“Harbin Ice and Snow World, China” (中国·哈尔滨冰雪大世界) is the brand name of the oft-lauded as one of the major venues for the largest Ice and Snow Festival in the world.
Location of Harbin Ice and Snow World
The venue is located 3.3 km north of Songhuajiang Road Bridge on the west side of Sun Island in Songbei District of Harbin – the capital city of Heilongjiang Province in the northernmost China.
The site of “Harbin Ice and Snow World, China” (中国·哈尔滨冰雪大世界) is recognized by Google Map as “Bingxue Big World” and here “Bingxue” literally means “ice and snow”.
The Brief History of Bingxue Big World
The formation of the branding Harbin Ice and Snow World ( Bingxue Big World) originally started in 1999 when the Harbin Government proposed and sponsored a mega ice and snow sculpture exhibition show in preparation for greeting the new millennium in 2000.
Before building up Harbin Ice and Snow World, the local government had years’ experience holding annual ice and ice snow festival in Zhaolong Park and other places in Harbin like Sun Island and Stalin Park since Jan 05, 1985.
The creation of Harbin Ice and Snow World has greatly boosted the fame of Harbin International Ice and Snow Sculpture Festival, which is one of the four large ice and snow festivals in the world and the other three are in Sapporo, Quebec and Oslo.
The name of Harbin Ice and Snow World is a little bit misleading due to the fact that the venue is largely focused on ice sculptures with very little space for snow sculptures. For snow sculptures, you are supposed to go to Sun Island which is the mecca for snow sculpture visitors in winter.
The Start of Harbin Ice and Snow World
Officially inaugurating on Jan 05 every years since 1999, Harbin Ice and Snow World actually starts around Christmas and ends in early March, lasting about 80 days.
On Jan 05 each year, the whole city will be officially on holiday to celebrate the important day.
Blocks of ice are carved into sculptures and buildings. At night, all the sculptures are lit from within to provide glittering lights of ice. The structures annually change with different themes.
Bingxue Big World Tickets
Visiting Time: 2 – 4 Hour
Entrance Fee:
RMB 150 ( daytime: 09:00 – 12:00)
RMB300 (evening time: 12:00 – 21:00);
RMB330 ( Holiday evenings )
Location: An open and spacious area on the west of Sun Island and northern bank of Songhua River.
Opening Hours: 9:00 – 21:00
Tel: 0451-88300616
How to Get to Bingxue Big World
Take bus 88, 29, 119, 125, 126 and 213, get off at the stop of Sun Island Daokou ( 太阳岛道口站); or take a taxi from Zhongyang Pedestrian Street, costing about RMB 30.
Location: An open and spacious area on the west of Sun Island and northern bank of Songhua River.
Virtual Tour of Harbin Ice and Snow World
Planning your Harbin tour? Definitely you won’t miss visiting Harbin Ice and Snow World (also known as Bingxue Big World 哈尔滨冰雪大世界 ).
Now follow me to have a glimpse of Harbin Ice and Snow World, an important part of the annual Harbin International Ice and Snow Festival.
Sculpture theme changes annually, you won’t see what you see in the pictures here.
When you approach the ice and snow park, you will be amazed by the huge image ice gate – the famous London Big Ben, 50 meters long and 30 meters high, crossing the boundary between Chinese culture and foreign culture and bringing European elements to the park.
In the large ticketing hall, you are supposed to queue up and you have to pay cash for your entrance ticket.
If you don’t have cash on hand, you may use ATM in the hall. Most of the local ATMs machines accept Visa and Master.
CITIBANK card and HSBC are also very popular in China because Citibank and HSBC have agreement with UnionPay. For other cards, you may check the ATMs you are going to use and see if they have the logos and signs for your credit cards.
You enter the so-called largest ice and snow park in the world through the other side opposite to the ticketing windows inside the ticketing hall.
By the entrance inside the park, you will see the Customer Service Center in the park, selling warm products, medical treatment, Insurance, broadcast and guide service.
