Pack your bags for China’s historic Harbin Ice and Snow festival this wintery New Year!

Every New Year in Harbin, China’s northeastern ‘Oriental Paris’, begins with a festival of ice, as fabled as it is majestic. This city is home to the Harbin Ice and Snow Festival, the largest such festival in the world. The iconic event draws millions of people to Harbin’s freezing climes, with temperatures nearing – 40 degrees Fahrenheit. But the harsh weather is worth it when one witnesses the skillful, massive decoration of ice sculptures, colorfully lit to glow ethereally under the inky sky. With that time of year just around the corner, Harbin prepares to welcome the multitudes with a kind of warmth that the Chinese are always known for.

Harbin Songhua River Ice and Snow Carnival: The Harbin Songhua River Ice and Snow Carnival celebrated on the Songhua River is thronged by visitors who enjoy ice and snow activities.

Did you know? The Songhua is one of the main rivers of China and the longest tributary of the Amur. As we’ve seen, this river is intricately linked with the origin of this festival.

Four hundred years later, nothing has changed. The sculptures cut out from the gigantic ice blocks of the river are used to make beautiful castles, monsters, and giant goddesses, for instance, the Egyptian Sphinx, a massive steam train, and a giant pagoda. The river is also an adventure spot for those who wish to skate and cycle on its frozen horizons. It is humbling to remember this river as the origin of this enduring tradition.

The Yabuli Skiing Festival: The Yabuli Skiing Festival is held at the Yabuli Ski Resort, built on the Yabuli Sun Mountain, a part of the Changbai Mountain Range. The resort is the largest of its kind in China with the country’s largest ski jumping facilities. The thrilling activities, the adjoining forest, and the availability of luxurious amenities make this place a haven for tourists.

Harbin will host more than 400 activities for its latest festival, highlighting its trademark charm of ice and snow in tourism, culture, fashion, trade, and sports.

China still follows many safety restrictions that prohibit people from certain countries to travel. Citizens of the UAE and the Middle East can travel to China provided they have a confirmed history of vaccines from Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna, Johnson & Johnson, or Sinovac, and a COVID negative certificate prior to three days of travel.

Foreign nationals from the following countries are temporarily restricted from traveling to China:

• Bangladesh
• Belgium
• Ethiopia
• France
• India
• Italy
• Philippines
• Russia
• UK
• Ukraine

If your country is on the restricted list, there’s always the next time. And for those who can, the hospitality of Harbin will keep you warm and fulfilled even in the coldest of winters.