Harbin is best known for it's annual International Ice and Snow Sculpture Festival. With its close proximity to Siberia and its heaps of snow and fridged winter temperatures, there's no better place for an ice and snow sculpture competition than Harbin. 

The annual festival starts from January 5th and it lasts one month, but weather permitting, the exhibitions open earlier and last longer. 

The focal point of the festival is Zhaolin Park, located next to the Songhua River. During the festival, Zhaolin Park becomes home to array of ice carvings ranging from figures of human, animal, and birds to mythical as well as historic and political characters and figurines of world renowned attractions such as the Great Wall of China, the Eiffel Tower, and Taj Mahal. 

In the evenings, the sculptures are lit up and ice-lantern park touring activities are held in many parks throughout the city. 

The Harbin festival is one of the world's four largest ice and snow festivals, along with Japan's Sapporo Snow Festival, Canada's Quebec City Winter Carnival, and Norway's Ski Festival.

A number of other winter events take place in the city at the same time as the festival: fireworks display, ice hockey competitions, winter swimming, skiing and speed skating events, football games on expansive snow grounds, poetry jamboree, and ice and snow cinematic festival.

Established in 1985 as a simple festival, the Ice and Snow Festival has now transformed into one of the biggest winter attractions in China. 

While the ice sculptures are spread out all over the city, Zhaolin Park is the most famous area. Buses to Zhaolin: 8, 53, 74, 83, 113, 114, 201 and 206.