Harbin Ice Festival Brings The Fantasy Of Frozen To Life

By Nurhafizah Tan

HARBIN (China), Jan 15 (Bernama) -- It felt like stepping into Arendelle, the fictional kingdom featured in the animated movie Frozen, as the writer entered the Harbin International Ice and Snow Festival 2025 in Heilongjiang province, China, recently.

The breathtaking beauty of the outdoor ice park, recognised by the Guinness World Records as the largest in the world, captivates visitors with its massive blue-tinted ice sculptures shaped into castles and landmarks from 42 countries.

Beyond that, the transparent ice slides, staircases, and tunnels, spread over an area of one million square metres and constructed with 300,000 cubic metres of snow and ice, transported the writer into a fantastical realm.

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With temperatures plunging to as low as -20 degrees Celsius (on Jan 6), visitors are sure to be awestruck by the artistic creativity of structures built by a workforce of 10,000 on the frozen Songhua River—a phenomenon that can only be experienced once a year.

“Let’s take a picture with the ‘KLCC Tower’ first!”, the writer’s travel companion exclaimed, brimming with excitement at the sight of Malaysia’s iconic Petronas Twin Towers sculpture, majestically adorning the magical world.

The festival, which runs from Dec 21 until mid or late February, also showcases landmarks such as the Burj Khalifa, Taj Mahal, Osaka Castle, and Temple of Heaven, carved from ice blocks that glisten like crystals.

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A giant snowflake-shaped Ferris wheel, constructed for this exhibition that began in 1985, adds to the charm of the panorama, making visitors feel like Princess Elsa in the movie Frozen.

However, the writer was disappointed at not having the opportunity to ride the Ferris wheel or the 365-metre and 500-metre ice slides, which are among the main attractions. Despite four attempts to secure a spot via the WeChat app, which releases availability every hour, the writer was ultimately unsuccessful.

 “We receive too many visitors every day, so it is indeed very difficult to book a slot. We are so sorry,” said an on-duty staff member who kindly assisted with booking attempts but to no avail.

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Arriving at the destination at 2 pm, the writer was fortunate to enjoy the night time view of the ice sculptures illuminated by colourful LED lights starting at 4 pm, when the sun began to set.

The extreme cold weather undeniably poses the biggest challenge to fully enjoying the beauty and uniqueness of the ice sculptures.

Although the body—especially the hands and face—feels a sharp sting from the freezing temperatures, the chance to witness the stunning ice architecture adorned with colourful lights at night motivates the writer to endure the challenge, making the cold seem to ‘disappear.’

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 “I’ve never felt this kind of cold before. Even though my hands kept going numb from frequently removing my gloves to use my phone’s touch screen, the night time lights at this festival made all the challenges worth it,” said Linda Looi, a tourist from Malaysia whom we met by chance at the venue.

For those planning a visit, it’s essential to wear adequate winter clothing, including bringing heat pads, wearing windproof gloves, and donning a snow cap to minimise discomfort from the freezing weather.

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International visitors are advised to purchase tickets, priced around RM200, online via platforms such as Trip.com, where the provided QR code can be directly used at the entrance.

This annual festival, operating from 10 am to 10 pm, is also easily accessible via public transportation, including a subway station located less than 200 metres from the main entrance.

 -- BERNAMA