What is Harbin International Snow and Ice Festival?
[[File:Ice Snow World.jpg|thumb|The festival in 2004]] The '''Harbin International Ice and Snow Festival''' (or simply Harbin Ice Festival) is a [[festival]] held every year in [[Harbin]], [[China]]. It involves [[ice]] [[sculpture]]s and [[winter sports|winter activities]]. The festival exhibits open from late December to late February.<ref>{{cite web|title=Harbin Ice Festival 2022 - 2023|url=https://www.icefestivalharbin.com/|website=icefestivalharbin.com}}</ref> The festival has been held since 1963. It started as a local traditional ice [[lantern]] show and garden party during Chinese Spring Festival. ==Background== The festival was stopped for a number of years during the [[Cultural Revolution]]. It was resumed on 5 January 1985, when the Harbin city government hosted it at Zhaolin Park. It was then announced as an annual event. In 2001, the festival was merged with [[Heilongjiang]] International Ski Festival and got its current formal name. The Harbin Ice Festival is one of the world's top ice and snow festivals. It attracts a growing number of visitors from around the world. ==Things to see and do== The festival has a series of shows at [[theme park]]s and ice activities on the [[Songhua River]]. * Sun Island International Snow Sculpture Art Fair * Ice Sculptures Show at Ice and Snow World * Zhaolin Park Ice Lantern Show * Siberian Tiger Park * Harbin Jewish New Synagogue * St. Sophia Cathedral * Zhongyang Dajie == References == {{reflist}} ==Other websites== *[http://www.harbinice.com/ Harbin Ice Festival] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130521010213/http://www.harbinice.com/ |date=2013-05-21 }} *[https://www.chinaeducationaltours.com/guide/harbin-international-ice-and-snow-festival.htm Harbin International Ice and Snow Festival] [[Category:Festivals in China]] [[Category:Harbin]] [[Category:1985 establishments in Asia]] [[Category:1980s establishments in China]] [[Category:Ice]]