Harbin – Day 1 (Supplemental) – Harbin Ice and Snow World

This post couldn’t wait until tomorrow, so please get ready for our Day 1 supplemental article on the Harbin Ice and Snow World at the Harbin Ice Festival 2011!

Folks, I’ve travelled quite a fair bit for someone under 35 years old, and I like to think I’ve seen a fair bit.  The attraction we visited tonight just blew me away.  There, I said it.  It was mind-blowing and amazing all at the same time.  It was like some kind of winter wonderland, Disneyland on Ice, with icy rides and features all lit up with beautiful colours.

For those of you who are not familiar with Harbin’s premiere attraction, allow me to enlighten you.. and then show you some unbelievable pictures.  Harbin Ice and Snow World is 12 years old this year, and has become a bit of an iconic place in China and abroad. 

It began in 1999 during the countdown to the Millennium celebrations, and has continued on, growing larger each year.  The location now covers over 400,000 square meters and is made from more than 100,000 square meters of ice and snow.

By far and wide the best time to visit Ice and Snow World is at night, if you can brave the temperatures.  Tonight we absorbed –20’C to –25’C temperatures however there was very little to no wind, so the wind chill factor was not an issue at all.  Provided you could keep your hands covered, and you had sensible clothing (something you’d wear skiing would suffice) it was quite manageable.

Now the festival starts on the 5th of January, the very same day we arrived.  So this evening we were treated to a smorgasbord of fireworks in celebration of the opening of the Ice Festival for 2011.  Now, without any further adieu, please take a look at one of the most fascinating things I’ve ever seen…

The End (Exit)