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Posts: 416

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Q: Harbin Ice Festival: Worth it?

I'm thinking of going, is it worth my while?

10 years 13 weeks ago in  Transport & Travel - China

 
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Ice Festival: one place in China where the beer is always cold

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9 years 7 weeks ago
 
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i live pretty close to harbin and went to the ice festival a few times.  honestly its beautiful and a surreal experience.   a must see in china. harbin has a few other cool things to do during winter too.  sun island has a food festival, you can go to the tiger park (in winter its the best bc the tigers stand out in the white snow), and you can head over to yabuli for a few days too.  but keep in mind, its bitterly cold.  i mean, bone chilling, contemplating suicide cold... 

Scandinavian:

You mean life-confirmingly refreshingly cold ?

10 years 13 weeks ago
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brother1818:

Thanks Paul, if I do go I will make sure to dress warm. I thought about going with my parents but they (being from Africa) are even struggling with the Beijing cold so that's probably not a good idea.

10 years 13 weeks ago
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CharlieB:

I would love to see it, but I don't think I have the wardrobe for it. I live in Suzhou and I can't find clothes that fit as it is. Probably need to wait until my next trip state side and bring back some warm clothes and insulated boots. 

10 years 13 weeks ago
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BrendanE:

Just got back, was worth every fen spent. I definitely underestimated the weather though, fortunately picked up a whole new set of heavy duty winter clothes at an underground market. Best part was watching those nutters swim in the songhua

10 years 12 weeks ago
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10 years 13 weeks ago
 
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The Harbin Ice Festival has had its ups-and-downs.

 

A few years, maybe two, the City Fathers got greedy and leased the Ice Festival out to Walt Disney & Co., who turned what had been a great ice show into just Hollywood kitsch-on-ice.  It caused one hell of a stink, it really did, and the greater powers-that-be stepped in and forbade it from ever happening again.

 

The weather during the Ice Festival usually arounds  - 30 C easily.  If you can handle that kind of weather,  then you may wish to consider it.

 

For the poster whose parents are from Africa, this is about the last thing that I would do.  Take them to Guangxi Province or Hainan or Yunnan.

 

Harbin is a great, great city from late April until late October.  The rest of the year, it's better avoided.

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10 years 13 weeks ago
 
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I'll find out for myself tomorrow I guess. Gonna bring every jacket, glove and pair of long underwear I have just in case.

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10 years 13 weeks ago
 
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Anyone know some good Russian food restaurants BTW?

Paulberger:

off central street theres some ok places to eat.  but i'm not a big fan of russian food so dont really know. 

10 years 13 weeks ago
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10 years 13 weeks ago
 
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Shifu

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-25C and PM 2,5 at 400. Sounds like fun....

Scandinavian:

the facemask will be dual-purpose. 

10 years 13 weeks ago
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andy74rc:

Guess at -25 the breath moisture would freeze on the filters making the mask unuseful....

10 years 13 weeks ago
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10 years 13 weeks ago
 
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Brendan,

 

There are lots of Russian-style restaurants in Harbin, owned and staffed by Chinese, most of them found along Central Street.

 

If you, however, you want a real Russian restaurant, owned by Russians, staffed by Russians, with some of the best Russian food this side of Moscow, there is only one.  It's been in business for about 15 years now.  There is the restaurant, then a Russsian bakery that it owns on one side of the restaurant and a Russian sausage shop that it owns on the other.

 

It is called "Vokrug Sveta".  Here is all the info that you will need:

 

Адрес ресторана: 赣水路183号  环球者西餐厅
Тел.: 82332006 87001565

BrendanE:

Thanks for the info! The food was incredible! Reminded me of my Russian landlords cooking back in Vancouver

10 years 12 weeks ago
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10 years 13 weeks ago
 
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Ice Festival: one place in China where the beer is always cold

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9 years 7 weeks ago
 
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Never been, now I am in a southern mode .... but it is definately a thing I want to see. I know ice sculpures, but in Harbin they are a little/lot out of my league ..... love to see them some day.

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9 years 7 weeks ago
 
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yes absolutely,believe me i have seen it ........it's really a beautiful place n the ice festival is one of the best. go online  and check the images....you would surely like to visit.n don't be scared of cold weather when you visit there you will be comfortable soon...

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8 years 32 weeks ago
 
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Shifu

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It's definitely worth it for a one or two day trip, it's a one of a kind experience. I've been twice and really enjoyed the city and the ice sculptures. Stay away from polar land if you go, poor polar bears in tiny cages with Chinese banging on the glass.

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8 years 32 weeks ago
 
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I think people in Harbin was very friendly and oddly more used to foreigners than Beijing people are . 

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8 years 32 weeks ago
 
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There's ice sculptures everywhere .

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8 years 32 weeks ago
 
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