The winter wonderland
Enjoy your wonderful winter vacation in the coldest snow city, Harbin, the renowned snow world in China. A festival of avalanches is celebrated annually in this record-breaking ice city which draws the attention of millions of tourists. The sculptures were visibly influenced by Russians in the 19th century who erected many sacred buildings which still stand. For those of you are in need of an adrenaline rush, you can try exciting ski activities and thrilling snow sports in this wonderland of ice. So drop into this Winterland and have the best time of your life.
Harbin has the inherent benefits of being a summer and winter destination because of its high latitude. Either July to September or December to January are the ideal times to visit Harbin. It is a good destination for a cool summer resort while you can enjoy snow during the winter.
Harbin experiences occasional cloudy days in the spring, as well as abrupt temperature spikes and dips. The average temperature in the city is between -1-14°C (30-57°F). Harbin’s summer is much cooler than other cities in China and have more rainy days with an average temperature between 16-27°C (60-80°F). Autumn is the ideal season for outdoor activities, with pleasant temperatures ranging from 5-17°C (41-63°F). Harbin experiences a long, chilly, and dry winter and sometimes there will be snowstorms. The average temperature is -19- -7℃ (-2-20℉).
Saint Sophia Cathedral
St. Sophia Cathedral in Harbin is the largest Eastern Orthodox Church in the Far East, a Russian style cathedral you can find in China. Inside has been converted to a museum. If you have time, we suggest you visit the cathedral during the day as well as in the evening to fully appreciate its beauty.
Harbin Ice & Snow Festival
Every year, the annual Harbin International Ice and Snow Festival normally opens on 5th of January and lasts for one month. Sun Island Scenic Spot features snow sculptures, while the Grand World of Ice and Snow features ice sculptures. You can also participate in all sorts of ice activities. And it's definitely worth enduring the cold: the sculptures frequently surpass records in size, and at night, the ice's illuminations create a fantastic rainbow of color that brightens the brutal winters in northeastern China, which average minus 13 degrees Celsius.
Yabuli Ski Resort
The ski resort is around 3-hour (193km) by car from Harbin. We would highly recommend Club med because they have cooperated with the French National Ski Academy to provide professional skiing and snowboarding group classes for 4 years old and above. The all-inclusive ski holiday includes a full-day ski pass (Ski-in & Ski-out), which lets you experience all the fun of skiing.
Zhongyang Pedestrian Street
You will find restaurants and souvenir shops full of Russian tourist merchandise. It will be best to go at night when the beautiful lights come on that adorn the Russian-inspired buildings and streets.
Bimodal Forest Farm
The ``China Snow Town`` is a 6-hour drive from Harbin and about a 2-hour drive from Yabuli Ski Resort. The picturesque snow-covered village has become one of the most stunning destinations in China in winter. Snow starts to fall from October and usually ends in March, bringing snow drifts around two meters high. Besides, it owns nice quality and highest viscosity snow.
Northeast Chinese cuisine, particularly Shandong cuisine, as well as Korea, Mongolia, and Russia all have an effect on Harbin cuisine. It can be largely divided into three categories: street foods and snacks from local, Russian cuisine, and typical Northeast Chinese cuisine. Foods are pickled, stewed, or smoked. They are different in style and contain a wide range of ingredients. Compared to other Chinese cities, Harbin foods are served in substantially larger portions and with more salt. Also use a lot of veggies, including potatoes, cabbage, maize, and cucumbers, are used in the recipes.
Must-try: Harbin Dumplings, Sweet and Sour Pork, Earth’s Three Delicacies, Eight Stews, Khleb, Smoked Red Sausage, Madier Ice Cream, Candied Haws, Harbin BBQ
Air
Harbin Taiping International Airport is the only airport in the city. Located 41 kilometers northwest of Harbin City, which is around 40 minutes’ drive from the city center. More than forty local and international cities, including Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Seoul, Osaka, Vladivostok, and Los Angeles, are served by this airport. You have three options for getting to Harbin’s downtown from the airport: taxis, shuttle buses, and private cars.
Train
Harbin can also be reached by high-speed train. There are three major train stations in Harbin. These are the railway stations located in Harbin, West Harbin, and East Harbin. Currently, about 100 high-speed trains depart and arrive in Harbin each day. Beijing (6 hours), Tianjin (7 hours), Shengyang (3 hours), Zhengzhou (11 hours), Shanghai (12.5 hours), Suzhou (12 hours), Nanjing (10.5 hours), Wuhan (12.5 hours), and other cities.