Harbin Snow and Ice Festival 2023

Modifications have been made to allow China’s popular winter festival to proceed despite small outbreaks of COVID-19 in nearby cities.

The 37th annual Harbin Snow and Ice Festival is currently taking place in the northeastern Chinese city of Harbin in Heilongjiang province. The first festival began in 1963, although it was halted for several years during the Cultural Revolution in China. Approximately 220,000 cubic meters of ice and snow are carved from the Songhua River to create breathtaking works of ice art, which are then transported to the festival venue.

The small outbreaks of COVID-19 in Shenyang and Dalian led to the cancellation of New Year’s Eve celebrations and a fireworks display. Typically, the festival features an array of activities including sledding, ice football, speed skating, ice hockey, and alpine skiing competitions; however, many events and performances have been canceled this year.

One highlight of the festival was a snow-themed group wedding ceremony where 40 couples were expected to marry, yet this event was unable to take place this year. The festival area spans an immense 750,000 square meters, showcasing creations including a towering frozen ice palace, a crystal palace, an ice bar, and a scale model of China’s first aircraft carrier. The low temperatures in Harbin during winter help maintain the integrity of the ice sculptures.

Visitors can still attend the festival; however, they must present their health codes, wear masks, have their temperatures checked, and maintain social distancing while enjoying the park. The Harbin Snow and Ice Festival will run until February 25.