Top 10 Best Things to Do in Harbin: Skiing, Citywalking, etc.

Falling in love with Harbin can come from many reasons: perhaps it is the classical elegance of the century-old streets, the light and pure white snow, the laughter by the banks of the Songhua River, or the breathtaking ice sculptures that touch the heart. There is always a reason and a way to cherish this city. Followings are the best things to do in Harbin.

Top 1: Appreciate Ice Sculpture in the Ice and Snow World

Harbin is renowned as the world capital of ice sculpture, where the cold climate fuels endless imagination and creativity, deeply intertwined with the city's ice art. Every winter, the Harbin International Ice and Snow Festival carries out a unique celebration of ice sculpture, attracting visitors from all over the globe.

Here, ice artists skillfully transform ordinary ice blocks into stunning and lifelike masterpieces. Among the most striking are the enormous ice structures that stand majestically within the park, resembling translucent castles. Bathed in sunlight, these ice sculptures emit a dazzling glow, evoking a sense of mystery and romance.

In this enchanting world of ice and snow, you can wander through intricately carved walls, ancient buildings, and towering spires. The beautifully crafted Temple of Heaven sculpture and various international architectural styles blend classical and contemporary designs. Watching artisans using coarse chisels to create such intricate artworks is a marvel, with each piece showcasing diverse shapes and vibrant colors, turning the entire park into a dreamlike wonderland.

Top 2: Eat a Modern Ice Lolly

The history of ice lollies sales in Harbin dates back to the 1930s, when the presence of many foreigners made cold drinks a fashionable treat in the city. Since then, individual vendors began selling ice lollies and ice cream throughout the streets, even delivering them to residential buildings. They operate as usual in winter, creating a unique culture of enjoying cold treats in the icy city.

Not trying the Modern ice lollies in Harbin is akin to visiting Beijing without seeing the Great Wall or the Forbidden City. Regardless of the season—spring, summer, autumn, or winter—no matter the weather, the Modern ice lollies parlor on Central Avenue is always bustling with customers. Those who have tasted Modern ice lollies know that their flavor is exceptional: sweet but not cloying, with a rich, creamy taste. This consistent quality has remained unchanged for over a century. Enjoying Modern ice lollies in the winter allows you to truly experience the season.

Top 3: Take a City Walk in Harbin

Walking through Harbin, Zhongyang Street is the best choice. This historic and bustling commercial street is the largest in Asia, stretching about 1.5 kilometers from Jingwei Street to the banks of the Songhua River. The stone-paved road exudes an ancient charm, where the weight of history intertwines with modern vibrancy as a flowing ballad.

Visitors here can not only enjoy sightseeing and photography but also admire the European architectural styles lining the street. Along the northern banks of the Songhua River is the green belt connecting Stalin Park and Jiuzhan Park. It is a unique experience strolling through the city, with flower beds, distinctive sculptures, and Russian-style buildings, dizzying.

At night, Harbin’s skyline dazzles with lights, known as "Eastern Paris" and "Eastern Moscow". Each street shines brightly, transforming the city into a colorful wonderland. Tourists can wander, relax, or explore food streets to taste local delicacies, making their walking tour all the more enriching.

Top 4: Have fun on Songhua River

The cool breeze and rippling waters of the Songhua River, Harbin's lifeline, create a perfect escape for both locals and visitors looking to cool off in the summer. Taking a boat ride along the river to enjoy its stunning scenery is a popular choice. Harbin offers several night cruise routes, allowing guests to marvel at the city's illuminated skyline. As night falls and the boat's horn sounds, the ferry departs, with lights along the riverbanks sparkling and dancing in the dark, creating a magical summer night atmosphere. On the open deck, everyone can savor their leisure time.

When winter arrives, the Songhua River transforms into a frozen wonderland. With ice covering the entire surface, the scene is breathtakingly beautiful. The thick ice, over half a meter deep, creates a natural playground for Harbin residents, featuring activities like ice skating, ice slides, and snow-covered sleigh rides—traditional games cherished since childhood. The frigid northern climate becomes an exciting winter playground for visitors.

Top 5: Ski at Yabuli

Yabuli Ski Resort is a national AAAA scenic area located 20 kilometers southwest of Yabuli Town in Shangzhi City, Harbin, which can be arrived in 1 hour and 8 minutes by high-speed rail in Harbin. It is one of the largest and most comprehensive ski resorts in China, often referred to as the "Gate of Snow". Nestled in the foothills of the Zhangguangcai Range of the Changbai Mountain system, it boasts exceptional topography and natural conditions, featuring rolling hills, gentle slopes, and abundant snowfall, making it a prime location for skiing.

