The Harbin Ice and Snow World, now recognized as the planet's largest ice-and-snow theme park, continues to captivate visitors since its grand opening on December 17, 2025. Located in the Chinese mainland's northeastern Heilongjiang Province, this year's edition marks the 27th anniversary of the festival with its most ambitious showcase yet: a 810,000-square-meter wonderland blending cutting-edge technology with cultural storytelling.
Under the theme 'A Fairytale World of Ice and Snow,' engineers have constructed a 42-meter-tall snowflake Ferris wheel and a 521-meter ice slide – the world's longest – using enhanced ice-carving techniques and LED lighting systems. Nightly multimedia shows project animated scenes from Chinese folklore onto glacial structures, while augmented reality stations allow visitors to interact with digital ice sculptures.
Local tourism authorities report over 2.3 million visits in the first three weeks, with 18% coming from overseas travelers. The park's success coincides with China's push to develop winter tourism infrastructure ahead of the 2027 Asian Winter Games, with Harbin positioned as a key host city.
'This project demonstrates how traditional winter culture can drive economic growth,' said Harbin's tourism bureau director during a recent press briefing. Business analysts note increased investment in northeastern China's cold-weather tech sector, particularly in temperature-resistant construction materials and renewable energy solutions for subzero climates.