A few large signboard tell you the major sites in the park which is mainly composed of East Part, Middle Part and West Part with the iconic Ice and Snow Fairy Main Tower and Ice Show Theater in the dominating center place.
The main iconic landmark in the park is known as “Ice and Snow Fairy Main Tower”. The tower is the cultural symbol of Harbin Ice and Snow World.
It is a large 3 D Tower with the main tower in the middle 50 meters high and the two side towers 36 meters high.
This is the 10 meter high ice field Christmas tree, built by 10 story “weideluo”.
God Drum Square is also called “Peace Drum” and “Jin Glory”, a kind of folk ritual activities.
A huge ice train takes the beautiful city of Harbin along the road to its prosperity and harmony.
This large ice building is called “Fairy Ice Castle Spring” is a classic work of art,one of the four season series of Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter. The ice consumption is about 3000 cubic meters.
One of the large buildings inside park. The castle change its colors through its edges and lights.
Three huge snow sheep over 10 meter high welcome you and wish you an auspicious sheep year of 2015.
This massive structure is known as “Fairy Ice Castle Summer”. It is a classic work of art. The ice consumption is about 3000 cubic meters. One of the large buildings inside park. The castle change its colors through its edges and lights.
This is an ample barn, which indicates Heilongjiang is China’s granary.
Arctic Igloo is a series of ice houses of Inuit allowing you to experience the arctic life.
Drinking some beer in the ice houses is a kind of interesting experience.
Ice slides, an interesting ice activity in the park.
Get lost in the maze of the ice world.
A panoramic view of the buildings in the park.
Many eateries inside the park, offering different Harbin local flavors and KFC as well.
Several restaurants offer hot drinks and food service.
Numerous vendors in and out, offering you needy service.
Have a bite of sugar-coated haw berries.
Reluctant to say goodbye to Harbin Ice and Snow World.
Tip: Hassle-free Northeast China Escorted Tours
Don’t want to go the do-it-yourself route? No worries, We at Tour Beijing have some options for Northeast China guided tours with English-speaking tour guides:
Harbin Tour
Harbin 3 Day Tour Package
Changchun Tour
Shenyang Tour
Dalian Tour
Dandong Tour
North Korea Tour
Northeast China Tour
Further Readings
Top Attractions in Northeast China
Top 10 Attractions in Harbin
Top 6 Things to Do in Heilongjiang
Top 10 Attractions in Shenyang
Top 10 Attractions in Dandong
Top 10 Attractions in Ji’an
Top 10 Attractions in Panjin
Top 10 Attractions in Dalian (Tips, Photos and Maps)
Best Time to Visit Harbin
Where to Stay in Harbin
Harbin West Railway Station
Top Things to Do in Winter in Harbin
Harbin Ice and Snow Happy Valley
Harbin Ice and Snow World
Harbin Sun Island International Snow Sculpture Art Expo
Harbin Winter Swimming
Madie’er Popsicles in Harbin
Harbin Jihua Ski Resort
Suan Cai Jiaozi – New Year’s Soul in Dongbei
What to see in Harbin, things to do in Harbin
China Snow Town
Scenic Drive from Harbin to China Snow Town
Shuttle Bus from Harbin to China Snow Town
Harbin – Yabuli – China Snow Town Shuttle Bus
Sunrise Glow over China Snow Village
Night View of China Snow Village
Qiqihar Taxi: Qiqihar Taxi Fares, Tips and Phones
Mudanjiang Taxi: Mudanjiang Taxi Fares, Tips and phones
Harbin Taxi: Harbin Taxi Fares, Tips and Phone
Yanji Taxi: Yanji Taxi Fares, Tips and Phones
Jilin Taxi: Jilin Taxi Fares, Tips and Phones
Changchun Taxi: Changchun Taxi Fares, Tips and Phones
Dandong Taxi: Dandong Taxi Fares, Tips and Phones
Shenyang Taxi: Shenyang Taxi Fares, Tips and Phones
Any questions, just drop a line.