Winter Spectacles.

This is a peak season.  Hotels can be booked solid and charge premiums.

Zhaolin Park (兆麟公园) The Ice Lantern Garden Party is spectacular at night.  This is just a couple blocks to the east of the main Zhongyang Dajie (中央大街). The ice sculptures here include international contest entries. Closing time is 10pm.  It can easily take two to three hours to see everything in this spectacle.  The ground can be icy and slippery.  Traction devices can be quite useful for walking on ice stairways, etc.  There are a number of small ice slides.  There are many fair rides like a ferris wheel available for fees.  Small huts are present with snacks and drinks.  Many aggressive hawkers are present, selling trinkets, tours, photos, food, etc.  January 2008 regular admission is 55RMB.

Harbin Ice and Snow World across the Songhua river at Sun Island (太阳島) has quantity--big enormous, massive ice sculptures. This is spectacular at night. Closing time is 940pm.  It can easily take two to three hours to see everything in this spectacle.  The ground can be icy and slippery.  Traction devices can be quite useful for walking on ice stairways, etc.   Ice skating shows occur on a center stage with performers from all over the world.  There are ice slides both small and gigantic.  There are ice walls to climb.  Horse drawn sleigh rides are available around the circuit of the spectacle.  Small huts are present with snacks and drinks.  Many aggressive hawkers are present, selling trinkets, tours, photos, food, etc.  January 2008 regular admission is 150RMB.  

Snow Sculpture Art Fair also on 太阳島.  This is best seen during the day.  It consists of both international and regional sculpture contest entries; and gigantic, enormous snow sculptures.  It can easily take two to three hours to see everything in this spectacle.  Big rides are available for fees down snow embankments on the bigger sculptures on inner tubes, big padded balls with passenger compartments, etc.  Small huts are present with snacks and drinks.  Many aggressive hawkers are present, selling food, dog sleigh rides, deer & yak photo opportunities, etc.  January 2008 regular admission is 120RMB.