Harbin ice and snow festival starts to impress

Harbin International Ice and Snow Festival, the largest event of the city’s winter entertainment program, opened on Jan 5, and will conclude at the end of February.

This year marks the 35th anniversary of the festival, which has put the city on the map for many tourists looking for winter entertainment.

Growing out of the Ice Lantern Show in 1985, the festival has become one of the four largest ice and snow events in the world, along with the Sapporo Snow Festival in Japan, the Quebec Winter Carnival in Canada, and Norway's Ski Festival.

In order to make the event even more appealing to visitors, this year the city plans to introduce a range of new tourism products, involving items related to fashion, sports and culture. Over the course of the event, more than 100 separate activities are planned to entertain guests.

For the 2019 event, ice and snow sculpture competitions, the second snow soccer carnival, fifth Changling Lake Winter Fishing Festival and an international economy and culture activity –– with the participation of 440 representatives from 27 countries and regions –– are expected to take place.

And tourists will be able to enjoy the festival’s Sun Island scenic area, Harbin Ice and Snow World, Zhaolin Park, and Harbin Central Street.

With new and exciting events planned, as well as old favorites –– this year's ice and snow festival promises to be the most exciting one yet.