The Harbin Ice Festival | China
FROM: USD $1,085 pp

Let it snow! See the world's largest and most elaborate ice sculptures this New Year at the Harbin International Ice and Snow Festival. Magical, other-worldly and with New Year's Eve spent exploring the brilliantly illuminated Ice Lantern Show in Zhaolin Park, this is a holiday like no other.

Inclusions
Itinerary
Prices & Dates
Hotels

Trip Highlights

HARBIN INTERNATIONAL ICE and SNOW FESTIVAL including Sun Island International Snow Sculpture Art Expo, Harbin Ice and Snow World and Harbin Ice Lantern Show at Zhaolin Park (or Sunac Park, dependant on the parks program)
BEIJING - free time to explore
GREAT WALL OF CHINA - the mountainous Juyongguan Pass section of the UNESCO listed Great Wall of China

Included

4 breakfasts and 1 dinner
Flight: Beijing – Harbin
Touring of the Juyongguan area of Great Wall of China and Harbin Ice Festival
Beijing Capital Airport arrival transfer on day 1 and departure transfer day 5
A very good holiday!
2 nights 5 star hotel in Harbin, 1 nights 4 star hotel
1 overnight train: Harbin - Beijing (4-berth soft sleeper cabin)
Escorted by an experienced English speaking Chinese Tour guide
All relevant transfers and transportation in private heated vehicles

Not Included

International flights and visa
Entrance Fees: USD$120-130pp, paid in local currency
Tip for your tour guide is not included in the Tip Kitty. We suggest USD$3-5 per day, per traveller for a job well done, however the amount is up to you
Tipping Kitty: USD$35-45pp, paid in local currency

Itinerary

Day 1

Beijing - ready to explore

29 December. Welcome to China and the start of your holiday! Arrive Beijing Capital Airport and included transfer to our hotel. The remainder of the day offers free time for you to explore. Tiananmen Square, the Forbidden City and the Temple of Heaven are all located within the vicinity of our hotel.
Overnight: Beijing

Day 2

Great Wall at Juyongguan Pass

This morning, we set off to see the UNESCO protected Great Wall of China at Juyongguan Pass. At one time perhaps nearly 9700 kms long, the wall was garrisoned by 1 million soldiers and featured over 1,000 fortified passes and 10,000 beacon towers. Juyongguan is one of the three great mountain passes of the Great Wall. Built during the Ming Dynasty the fortified structure stands as the first line of defence for protecting Beijing. Big battles were fought here against Jurchens and Mongols. Genghis Khan also led his army to the pass in 1213. Juyongguan Pass offers a different perspective of the wall than that of Badaling. Aside from far less tourists visiting the area, Juangguan is incredibly scenic and offers picture perfect views of the ruinous wall zigzagging into the distance. After plenty of time to explore we return to Beijing, have time for a meal before flying to Harbin this evening.
Overnight: Harbin  |  Breakfast

Day 3

Snow Sculpture Expo & Harbin Snow & Ice World

Today, we hit Sun Island Park for the Harbin International Snow Sculpture Art Expo. The festival is open to visitors from 20 Dec, (though the official festival opening occurs on 05 Jan). This is a wonderful time to visit as sculptors will still be adding final touches to their masterpieces.

This afternoon is filled with thrills and spills as we make our way to the dreamlike theme park known as Harbin Snow and Ice World today. Imagine sliding down a huge ice luge resembling the Great Wall of China or climbing to the top of a replica of the Emperor’s Summer Palace in Beijing, complete with towers, guard house, moat and seven arched bridge. You could also sail away on Empress Dowager Cixi’s ice marble boat. The creations of Snow and Ice World are beyond imagination, enchanting, inspiring, otherworldly and often a little bizarre. What will be on offer this year is anyone's guess.

