The 41st China Harbin International Ice and Snow Festival kicked off on Sunday at Harbin Ice-Snow World, marking the start of an exciting winter celebration that blends art, culture, and sports. The theme for this year’s festival is “Dream of Winter, Love among Asia,” and it features a wide array of activities tied to the upcoming 9th Asian Winter Games, enriching the festival’s growing cultural legacy.
The opening ceremony saw crowds gather at Harbin Ice-Snow World, where the expansive park showcased the largest ice sculptures in its history. Sun Zemin, deputy director of the Sales and Marketing Department at Harbin Ice-Snow World Park Co., Ltd, told Global Times that this year’s edition is the most impressive to date, both in scale and number of ice sculptures. “The scenic spot spans 1 million square meters and uses 300,000 cubic meters of ice and snow. The design centers on the 9th Asian Winter Games, creating iconic landscapes representing 42 countries and three regions,” said Zemin.
The official song of the 9th Asian Winter Games, “Light Up Asia,” was also released during the opening. The song complements the festival’s mission to promote ice and snow sports across Asia.
Among the standout events of the festival is the 41st public ice and snow collective wedding, a key tradition that is uniquely held with ice and snow as the medium. This event, which has been celebrated annually for 41 years, drew 1,320 couples from over 20 countries. This year, 42 couples from 17 provinces and regions of China, including Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region and Jiangsu Province, participated. “Many young couples prefer destination weddings, and this collective ice and snow wedding offers a unique experience. The symbolism of ‘pure love’ behind the ice and snow wedding draws many,” said Li Chen, director of the event.
Harbin is also introducing new travel products to attract visitors. According Global Times report, a local resident shared that a new themed train, the K5197, now connects Harbin to Yabuli South. “The ticket costs only 20 yuan [$2.70], and many passengers dressed in various costumes are taking photos in themed cabins,” locals told.
The China Ice and Snow Tourism Development Report (2025) also highlighted that ice and snow leisure tours are expected to reach 520 million this season, generating tourism revenue exceeding 630 billion yuan. This follows a successful 2023-24 season, where 430 million ice and snow tours were recorded, bringing in 524.7 billion yuan in revenue. Li noted that Harbin’s longstanding ice and snow tourism tradition has made the city a top destination for winter tourism in China, and the local community’s commitment to enhancing this brand is evident.
Harbin’s Ice and Snow Festival, recognized as the longest-running event of its kind, continues to attract both domestic and international tourists.
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