Schedule of the 29th Harbin Ice and Snow Festival, 2013

The ice and snow are Harbin's greatest attraction. Multicolored ice lanterns, vivid ice and snow carvings and exciting ice sports will be sure to bring you lots of fun. 

Ice Lantern Garden Party in Zhaolin Park

Ice and Snow World

If you wish to enjoy the great fruits of nature and wisdom, please come to the Harbin Ice and Snow Festival held between the 5th of January and the end of February every year. Electrically powered buses operating on routes 101, 103 and 114 will take you to the festival's destination. Ice Lantern Garden Party is the other appealing destination in this city that is equally wonderful as the Ice Lantern Garden Party despite their different characteristics. From the third festival in 2001, the site of Harbin Ice and Snow World has been relocated to the western zone of Sun Island. No.88 and No.118 buses can take you there and a tourist special route operates between 9:00 and 22:00 daily. Moreover, established in 1985 and held annually from January 5, Harbin Ice Festival is China's original and greatest ice artwork festival.

St. Sophia Church

In terms of fun, the Sun Island Scenic Resort is considered to be Harbin's best natural summer venue. It consists of Sun Island together with some smaller islands. Alongside the Songhua River and influenced by the monsoon climate, there is a clear distinction between the sceneries of the four seasons on the islands. However, it is in winter, when the whole island is covered with snow, that it is the time to attend the famous Snow Carving Festival here. The tourist buses starting from Youyi Lu can take you directly to the destination. Buses of 29, 88 and 118 also go there. Or, you can take the buses numbered 101,102,103, 13 and 79. These will take you to the Flood Control Monument, and from there you can take a cruise liner or a cable way (CNY20 for round-trip ticket) to get to the island.
Nearby Attraction: Harbin Polarland

Siberian Tiger Park which is adjacent to the Sun Island should be your next destination. The park rears more than five hundred beautiful but endangered purebred Siberian tigers. Vivacious little tigers and fierce fully grown tigers will introduce you to their fascinating world. It will take you about one hour to complete the trip; you will have to take a car to visit most of the viewing spots.
Admission fee: CNY90 for regular ticket and half for children.
Bus routes: No.85 pool car reaches the park.

As well as these bewitching scenic spots, the city also has a number of other sights waiting for you. St. Sophia Church, also called Harbin Construction Arts Gallery, is the largest Orthodox Church in the Far East. You can visit here from 8:30 to 17:30 every day by purchasing the entrance ticket of CNY20. Another pearl of this city is the Dragon Tower; actually, it is the Heilongjiang broadcast and TV tower, ranked as the first highest in Asia and second highest in the world. The No.7 buses go there and the entrance fee to the tower is CNY50 per person.

Temple of Bliss

Since the city is also known as the Eastern Moscow, some Russian architecture can be found here. The best sights that vividly reflect the foreign styles is Central Street (Zhongyang Dajie) which includes a great number of buildings in the European architectural styles ranging from Renaissance and the baroque to eclecticism. Meanwhile, it is also the most prosperous pedestrian street in this city, housing multitudinous department stores and restaurants. If you want to try more exciting sports during your trip, don't worry, the Yabuli International Ski Resort which is located in the Yabuli Winding Village is recommended. This resort is considered to be China's monument to its skiing industry.