Who says winter is the time to escape the cold? Why not embrace it and enjoy a chilled vacation in more ways than one?

Consider a vacation in the Chinese city of Harbin. With an average temperature in winter of -16.8° Celsius it is the perfect place for a winter festival. Harbin is still very much influenced by its Russian past setting it apart from most other Chinese cities.

The annual Harbin International Ice and Snow Sculpture Festival starts January 5th and lasts one month. However the exhibits often open earlier and stay longer, weather permitting.

Start off by visiting St. Sophia Orthodox Cathedral, one of the most magnificent structures in Harbin. Built of timber, today, it houses the Municipal Architecture and Art Museum (Harbin Architectural Art Gallery), showcasing the multi-cultural architectural developments of the city.

Then check out the enormous snow sculptures at Sun Island. A separate Ice and Snow World features illuminated full size buildings made from blocks of 2–3 feet thick crystal clear ice directly taken from the Songhua River that flows past Harbin.

Watch the Ice Lantern Show in Zhaolin Park where magical and extraordinary ice lanterns and sculptures make the park an icy wonderland.

A trip to the Harbin Polarland is not complete without the Beluga Show and the Walrus & Sea Lion Show that run multiple times a day.