This evening we include dinner at hotpot restaurant before returning to our hotel to take a position our hotel bar to ring in the New Year. With plenty of lights, ice and ‘Maitai firewater', (the local alcoholic spirit) we welcome in the coming year.
Overnight: Harbin  |  Breakfast, Dinner

Day 4

Happy New Year - Harbin Ice Lantern Show

Harbin - Beijing. Happy New Year! This morning offers free time before we visit Zhaolin Park to see the enchanting Ice Lantern Show, also known as the Ice Lantern Art Fair. The small and sometimes giant frozen displays (ice lanterns as they are known) change from year to year but often include both modern and ancient spectacles and supernatural creations. There is time to marvel at the magnificence of the beautifully illuminated ice sculptures, many incorporating Traditional Chinese lanterns and revel beneath the thousands of fairy lights adorning the park. This evening we bid farewell to Harbin boarding the express overnight sleeper train bound for Beijing.
Overnight: Soft Sleeper Train to Beijing  |  Breakfast

Day 5

Beijing - your way

02 January. Arrival into Beijing we return to our holiday start hotel to enjoy a nice hot breakfast. You are welcome to leave your luggage at our hotel and head out head out to explore Beijing, returning prior to your included departure transfer to the airport arranged to coordinate with your international flight. Please ensure that flights departing Beijing are booked after 2pm, in case of delays. Post tour accommodation is also available if you require.
Breakfast

See the Terracotta Warriors

If you would like to see more of China on your holiday, opt for our Harbin Ice Festival - 11 day tour that includes touring of the Forbidden City and a rickshaw ride through the Hutongs of Beijing, the Great Wall at both Badaling and Juyongguan Pass, Luoyang - home to the giant Buddhist statues at Longmen's Caves and Xi'an - home to the UNESCO listed, famed Terracotta Warriors.

See our Harbin Ice Festival - 11 day itinerary for more info.

Prices & Dates

Departure dates are guaranteed with a minimum of 4 persons. 'Twin Share' prices are per person when there are 2 people sharing a room. 'Single Room' prices are applicable to those who don’t have anyone to share a room with or anyone wanting the privacy of a single room.

Read More
New Year's departure, book early!
New Year's Departure
Available
Contact us to book
Not Available
2022
Twin Share
Single Room
29 Dec - 02 Jan New Year's departure, book early!
New Year's departure, book early!
USD $1,085
USD $1,555

Extra Prices

Twin Share
Single Room
Pre-Tour Accommodation - Beijing
USD $75
USD $135
Post-Tour Accommodation - Beijing
USD $75
USD $135

Hotels

The hotels listed below are ones which we frequently use on this tour. We reserve the right to substitute these hotels to ones of a similar standard.

Holiday Inn Temple of Heaven, Beijing

Our Category: Superior   |   Regional Category: 4 Star Hotel

The Beijing Holiday Inn Temple of Heaven is an elegant and comfortable hotel with well-furnished and spacious rooms. Practical in design, the guestrooms feature internet access and the hotel also boasts a range of restaurants and bars, as well as an indoor swimming pool. Located just a 10 minute walk from the Temple of Heaven, the hotel is the perfect base from which to explore this fascinating city.

Holiday Inn Express Beijing Minzuyuan, Beijing

Our Category: Superior   |   Regional Category: 4 Star Hotel

Located just a stones throw from the Beitucheng Subway station, with access to Line 10 & Line 8, the Holiday Inn Express Beijing Minzuyuan is a perfect base to explore the many amazing highlights of Beijing. Within walking distance of the hotel you'll find the famous Birds Nest Olympic Stadium. The hotel boasts a stylish restaurant offering breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Songbei Shangri-la Hotel, Harbin

Our Category: Superior   |   Regional Category: 5 Star Hotel

Ideally situated on the banks of the Songhua River, is the Songbei Shangri-la Hotel. The five-star property offers ample fine dining options as well as gourmet pub cuisine. Each guest room is fully equipped with LED TV, WiFi, mini bar, iron and ironing board and much more. Guests can enjoy a relaxing massage or dip in the indoor pool before sipping on a cocktail in the onsite bar.

In Brief

Range
Trip Type
Starts
Beijing
Ends
Beijing
Departs
29 December
Group Size
Min 4 / Max 24
Hotel Rating
4 & 5 star
Tour Guide
Yes - escorted by a tour guide
Meals
Breakfast: 4, Dinner: 1
Visiting
Beijing, Harbin, Juyongguan Pass
Countries
Click to play videoBeijing cityscape with a view of the sprawling Forbidden City palace complex from above
Snow sculpture
Snow sculpture

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