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Forum Question Posted By: Replies:
Harbin
Going early to the Harbin Festival
Posted: Thu December 17, 2009 11:53 PM UTC
This is Courtney, VT Press Manager and I need some help with a project we're working on. I've heard that you can see the snow sculptures at the Harbin festival early before the crowds come--can anyone verify that for me?

Thanks so much!
C
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Harbin
Re: Going early to the Harbin Festival
Posted: Thu December 17, 2009 11:55 PM UTC
Sorry, one more thing--I can't seem to find an official website for the festival which seems impossible--does anyone know if there is one?

Thanks,
C

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Harbin
Re: Going early to the Harbin Festival
Posted: Fri December 18, 2009 01:00 AM UTC
Hi there,

I went to the Harbin Ice and Snow festival, a coupla years ago and caught the bus out there, from Harbin, at about midday? or so. I wandered around, in the company of only a handfull of other people at the site, for 3-4 hours, before dusk fell and then the night's darkness crept along. As the light changed and time went on, the crowds started to arrive and the sculptures were slowly illuminated one by one. I left at about 8pm and caught the bus back to Harbin.

It really was excellent! With no-one out there, I wandered around without being jostled and also had the chance to get some great pix...no mean feat when there are usually people everywhere.

The festival is in a big, open area and the day I was there, it threatened to snow all day, but unfortunately it didn't, so was very grey and bleak. There were a few 'food' cabins though, which were VERY welcoming and warm inside, compared to the -12 outside. Even with that, the ice sculptures still seemed to be melting...

I couldn't find any handy info on the internet either and even the Chinese Tourist Bureau in my home city couldn't tell me which date the festival would start/finish or the opening/closing hours, I just had to wing it and hope for the best.

Hope this helps. R

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Harbin
Re: Going early to the Harbin Festival
Posted: Fri December 18, 2009 03:47 AM UTC
Hi Courtney
I have E-Mailed one of my tour operators in China/X'ian, for a festival website in English. May take a couple of days for a return E-Mail. Odinnthor.

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Harbin
Re: Going early to the Harbin Festival
Posted: Fri December 18, 2009 04:01 AM UTC
Oh, many, many thanks for the responses! Any information about it really helps, so I truly appreciate it!

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Harbin
Re: Going early to the Harbin Festival
Posted: Fri December 18, 2009 07:05 AM UTC
Hi Courtney
This is the response i recieved from China. I have no idea if any of them are any good. Let me know if any of them work. If not, I will try something else.

Hello Erik,

I find lots of information about the coming festival, most of which are the websites in Chinese. But here are still some in English.
http://www.travelchinaguide.com/attraction/heilongjiang/harbin/ice_snow.htm
http://www.chinahighlights.com/tour/winter-vacation/
http://www.prlog.org/10397428-harbin-international-ice-and-snow-festival.html
http://www.chinaodysseytours.com/harbin/harbin-ice-and-snow-festival.html
http://www.chinaholidays.com/tours/3-days-harbin-ice-festival.html

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Harbin
Re: Going early to the Harbin Festival
Posted: Fri December 18, 2009 09:44 PM UTC
Wow, this is all amazing!!! Thank you so much!!! I really appreciate it!!!

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Harbin
Re: Going early to the Harbin Festival
Posted: Tue December 29, 2009 01:45 AM UTC
We are just starting to plan a trip up as well.
What is the best time to go? I heard it goes from Jan 1 to mid April.
Will the week after Chinese New Year (end of Feb) be good.
Any advice for accomodation, what to see, eat etc will be much appreciated.

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Harbin
Re: Going early to the Harbin Festival
Posted: Wed January 13, 2010 07:04 AM UTC
I recently requested information from my friends in China regarding websites in English regarding the Ice Festival. Here is what I received back and then forwarded to the requester:

This is the response i recieved from China. I have no idea if any of them are any good. Let me know if any of them work. If not, I will try something else.

Hello Erik,

I find lots of information about the coming festival, most of which are the websites in Chinese. But here are still some in English.
http://www.travelchinaguide.com/attraction/heilongjiang/harbin/ice_snow.htm
http://www.chinahighlights.com/tour/winter-vacation/
http://www.prlog.org/10397428-harbin-international-ice-and-snow-festival.html
http://www.chinaodysseytours.com/harbin/harbin-ice-and-snow-festival.html
http://www.chinaholidays.com/tours/3-days-harbin-ice-festival.html

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Harbin
Re: Going early to the Harbin Festival
Posted: Tue January 19, 2010 04:02 PM UTC
Hey, All,

Just wanted to show you the press mention--it was for a new CNN travel website called CNNGo.

Many, many thanks for all your help!!!
Enjoy!
C

http://www.cnngo.com/explorations/none/harbin-ice-52-weekends

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