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Sun Island

Sun Island, Harbin Travel PhotosFacing the downtown area across the Songhua River, Sun Island is a 38-square-km sand bar lapped by the waters of the river. In summer, leafy trees and carpet-like lawns can make visitors feel so comfortable they are often reluctant to leave. In winter, the island has become the venue of international ice sculpture competition.

The Ice Lantern Garden Party is the earliest and biggest artistic exhibition of the ice lantern in the open air in the world. The garden was built in 1963, covering a area of 6.5 hectares and used about 2,000 stere ice.It is one of the 35 national's absolutely rare and wonderfully beautiful scenic spots by National Tourist Office.

The ice lantern was inspired by ancient Chinese who created this crafts by accident. Legend has it that several people who lived in the northeastern provinces including Harbin used to fish and groom on Songhen Pain when night came in winter.

Sun Island, Harbin Travel PhotosThey used the ancient ice to make lantern in order to light the pain. Hence the ice lantern was made. After that, it becomes a custom to make ice lantern when spring festival is on the way.

Later on, this custom evolved into a traditional festival named "Harbin Ice Festival" which held on the 5th of January every year.

During the period of the Ice Lantern festival, tourists can take part in the movements, such as: sitting on the ice sailing boat, hitting the ice monkeys, seeing the wedding on the ice, skating on the ice and watching the competition of winter swimming.

The highlight of the festival is that you are expected to attend the evening party when night falls, on which you can see wonderful performances and take part in it. The Ice Lantern is worthy your visiting..

Questions & Comments

  • Ripple on December 20, 2012, 5:31 pm

    Hi Lee, please check your email for our travel consultants' pertinent advice asap. Thanks.

  • Lee on December 19, 2012, 12:42 am

    I would like to fly to harbin and spend 2 days and 1 night there. Is it easy to visit the ice festival and also the snow festival on my own? Or are there any day tours I can take? What is a good 4 star and well located hotel tin central harbin?

  • Ripple on November 24, 2011, 5:27 pm

    Dear Karin, thanks for visiting our website. Your questions will be answered fully by one of our travel consultants via email asap, please don't forget to check your email-box later. webmaster-Ripple

  • Karin on November 24, 2011, 4:24 pm

    I will visit Harbin at the end of January to experience the snow festival for the firs time. We will fly in to Beijing and take the night train to Harbin, spend the day and night in Harbin and also the following day and take the night train back to Beijing. So we have 2 days and 1 night in Harbin. Is that enough time to see the main ice sculptures and Ice Lanterns? We do not want to see tigers or do many ice activities. I am trying to find out the main areas to visit,but find it a bit confusing with so many different parks and locations... Is the "12th Harbin Ice and snow world" the same as Sun Island? What is the main attraction here? "37th Harbin Ice and Lantern Art Fair", is this in Zhaolin Park? Is this the main area for lit up lanterns and sculptures in the evening? "27th Harbin International Ice and Snow Festival" Where is it located and what is the main attractions? It would also be great to know how and where I can book the night train from/to Beijing-Harbin. I live in Tokyo at the moment. I'm really grateful for all the advise and help I can get to make this dream trip happen. With thanks, Karin

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