Harbin Winter Festival

Harbin is a city in the north-east of China. It’s about half way between North Korea and Siberia so we are talking cold. The map below gives an idea of where it is. It received some international notoriety recently when there was a chemical spill of benzene upstream in the Songhua river which caused the city water supply to be turned off for four days. But now the river is solid ice and the locals downplay the implications of such an environmental disaster.

When I arrived here is was -20 centigrade (about -5 degrees F), and that is brisk to say the least. Your lungs feel like they are burning slightly as you breathe in the cold air and the inside of your nostrils feel solid and brittle. In fact, the temperature ranged from -29 to -20 which, with the wind, was mighty cold. Given the harsh climate what does one do in a place like this in winter? Shelter inside? Nope. You hold the world famous ‘Harbin Winter Festival’ which attracts people from all over during the month of January. At least it isn’t in February when the weather is even colder.

Rather than a long description, the photos below show why this is such an amazing place. Ten story high ice and snow sculptures, incredibly original snow sculpting, etc. If you are in the neighborhood in January, and can cope with extreme cold, come and visit. You won't regret it.

Ice Buildings

International Ice Sculpting Competition

Snow Sculptures

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