From November to March, skiing enthusiasts from around the world gather here. The resort has a total of 46 ski trails of varying difficulty levels, including the longest ski run in Asia. The trails are equipped with multiple chairlifts and tow cableways, allowing skiers to access any area without needing to remove their skis. The Yabuli Ski Center also has a dedicated ski school, ensuring that even beginners can fully enjoy the thrill of gliding through the snow.

Top 6: Visit China Snow Town

Every winter, people love to watch the snow, as if in a snowy world everything is purified, so that being surrounded by snow makes the world feel pure and beautiful. Each winter, China Snow Town becomes a popular tourist destination. With a name that alone draws in visitors, it truly is a secluded, mysterious world in the wilderness.

In Snow Town, snowflakes dance endlessly, delicate flakes breaking into millions, floating like goose feathers. It feels like an adult's fairy tale in the snow. Rows of houses, characteristic of the North, feature tall, gabled roofs with eaves that extend outwards, adorned with bright red lanterns. At the front of Xueyun Street, there is a stunning snow sculpture that surprises many visitors with its lifelike details. As night falls, Snow Town transforms its expression, beautiful and fantastic, merging reality with dreams.

Top 7: See Siberian Tigers

Harbin Siberian Tiger Park is the largest Northeast tiger breeding base in Northeast China. Here, hundreds of Siberian tigers live, and visitors can observe the lives of these "kings of the forest" up close, feeling their majesty and power.

By the park's pond, Siberian tigers sometimes wade into the water to play and cool off, while at other times they lazily bask in the sun on the rocks. On the sightseeing bus, tourists excitedly capture these rare moments with their cameras. The feeding windows on the bus allow visitors to observe the tigers from a closer distance and experience face-to-face feeding, feeling the powerful gaze and ravenous appetite. While in winter, against the backdrop of snow, the tigers' fur appears even more vibrant. Winter is a lively season for Siberian tigers, and visitors often see them chasing and playing in the snow, with two aggressive tigers fighting around and kicking up a flurry of snow nearby.

Top 8: Enjoy Lilacs in Spring

Lilac is the city flower of Harbin, and every May when it blooms, the entire city is enveloped in its fragrant embrace. It is only Harbin that full of lilac around the country. Here, lilacs have been cultivated for over a century, with more than a million plants across 50 varieties, uniquely spread throughout the city.

In May, the most shining lilac in Lilac Park are purple and white lilacs. The purple lilacs are fiery and intense, while the white ones are immaculate. These two large trees, with their sturdy roots and branches, boast clusters of magnificent flowers like waves of blossoms, leaving visitors the astonishment of beauty. Amid the sea of lilacs, each color showcases its charm—some flowers boldly face the visitors, while others elegantly lean down to observe the ground, and some proudly bloom high on branches, merging with the blue sky and white clouds.

Top 9: Watch Birds in the Sun Island

Harbin's urban area is home to over 70 bird species, with Sun Island Park being the best birdwatching spot. Covering an area of 88 square kilometers, Sun Island has over 70% of its land as wetland, making it a rare urban river floodplain eco-zone in China. The national wetland park here is rich in aquatic plants and diverse birdlife, making it a paradise for birdwatchers and a good place for urban people to escape the hustle and bustle and get close to nature.

Every spring, migratory birds such as mallards, red-headed pochards, and kestrels return to Sun Island. While strolling through the park, visitors can observe these birds resting on the water and in the trees, marvel at their graceful flight, and watch them glide across the water, enjoying this group of the most familiar but strange "neighbors" how to "dance with people" and feeling the comfort of the soul.

Top 10: Soak in Snow Hot Spring

In winter, Harbin also possesses a secret but need some courage to travel, that is the snow hot spring. Nestled in a snowy valley, you lie in a steaming hot spring as if the time slow down. Yingjie Hot Spring Garden, located in Bin County, combines a unique outdoor ecological hot spring with the surrounding ice and snow, mountains and trees, creating a romantic getaway of "soaking in hot springs amid mountains and waters". This romantic experience, set amidst genuine natural mountains and waters, allows you to enjoy the beauty of snowy mountains in a misty atmosphere. With hills blanketed in fluffy white snow, the beauty of nature leaves you in awe.

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