Experience 3 extreme cold festivals in Asia

Starting with the Sapporo Snow Festival in Japan, the Chilgapsan Ice Fountain Festival in South Korea, and the Harbin International Ice and Snow Sculpture Festival in Harbin, People’s Republic of China.

Sapporo Snow Festival, JAPAN

The Sapporo Snow Festival debuted in 1950. It has become one of the most famous winter festivals which attracts visitors from all over the world. This yearly event lasts for a duration of 1 week. For the year 2024 it will be held from 4-11 February. Highlights of the festival are more than 200 masterpieces of ice and snow sculptures, which are crafted into beautiful architectural shapes, famous people, lovely animals, and favorite characters in popular cartoons and animations. At night, these sculptures are illuminated, offering a jovial atmosphere for festival goers.

The iconic Sapporo event will be held at Odori Park, situated in the heart of Sapporo. The ice sculptures will be exhibited in the Susukino site. Fun winter activities such as snowboarding, skiing races and snow sledding will also be held. A great collection of food stalls selling a range of Hokkaido winter dishes as well as other international cuisine will also be offered.

Tips

At the same time, the Odori Park will also hold the Sapporo White Illumination event, which will further complement the spectacular Sapporo Snow Festival even more memorable with millions of lights.

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Chilgapsan Ice Fountain Festival, SOUTH KOREA

Change the atmosphere by taking a two-hour bus ride to the southwest of Seoul, where you will find the Alps Village. This small village in Chungcheongnam-do province in South Korea is surrounded by the Chilgapsan mountain. The Chilgapsan Ice Fountain Festival will be held around end of December to mid of February.

Highlight of the festival is the spectacular giant ice fountain created by Mother Nature in the freezing temperature. There are also snow and ice sculptures standing on the snow ground. Another winter activity includes smelt fishing. Winter delicacies such as roasted chestnuts, sweet potatoes and corns will be available there.

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Harbin International Ice and Snow Sculpture Festival, CHINA

With temperatures of -20 to -30 degrees Celsius, the gardens in the city of Harbin which cover an area of 600,000 square meters, has become the landmark showcasing ice and snow sculptures. Situated in the Heilongjiang Province, in Northeast China, it is one of the world’s largest snow and ice festivals.

Snow sculptors around the world fly here to create their masterpieces using over hundred thousand cubic meters of snow and ice. At night, they illuminate the site with colorful lightings, with special techniques, making you mesmerized as if you were in a fairy land. In addition, there will be gigantic snow sculptures on display at the Sun Island International Snow Sculpture Art Expo, Harbin Ice Lantern Art Fair, and the Zhaolin Park Ice Lantern Art Fair. The festival runs annually from the end of December till the end of February.

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