As a skiing enthusiast, I have set foot in the Swiss Alps and Hokkaido, Japan. However, when I heard about the ski resort in Harbin, China called "Hanging Swiss Snow Mountain", my curiosity drove me to embark on this journey. Here, I not only discovered world-class skiing facilities, but also experienced a unique Eastern ice and snow culture. Here is my real experience sharing.

Recommended Guided Tours

Harbin Snow Tour

7 Days | Harbin

1、 First Encounter with Harbin: The Fusion of Ice and Snow Fairy Tales and Passionate Cities

When I landed at Harbin Taiping International Airport, a cold wind of minus 20 ℃ hit me, but the enthusiasm of this city instantly melted my worries about the cold. The airport entry process is efficient and convenient, thanks to China's Visa free policy for foreign tourists (such as 144 hour transit visa free), I completed customs clearance in just 30 minutes.

First stop: Central Street

This century old Russian style pedestrian street, covered in ice and snow, looks like a fairy tale world. The Madier popsicle stall on the street was crowded with tourists, while I was attracted by a Russian style building called 'Huamaisi Restaurant'. The waiter handed a cup of steaming Gevas (a traditional Russian fermented drink), served with sausages and pickled Chinese cabbage pot, warming the stomach and heart.

The Ice and Snow World at Night

As the world's largest ice and snow themed park, it showcases thousands of ice and snow sculptures. I stood in front of the 20 meter high "Ice and Snow Castle", with lights reflecting through the ice bricks in a dreamy blue purple color, as if I were in a scene from "Frozen". What surprised me even more was that I could also experience ice slides, ice bikes, and night skiing here - who said skiing could only be done during the day?

2、 Initial skiing experience: professionalism and inclusivity at Yabuli Ski Resort

There are several top ski resorts distributed around Harbin, and Yabuli Ski Resort is undoubtedly the most dazzling star. As the largest and oldest ski resort in China, it has 49 ski slopes with a vertical drop of 918 meters, even surpassing many European ski resorts.

Snow trail selection and facilities

Beginner friendly: I chose the 7th Magic Carpet area on Sun Mountain, and the coach guided me in adjusting my posture in fluent English. I mastered basic skating in just half a day.

A paradise for experts: A friend challenged the "Black Dragon Trail", a 36.7-degree steep slope that was named "one of the most exciting ski trails in Asia" by skiing magazines.

Unique experience: When taking the high-speed heating cable car, the silhouette of The Great Wall and the snow trail in the distance complement each other, creating a unique scenery of Swiss snow capped mountains.

Club Med's thoughtful service

After checking into Club Med Yabuli, I found that the "all inclusive" model offered a very high cost performance ratio. Only about $500 per night (doubling the price of similar ski resorts in Japan), including ski lessons, meals, and even childcare services, is particularly suitable for family tourists.

3、 Cultural Exploration: The Charm of Harbin Beyond Ice and Snow

Russian architecture and Northeastern style

In front of the Hagia Sophia Cathedral, I ran into a group of aunties dancing square dance. They enthusiastically taught me how to dance Yangko, and recommended the nearby "Old Daowai" block - the time-honored dumpling shop "Oriental Dumpling King" here made me eat three plates of pickled Chinese cabbage filled dumplings!

Winter Wonders on the Songhua River

After the river completely froze, the locals used horses to plow and carry passengers, while I tried ice fishing. Digging open a 30 centimeter thick ice layer and catching a lively carp, this primitive pleasure is unforgettable.

Preheating atmosphere of the Asian Winter Games

The 2025 Asian Winter Games will be held here, and tiger shaped sculptures of mascots "Nini" and "Binbin" can be seen throughout the city. Volunteers told me that Harbin is building a "bridge of culture and friendship" through ice and snow sports - which may explain why the number of foreign tourists has surged 145% year-on-year.

4、 Practical tip: How to plan your skiing trip in Harbin

Best time: December to March of the following year, with the best snow quality and an open ice sculpture festival.

Transportation suggestion: The high-speed railway from Beijing to Harbin only takes 5 hours; Yabuli Ski Resort provides shuttle buses to the train station.

Equipment rental: The ski resort provides a complete set of equipment (approximately $50/day), but it is recommended to bring waterproof gloves and goggles.

Must eat food: frozen pears (taste like ice cream after freezing), pot stuffed meat (a famous dish in the Northeast with sour, sweet and crispy taste), Bingtanghulu (hawthorn string wrapped in sugar coating)