have started melting.

Our advice?

Head there in mid to late January when the crowds are starting to thin, but the ice is still thick.

How to get to Harbin

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The city has an international airport (HRB) 37 km (23 miles) from the city center. If you fly into HRB, you can take the airport bus to your hotel.

You can also get to Harbin via bullet train from Beijing, which takes 5 to 7 hours. A fun fact about China is that its bullet trains operate on the world’s largest high-speed railway network. They connect the entire country and reach up to 350 kilometers per hour!

Top tip: Book flights and train tickets in advance if traveling during peak festival season (January).

Where to get festival tickets

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You can buy tickets from the on‑site counters at the entrance when you arrive. However, during peak visiting hours, the lines can be long.

Because of this, many visitors book their tickets online. You can secure tickets through several major travel platforms or OTAs (online travel agencies) such as Trip.com or Traveloka. Expect tickets to cost between ¥310-330 RMB ($44-47 USD).

Key festival zones you shouldn’t miss

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The Harbin International Ice and Snow Festival spans several zones, each offering different experiences and attractions. Here’s a breakdown of the key festival areas:

Ice & Snow World

This is the main attraction, where you’ll find the famous giant illuminated structures of castles, towers, and landmarks, as well as interactive installations such as ice slides, tunnels, and bridges.

It’s best to see this frozen architecture at night when the structures are illuminated with LED lights in vivid colors, giving the most iconic Instagram shots!

Sun Island Snow Sculpture Expo

This snow expo features detailed snow carvings of animals, historic scenes, famous characters, and cultural themes. The sculptures are incredibly impressive and best viewed during the day, as sunlight brings out their details.

Zhaolin Park (Ice Lantern Garden Party)

Zhaolin Park features thousands of traditional carved ice lanterns with internal lights, along with smaller-scale sculptures such as themed tunnels and bridges. There are far fewer crowds here, and the park has a more local, family-friendly atmosphere.

Special events

During the festival period, various smaller events take place, including performances, carving competitions, ice swimming displays, and winter sports throughout Harbin.

Ice swimming and winter sports are typically held along the Songhua River or in designated swimming/festival zones along its banks.
Cultural performances and shows take place in the city’s theaters and cultural centers, as well as on outdoor stages near festival zones like Zhaolin Park or Sun Island.

Places to visit in Harbin while you’re there

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While the Harbin International Ice and Snow Sculpture Festival may have put this Chinese city on the map, there are several other things to see and do here. When planning your trip to China, consider adding the following places to your itinerary:

Saint Sophia Cathedral: This Russian-style landmark was built in 1907 and today is Harbin’s most famous landmark. It’s especially beautiful when lit in the evening.
Central Street (Zhongyang Dajie): This pedestrian street is popular for its European-style architecture and its inviting bakeries and cafés. It’s ideal for strolling, taking photos, and trying Harbin specialties like red sausage and Russian-style ice cream.

Songhua River: The scenic river freezes over in winter, when it’s used for ice boating and ice fishing. Here you can watch the ice swimming competitions.
Volga Manor: Just outside Harbin, you’ll find this Russian-themed resort village with castles, gardens, hot springs, and winter activities.

Stay Connected While Exploring Harbin with Holafly

Of course, you’ll want to share your epic ice photos in real time with your loved ones back home. But relying on public Wi-Fi to send photos is like pushing a giant snowball uphill—it takes forever!

Thankfully, with a Holafly eSIM, you get fast, reliable data to navigate the festival’s event schedule, share photos, and check public transport timetables.

Grab your Holafly eSIM for China before your trip and enjoy a seamless, connected winter adventure!