“Ice Lanterns”

The Harbin International Ice and Snow Festival in its current format was launched on January 5, 1985. Over the past few years, the festival, known colloquially in China as the “Ice Lantern Festival,” does an excellent job of promoting Harbin and its ice and snow culture to tourists across China and around the world.

Harbin has gradually become a popular tourist destination. In order to boost Harbin’s tourism industry, the local government has invested much in offering better conditions in terms of transportation, accommodation, mobile networks, ATM availability and security. Nowadays getting to and from Harbin is very convenient. Flying from Sanya in the far South of China to Harbin takes around five hours. Other Chinese cities are closer; Beijing to Harbin is only about an hour by plane.

The Harbin International Ice and Snow Sculpture Festival has become a convenient platform on which to showcase Harbin’s beautiful cityscape. Tourists come for the festival, but more often than not spend a few days extra exploring the city itself. This has spawned the development of a cultural tourism industry. Tourism is helping to diversify the local economy, long reliant on heavy industry.

If you visit China, be sure to make a trip to Harbin. It’s like no other city in China; a mix of Eastern and Western architecture, a bustling metropolis surrounded by primordial forests, and home to some of the friendliest folk in the country. In summer, the outdoor activities in Harbin are endless. In winter, there are just as many things to do, but it’s best to bring a warm jacket.

Source: China Today