The world’s largest ice and snow-covered theme park has officially opened its doors to the public, giving visitors to the city of Harbin in northeast China the opportunity to experience winter temperatures all year round.
The country’s northernmost metropolis, Harbin is the capital of Heilongjiang province. Also known as the Ice City, it has long, cold and snowy winters, with short, cool summers. The annual Harbin Ice and Snow Festival began in 1999 and is held every year from December to early March.
A Guinness World Records official awarded Harbin Ice and Snow World Company the certification of “the world’s largest ice and snow-covered theme park” during this month’s opening ceremony.
Ironically, the opening coincided with a heatwave in Harbin, with outdoor temperatures reaching a peak of 29 degrees C (84 F), while the indoor theme park maintained a chilly temperature of -8 C to -12 C (17.6 F at 10.4 F).
Covering an area of 23,800 square meters, the new Harbin Ice and Snow World Park, which opened on July 6, is divided into nine themed sections with 13 interactive designs. Using advanced ice sculpting techniques and incorporating cutting-edge lighting, sound and interactive technologies, the park offers an immersive experience.
The ice used in the construction of the park’s attractions came from the Songhua River, with a total volume of ice of 20 thousand cubic meters. Once inside, visitors can enjoy a magical atmosphere filled with ice, light, entertainment, gourmet food and cultural creations. There are also vibrant fruit ice sculptures, ice creams and cakes made with edible dyes through a special environmentally friendly coloring process.
Harbin’s annual snow and ice festival attracts tens of thousands of tourists from China and elsewhere, but this new attraction aims to extend the city’s tourist season and turn it into a year-round destination.
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