Harbin Ice Festival

The Harbin Ice & Snow Sculpture Festival is held every year from January to February, or until the ice starts to melt. During the festival huge blocks of ice & snow are carved into plant, animal, and building shapes and then lit from within to provide an amazing spectacle. The festival has been held since 1963 and has been steadily growing year by year to become the largest winter festival in the world, attracting millions of visitors every year. 

Sun Island Scenic Area is open during the day, and is home to intricately carved sculptures made from compacted snow. The Ice & Snow World is the largest area, and here you can find the biggest and best examples of the ice sculptures which have made the festival famous around the world. Some of the most impressive examples are often vast recreations of real-life landmarks in China and elsewhere. The festival really comes alive at night, when the sculptures are lit up from within in an array of dazzling colours.