4 Days Harbin and Jilin Rime Island Tour

Day-by-day Itinerary

1. Day 1: Arrival in Harbin

   Welcome to the Ice City of China - Harbin! Upon your arrival, your exclusive driver will be waiting for you at the exit of the Arrival Hall with a welcome sign. You will then be escorted to your pre-booked hotel.

   The rest of the day is free for you to explore this magical city on your own. Recommended Activities: Covering an area of 6 hectares, Zhaolin Park was built in 1906. Today, the park is the venue for the annual Harbin Winter Ice Lantern Show. Visitors will enjoy more than 200 pieces of ice sculptures here. In addition, you can also experience various rides such as ice slides, ice maze, spinning top on ice, and ice skating. Zhaolin Park is free of admission, every year starting around January 5 and continuing until the end of February.

   Meal: N/A

   Accommodation: in Harbin

   

2. Day 2: Harbin Ice Festival Tour
   Experience Stunning Snow Sculptures and Magical Ice World

   After breakfast, your guided Harbin tour will officially begin! Your private guide will pick you up at your hotel and take you to the world-famous Sun Island International Snow Sculpture Art Expo in the Sun Island Scenic Area. Unlike the ice sculptures we'll see this afternoon at the Ice and Snow World, the snow sculptures here are more suitable for daytime viewing. The annual snow expo lasts about two months, during which visitors will enjoy a variety of large-scale snow sculptures from Chinese and foreign artists, which are exquisite in appearance and have a strong sense of art.

   

   Next, we head to the Siberian Tiger Park adjacent to the scenic Sun Island. Covering an area of 360,000 square meters, it was established out of a desire to save and protect the world's endangered species, the Northeast Tiger. We will take a special sightseeing bus to enjoy the 30 wild tigers walking freely. Besides, you will also see white lions, leopards, lynx and other treasured animals.

   After dinner, you will go to experience the magical Ice and Snow World, the highlight of our 4-day Harbin tour package. The Harbin Ice Festival is recognized as the world's largest snow and ice theme park and is recorded in the Guinness Book of World Records. It is a winter wonderland illuminated by colorful LED lights and is open from Christmas to early March.

   Here you will enjoy beautiful ice and snow sculptures as well as a snow castle. When night falls, the ice lanterns are even more enchanting with their colorful lights. Various snow recreation programs such as ice slides, ice bikes and Ferris wheels enrich your experience. At the end of the day, return to the hotel for a good rest.

   Warm Tips:

   Be aware of the longer queues during peak hours, especially during the traditional Chinese Lunar New Year and weekends.

   Meal: Breakfast + Lunch

   Accommodation: in Harbin

   

3. Day 3: Harbin to Jilin Tour by Bullet Train
   Admire Byzantine Architecture, Explore European-style Streets, Visit Historic Districts

   In the morning, we will first take you to admire the St. Sophia Cathedral from the outside. Built in 1907, it is a typical Byzantine building with a huge green onion-head dome. Named as the Architectural Art Museum of Harbin, St. Sophia Church showcases the history, culture and architectural art of Harbin. Afterwards, walk to Central Street, where you can see many Baroque-style European buildings and interesting ice and snow sculptures of different shapes.

   

   Next, we will head to the historical district of Harbin - Laodaowai. Baroque style buildings built in the early 20th century can be seen everywhere. Unlike the old European buildings along Central Street, most of the buildings in Laodaowai were built by Chinese merchants in the early 20th century, with a lot of Chinese elements. In addition, there are many specialty restaurants in this area for tourists to taste authentic Harbin cuisine.

   The last stop on your Harbin tour is the Jiuzhan Park, located on the banks of the Songhua River. The place is very popular with local seniors and children to relax and play in the snow. After the tour, your guide will transfer you to the railway station for a high-speed train to Jilin.

   Meal: Breakfast + Lunch

   Accommodation: in Jilin

   

4. Day 4: Departure from Jilin
   Enjoy Charming Frost-covered Trees and Sunrise

   Today, you need to get up early. We will drive about 1.5 hours to the fascinating Rime Island. It is a small island in the river impacted on the Songhua River and is a well-known fog viewing destination in China. It is undoubtedly a paradise for photographers.

   In winter, the water mist rising from the river gets cold and condenses into frost on the trees, which is beautifully illuminated by the golden sunrise. You can enjoy a leisurely stroll along the snow-covered path lined with beautiful trees decorated with white frost.

   Warm tips:

   • It is very cold on Rime Island in winter, usually 20-30 degrees Celsius below zero. You must wear a thick down jacket and high-top, non-slip snow shoes. Cotton hats, masks, gloves and scarves are also essential.
   • Rime usually forms at a specific temperature. Please check with your travel advisor before booking this tour.

   

   In the afternoon we will drive back to downtown Jilin to visit Beishan Park (North Hill Park), where you will visit a long-established temple and appreciate a serene snowy landscape. Stroll along the snow-covered paths and experience the locals ice skating at the square. After the visit, your tour guide and driver will escort you to the airport for onward flight to your next destination. Hope to see you again for your next trip to China. Safe journey!

   Meal: Breakfast + Lunch

   Accommodation: N/A