Harbin City Ice Festival - Winter Travel in China

Harbin is a city in Northeastern China with a population of over 5 million people. While it’s a popular travel destination for tourists all year round, things really get busy in Winter. This is the time of Harbin Ice and Snow festival, which usually attracts millions of visitors.
Thousands of workers and artists prepare for many weeks in bitterly cold conditions, before the festival usually opens in early January. Most of the festivities focus around a few designated theme parks, but there are activities all over the city.
I traveled to the Harbin ice festival in January 2019, and spent several days exploring the city and the theme parks. While the day time was already spectacular, the evenings became almost magical when most of the sculptures were lit up with beautiful neon lights. The freezing temperatures seemed challenging, but actually only added to the atmosphere.
Copyright of all footage: Hoffer Media

[@MoreLocations]

I visited Harbin three years ago. I love it. Beautiful city 👍🏻

[@stefhoffer]

Glad you could visit, indeed a beautiful place!

[@chumeey]

My last trip exactly 2 weeks before covid-19 spread around the world.. I went to Harbin.. thanks for this video..it makes me miss this beautiful city.. Unforgettable winter season experience.

[@jibbig]

I hope u and ur hubby had a good time!!

[@stefhoffer]

Glad that you could visit this place before everything shut down!

[@dlsolof]

This video does such a good job of recreating the feeling of being there.

[@stefhoffer]

Thanks Danielle!

[@schen4667]

I stayed in harbin for 4years and had my best memory there! You take me back to that time!

[@stefhoffer]

Great to read that, I'm sure you had a great time there!

[@AmelieZh]

Ugh. Such intricate handiwork. Props to those snow builders , ice sculptors

[@stefhoffer]

Completely agree, it's amazing what they do!

[@jibulouzimajokerrr4236]

Aespa's NingNing is from here!! 🥰

[@Adi97300]

I'm here for same reason 😊

[@bennymochiwa4800]

I'm here in harbin is beautifully city, ice all over the place

[@stefhoffer]

Great you can visit this year, have fun!

[@kwynxx]

I'm here from Ningning 😻💕

[@nocturnalwolf7559]

they take building a snowman to another level. looks unreal

[@stefhoffer]

It's really something else

[@loritouma5899]

I would love to see this city one day!! Awesome

[@stefhoffer]

Hope you can too!

[@ameenrashid7827]

Beautiful mashaallah 💕💕

[@waerokinghuang8603]

More magnificient than DisneyLand

[@stefhoffer]

Actually, it is...

[@whattovisitinromania5044]

Refreshing to watch this as the weather is warmer day by day! 👌 Beautiful video! ❤️

[@stefhoffer]

Thank you, was also refreshing to edit it!

[@utpalmallik4581]

Crazy, ,, weather is cold and eating ice

[@Annyeong_61]

My dream destination hopefully I will get a chance to see you Harbin 🥰

[@stefhoffer]

Hope you can, it's really special. Good luck!

[@sindikhumalo9217]

Another place I want to visit. I'm adding it on travel list

[@yeyao8770]

fantastic sculpture and so much fun!

[@stefhoffer]

It really is!

[@francoromero3453]

Tan re loquitos los chinos, altas cosas hacen y muy lindo paisaje por cierto

[@taf209]

Glad to see your video of my hometown. Welcome to visit Harbin again!

[@kamfongchou9356]

I plan to visit harpin to see the beautiful sculptures. How do you go this site and when is this ice festival held. Thank you

[@taf209]

@@kamfongchou9356 the ice festival is usually held from late December to late February. The exact schedule varies per year. You can purchase the ticket at the gate or online such as mobile app. The park is not far from Harbin main city area so you can ride a taxi or a tourist bus. I suggest you to google these info. I think there is a lot of info online. Let me know if you have any other questions.

[@imsamiurrahman]

People: How cold is Harbin? Harbin: Yes.

[@rabiarubab2739]

Amazing view

[@elbuhodeheraclito]

Really nIce

[@saumyatiwari7238]

I came to see this at the behest of my geography teacher. Beutiful 🤩✨✨✨

[@chietbrink3977]

Fantastic video!!!!!

[@stefhoffer]

Thank you :D

[@Mrchiku99]

amazing view

[@jordy6356]

Te conocí gracias al canal de Un Poco de Todo, pero ahora creo que me volveré adicta 💖💖🎉👌

[@stefhoffer]

Glad to hear that!

[@anntynlyn]

Up

[@pansitoconpalta3000]

Very good Un poco de todo

[@zhli4238]

Making sure winter clothing is adequate would be necessary. Minus 20 degree out there, playing on frozen river for hours is no joke.

[@stefhoffer]

Absolutely! It can get extremely cold and you should come well prepared.

[@jakubw7206]

Wow, this is pretty impressive!

[@FinarfinNoldorin]

WOW!! WOW!! WOW!!!!!

