Your full-day tour begins at your Harbin accommodation at 9am, when you’ll greet your guide and head to your first stop, the impressive Saint Sophia Cathedral. The structure’s mix of Byzantine and Russian architecture embodies Harbin’s rich history, which your guide explains in further detail.
From here, you’ll head to the bustling pedestrian street of Zhongyang, studded with European-style buildings and ice sculptures, before revitalizing with lunch at a Chinese restaurant.
Then, on to the main event: the Harbin Ice Festival, an annual festival that allures an avalanche of visitors. Hosted in the Harbin Ice and Snow World, the celebration features elaborate ice and snow sculptures, and offers you the chance to take part in winter activities such as skiing, riding ice bikes, or drinking at an ice bar (own expense).
Don’t leave without watching the famous Harbin winter swimming, where locals brave freezing temperatures to dive into the Songhau River. Your tour concludes with hotel drop-off at around 5pm.
