Every winter Harbin builds a city of ice. Ice and Snow World, on the north bank of the Songhua River, fills with illuminated castles and giant slides; Sun Island hosts the snow sculpture expo; and Zhaolin Park in the centre has the original, free ice-lantern fair. In 2025–26 the festival season ran from mid-December to late February, closing early because of warm weather.
¥240
Ice and Snow World student ticket (2025–26)
Free
Zhaolin Park ice lanterns
−17°C
average January temperature
Line 2
metro to the festival sites
A Festival Day
- 08:30 · Breakfast near Central Street — dumplings and soy milk at the Hongzhuan Street morning market, about ¥15–25.
- 09:30 · Madieer ice lolly & the frozen river — a ¥5 lolly at −20°C is tradition; then walk onto the Songhua River.
- 10:30 · Saint Sophia Cathedral — warm up inside the exhibition hall (students ¥15).
- 12:00 · Lunch: guo bao rou — near Central Street, about ¥60–70 per person.
- 14:00 · Zhaolin Park ice lanterns — free; the lights come on around sunset (about 16:00 in January).
- 16:00 · Metro to Ice and Snow World — Line 3 to People’s Square, then Line 2.
- 16:30–21:00 · Ice and Snow World — daylight into lit-up castles; go inside to warm up every 45–60 minutes.
What It Costs
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Ice and Snow World | ¥328 · students ¥240 (2025–26) |
| Sun Island Snow Sculpture Expo | ¥198 |
| Zhaolin Park ice lanterns | Free |
| Saint Sophia Cathedral | ¥20 · students ¥15 |
| Metro | ¥2–4 per ride |
Winter Survival Kit
- Three layers: thermal base, fleece and a long down parka rated for about −30°C — plus thermal leggings under your trousers.
- Feet: insulated, waterproof boots with grip and wool socks — pavements and cobbles turn to ice.
- Cover your skin: hat over the ears, face mask or neck gaiter, and two layers of gloves.
- Batteries die fast: keep your phone in an inner pocket with a heat pad (暖宝宝, sold in every convenience store) and carry a power bank.
- Warm-up breaks: go indoors every 45–60 minutes and watch friends for white patches on the nose or cheeks (frostbite).
Dates for 2026–27
The 2026–27 dates and prices had not been announced when we checked in September 2026. Based on past years, expect Ice and Snow World to open around mid/late December 2026 — check the official WeChat account before you book travel.
New to China?
Set up payments, mobile data and essential apps before exploring Harbin — each topic has one national guide, so this page stays focused on the city itself.
Set up Alipay and WeChat Pay · Get a SIM, eSIM and internet access · Install the essential apps · Book high-speed trains · Visa & documents · Your first 48 hours
More Harbin Guides
Last updated: September 2026. Prices, opening hours and rules in China change often — treat costs as estimates and confirm anything important with the official source before you go.
Photos: Rincewind42 from China / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 2.0)
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