Harbin’s winter tourism calendar officially began this week with the opening of the Ice-Harvesting Festival — a tradition that has grown from a local custom on the frozen Songhua River into one of the most recognisable winter events in China. The first blocks of ice were cut before sunrise, drawing crowds of residents, travellers, and photographers who braved sub-zero temperatures to watch the season’s opening ritual.
Keeping an Old Craft Alive
Workers carved out the thick, glassy ice using long saws and metal hooks, a method that has changed little over the decades. The blocks they pull from the river will later become the raw material for Harbin’s enormous ice-and-snow installations that dominate headlines each winter. For many spectators, watching the ice harvest offers a rare glimpse of the careful, physical work that lies behind the city’s glittering sculptures.
Tourism Surge Brings Broad Economic Lift
City officials say the start of the festival reliably signals a surge in visitor numbers. Hotels, restaurants, taxi operators, and small local shops all prepare for their busiest stretch of the year. The Ice and Snow World — built entirely from river ice — remains Harbin’s biggest draw and is expected to attract both domestic and international travellers throughout the season.
A Push Toward Greener Winter Tourism
This year’s event also features a renewed emphasis on sustainability. The city has introduced stricter guidelines on ice extraction to protect the river’s ecology, and major installations are shifting toward energy-saving lighting and more efficient heating systems. Waste-management efforts have been expanded around popular tourist routes in an attempt to manage the seasonal influx responsibly.
A Festival That Sets the Tone for Winter
As the first ice blocks were hauled from the river, the atmosphere along the riverbank felt equal parts festive and nostalgic. The opening of the Ice-Harvesting Festival not only celebrates Harbin’s identity as a winter capital but also ushers in a season of art, tourism, and economic activity that the city relies on each year. For visitors, it marks the beginning of weeks filled with snow-covered streets, towering ice structures, and the unmistakable mood of a northern winter settling in.
