Since 1985 the city has hosted the grand Harbin International Ice and Snow Sculpture Festival every year. Officially, the festival starts from January 5th and it lasts one month. However often the exhibitions open earlier and last longer, weather permitting. Harbin is one of the sources of ice and snow culture in the world. Geographically, it is located in Northeast China under the direct influence of the cold winter wind from Siberia. The average temperature in summer is 21.2 degrees Celsius, -16.8 degrees Celsius in winter. It can be as cold as - 38.1 degrees Celsius in winter.The city's location in northeast China accounts for its arctic climate which provides abundant natural ice and snow. Subsequently, the 'Ice City' of Harbin is recognized as the cradle of ice and snow art in China and is famous for its exquisite and artistic ice and snow sculptures.

The festival is now one of the most popular local festivals in China, as well as one of the world's four largest ice and snow festivals, along with Japan's Sapporo Snow Festival, Canada's Quebec City Winter Carnival, and Norway's Ski Festival, making Harbin a favorite destination for numerous tourists from home and abroad to spend their winter holidays. To this event, various splendid ice lanterns will be shown in the Harbin Ice Lantern Park and snow sculptures will be on display at the Sun Island in the city. Ice sculpture decoration ranges from the modern technology of lasers to traditional ice lanterns.

There are all sorts of touring activities held in many parks in the city. Winter activities in the festival include Yabuli alpine skiing, winter-swimming in Songhua River, and the ice-lantern exhibition in Zhaolin Garden. Some of the activities to do during the festival: skating, skiing, tobogganing, ice sailing, ice hockey, or simply enjoying the winter scenery.Snow carving and ice and snow recreations in Harbin are world famous.