Harbin is cold. Temperatures in the capital of Heilong-jiang, northernmost province in China, rival those in the most frigid regions of Siberia. Minus 35 degrees Celsius is not uncommon during any of the winter months.

But Harbin’s climate plays to its advantage. The city is rich in ice and snow. This may not seem to equate with wealth, but savvy city management has managed to turn the white stuff into a lucrative economic asset.

Today, Harbin is one of China’s “hottest” winter tourism destinations. The winter landscape is magnificent: skiing, ice-skating and ice fishing opportunities abound, and the city’s many old European-style buildings look grander still under a light layer of fresh snowfall.

The city’s biggest winter tourism draw card is the Harbin International Ice and Snow Sculpture Festival. It attracts hordes of tourists every year – 350,000 in 2011 – many of whom come from abroad to witness one of the world’s four largest ice sculpture festivals. With every passing year, the pieces of ice art on display grow bigger, bolder and more ambitious.

VISITORS to Harbin for the festival, held throughout the month of January, will witness enchanting ice and snow scenery and manmade snow sculptures. But that’s not all they’ll see. Ice and snow culture in Harbin runs deeper than the January festival. The city lives and thrives on the cold, and kind-hearted locals will be keen to show newcomers the wealth of snow-related activities the city revels in during the winter months.

During the day, winter sports a-plenty are on offer. Tourists join locals taking a frosty dip in an ice hole in the Songhua River. Sleigh riding is a popular pastime on the frozen river surface, and the more audacious among the crowds ride the river on bicycles and motorcycles.

Sun Island Park boasts snow sculptures of its own. Taiping Lake is a popular spot for ice fishing; watch locals for clues on drilling holes and ice-fishing techniques. Volga Manor is home to the ski slopes closest to the city.

When evening comes, the ice and snow sculptures, lit up in an array of brightly colored spotlights, add charm to the nighttime scene. Though temperatures drop as night falls, the festival sees even greater numbers of visitors. Children play on ice slides, couples pose for photos in front of grand ice gates, and foreign tourists congregate to watch singing and folk dancing displays amongst the sculptures.

Ice: an Opportunity

Ice and snow culture has brought great opportunities to Harbin, which has developed a reputation as a prosperous globalized city. Much has changed in Harbin over the last few decades as development has radically transformed the cityscape. But one thing that hasn’t changed is the locals’ passion for the cold.

Harbin’s winter is long, lasting from November through to mid-March. People born and raised here have adapted to the harsh climate by learning to have fun outdoors throughout the year. Dressed in thick quilted thermal clothing, they are fearless of the cold.

Harbin kids’ favorite outdoor winter activity is whipping a spinning top on the ice, precisely and regularly to keep it spinning on the slippery surface. Tops come in different shapes and sizes, and are made of either wood or metal. The current craze is a top that hums as it spins.

Sleigh riding is another popular pastime. Even children under 10 years old are adept at making a simple sleigh for themselves. A common construction method is to first saw two logs to the same length, then nail boards tangentially to connect the two logs. The last step is to attach two iron bars to the underside of the logs as skates.

Sleighs also have many practical functions. With a rope, kids can pull along their brothers or sisters for fun. It’s also a transportation tool with which kids can fetch groceries for their parents.

Kids in Harbin love sleigh riding. Find a slope covered in ice and you are bound to see kids careering downhill, in or out of control. Tourists can also rent sleighs from around the town. It’s great fun to feel the cold wind on your face as you gather speed, and climbing back to the top of the hill keeps you warm.

Skating is another choice pastime. In Harbin, skaters are ubiquitous. They take to either manmade rinks or the frozen surface of the Songhua River. Almost every resident in Harbin learns to skate in his or her youth. Everyone is an expert, and many also enjoy figure skating. The energy of skaters expressed in pirouettes and leaps cogently symbolizes the vitality of the city in winter.

Harbin residents have formed an inseparable bond with ice and snow. Having grown up in these harsh climatic conditions, locals are tough, rugged people, but warm and friendly to all who visit their city and show an interest in their lives.

“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.