Harbin International Ice and Snow Festival 2012

The annual Harbin International Ice and Snow Festival has been held since 1963. Harbin is the capital of Heilongjiang province, in northeastern China. It is nicknamed “Ice City” and aptly so for winter January temperatures that average minus 18 degrees Celsius, under the influence of the cold winter wind from Siberia..  The festival officially starts January 5th & lasts one month, although exhibits often stay open longer, weather permitting. Harbin is one of the world’s 4th largest ice & snow festivals, along with Japan’s Sapporo Snow Festival, Canada’s Quebec City Winter Carnival & Norway’s Ski Festival.