[@bhishmaruchal6584]

wow China is really amazing

[@salomonsanchez6904]

Wwww..Hermoso DIOS t bendiga..✌🐼...Saludos mafia Loco Larry..Santiago d chile..

[@animeclover8456]

Vengo por un poco de todo master

[@حيدرهلالي-ج1ه]

Very nice

[@burnheartgames9875]

I really want to visit Harbin. It looks like a fairy tale. Would you recommend it or is it too cold or just not worth it?

[@dennydenlim]

It is okay, I am from south east Asia & I made it alive. Lol

[@stefhoffer]

It's very cold, but for me it was worth it. Bring thermal clothing.

[@tangosolo9354]

You can visit at June-August, it is a little hot (nearly 26-30°C

[@dylans8753]

Depends on where you're from. If you're from Canada or North Dakota you should have no problem.

[@lynnyoung1555]

Wow that’s amazing

[@stefhoffer]

It was stunning

[@alwansyah8043]

Woaa, that's fucking awesome

[@rybaryz8023]

Wonderful

[@Mizamook]

Beautiful, Stef!

[@stefhoffer]

Thanks Gene, glad you liked it!

[@mistyfuture4925]

Nice video! It looks beautiful and awesome. :)

[@stefhoffer]

Thank you!

[@陽光攝影]

最地道的叫法是“哈拉滨”（东北方言）

[@irmaursem9570]

Prachtig Stef!!

[@stefhoffer]

Dank je Irma, was erg bijzonder om te zien!

[@richardjamitoify]

awesome quality video. what is gear you used if you dont mind

[@stefhoffer]

Thank you! This was shot on a Sony NX80.

[@janexiao853]

👍👍👍

[@afifchaniago1489]

super amazing

[@wwow3953]

wow

[@stefandee1970]

Nice 🎅

[@mahbubalamnowab8271]

bangladesh it is beautyfull contrary

[@haneyah917]

That is China

[@thanhthao2894]

Hay quá

[@김영민-o4d]

Nice angle for evry footage! I wonder if thoses added with color grading or not, cuz its seems quite nature!

[@stefhoffer]

Thank you! No, I didn't grade this clip. Colors were very natural right out of the camera.

[@김영민-o4d]

@@stefhoffer Thats cool! Waiting for your next work!

[@stefhoffer]

@@김영민-o4d Thanks for watching!

[@cricketer3135]

Stef Hoffer what camera and lens been use?? Thanks

[@kailistories8991]

What camera do you use for your video ??

[@stefhoffer]

This was shot on a Sony NX80.

[@cyrhounk9702]

Hi wanna get some answers about the ice festival.

[@stefhoffer]

Sure, please ask whatever you want.

[@dj8442able]

Which camera is been used to shoot please reply

[@stefhoffer]

This was shot on a Sony NX80.

[@youguanhen9389]

Are those lights built in the ice? I wonder how did they do that?

[@stefhoffer]

I believe they are, but I'm not 100% sure.

[@weixiangyu6183]

@@stefhoffer sure

[@changjingzhengcuiwei]

Sure. And they will all melt in spring

[@horizontravels]

Hello my brother peace with you very NICE China is so beautiful and I have a question about Saudi Arabia that you visited can you please tell me which is cheaper places to live for hajj hotels and apartments here the travel agent asking lots of money and I don't have please thank you

[@stefhoffer]

Honestly that's a difficult question for me to answer. I mostly stayed in hotels that catered for tourists. Good luck!

[@dhowe1001]

Where do they get that much clean ice?

[@stefhoffer]

They take it from the rivers in the weeks leading up to the festival.

[@lalala5189]

The ice comes from the Songhua River

[@JAA938]

hén Piáoliang. Xiéxié :)

[@stefhoffer]

Bu yong xie :)

[@AG-ot9jc]

2: 54 start the name of the music please

[@stefhoffer]

This song was licensed on Artlist.

[@ricardo82shadow123]

Famous for being a Russian city in China

[@VenkateshThoughts]

Then it's true that walking on water

[@AG-ot9jc]

Music from 2:54, please

[@Lawnmower142]

what is the name of the music?

[@stefhoffer]

'One the Night' by Distyll Musique, licensed through Artlist.

[@来自末世罪人]

我生活在这个城市，三年的疫情让生活变的非常糟糕

[@stefhoffer]

I hope things will improve in the future, good luck to you.

[@ChengFang-z6g]

中国东北太牛逼了

[@stefhoffer]

It is!

[@RaviMehay]

A evil evil city 😡😡😡😡

[@stefhoffer]

Why?

[@RaviMehay]

@@stefhoffer they throw live cows to tigers there to get eaten and people take pictures how sick 🤬🤬🤬 it is really cruel

[@stefhoffer]

@@RaviMehay Didn't know that, but that sounds really awful! Very sad to hear about it.

[@edwardsnowden8821]

Dalit Kumar from India where people Lynch Muslims for eating beef

[@hongthangluong5659]

Hay quá