The world's largest ice and snow festival transforms the Siberian city of Harbin into something from a fairy tale. Ice sculptors from over 40 countries carve massive palaces, temples, and monuments from blocks cut from the frozen Songhua River. At night the structures are lit from within by coloured LEDs — cathedrals of glowing ice the size of buildings. The Snow Sculpture Art Expo at Sun Island runs concurrently with white sculptures of extraordinary scale. Temperatures hit -30°C. The sculptures are indifferent to this.
Ice and Snow World is the main venue — budget 3–4 hours and visit at night for the full illuminated effect. Dress for -30°C seriously: thermal base layers, down jacket, balaclava, hand warmers. The cold is genuine.