Sun Island
Songbei District, Harbin, China, 150010
A wetland scenic area across the river from downtown Harbin, Sun Island is home to the world’s largest permanent indoor ice and snow theme park, plus epic snow sculpture displays during the Harbin Ice Festival—but you don't have to like the cold to have a good time. Other attractions include landscaped gardens, animal displays, a Russian-style village, and small museums and galleries.
The basics
Most travelers experience the Sun Island International Snow Sculpture Art Expo during the Harbin Ice Festival. Visit at any other time of year, however, and you can still enjoy illuminated ice buildings, ice slides, ice bikes, and a wealth of ice sculptures at Harbin Ice and Snow World Park. Harbin Ice Festival tours include a trip to the snow sculptures, while Sun Island is also a common stop on city tours during the warmer months.
Things to know before you go
Sun Island is a good choice for photographers, social media mavens, families, and anyone with a love of all things wintry.
Temperatures in Harbin regularly drop to -13°F (-25°C) during ice festival season. Layer up to keep warm, and invest in earmuffs or a hat with ear protection.
Sun Island’s flat pathways are wheelchair accessible, but snow cover makes this challenging during winter time.
How to get there
Sun Island sits in the middle of the Songhua River, north of Harbin’s historic center. There are plenty of ways to get there: You can catch the Harbin Metro to Sun Island (Line 2), ride the Harbin Ropeway cable car, join a tour, take a taxi, or book a rideshare with DiDi.
When to get there
Sun Island is open 8am–5pm daily, and most attractions open soon after the recreational area does. The most popular time to visit is during the ice festival, which generally begins in late December or early January and runs for 6–8 weeks. Try to time your visit to avoid the Lunar New Year holidays, when crowds peak.
Enjoying the Harbin Ice Festival
The Harbin Ice Festival has grown from locals crafting lanterns out of river ice into the world’s largest ice and snow sculpture festival. Lanterns and ice sculptures still deck the city, but the festival centers on two main locations: Harbin Ice and Snow World—where the ice sculptures, ice slides, and ice games span more than 200 acres (80 hectares)—and the Sun Island International Snow Sculpture Art Expo. Artists build both from scratch every year.
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