Brr! It’s a wrap at China’s winter wonderland

daniel shaw sierra vista az. — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 15:10:46 GMT

Gee, must be that global warming!

Brr! It’s a wrap at China’s winter wonderland

Brent Fry, Wildwood, Fl. — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 16:08:25 GMT

I've been trying for two years to find a travel agency that can get me there. Anyone out there have that info?

Brr! It’s a wrap at China’s winter wonderland

Karen, Lewisburg, PA — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 17:43:10 GMT

Weather wimps! Spent two years in Edmonton, Alberta, where my kids would regularly wait out at the bus stop for the school bus in temperatures of minus 40C (which equals minus 40F).

Brr! It’s a wrap at China’s winter wonderland

Debbie — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 17:43:37 GMT

I want to go! This is fantastic!

Brr! It’s a wrap at China’s winter wonderland

de taylor — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 17:55:30 GMT

Air China flies into Harbin, also China Southern, for the fellow in Florida, you can call Continental or Delta to request connecting flights via Beijing or Seoul

Brr! It’s a wrap at China’s winter wonderland

Keith Burnett, St. Petersburg, Florida — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 17:55:35 GMT

It never ceases to amaze me how beautiful our planet is, and the simultaneous commonality and diversity of our responses to it. Stories like this remind me how much more we all have in common. Wouldn't it be great if we could find ways to use things like this to trivializes our differences.

Brr! It’s a wrap at China’s winter wonderland

Young, Raritan, New Jersey — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 18:07:17 GMT

So cold, So beautiful, So, going to checked it out.

Brr! It’s a wrap at China’s winter wonderland

MargieK — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 18:23:16 GMT

Aww, c'mon. It was -17F in the Twin Cities this morning. :D

As for daniel in AZ who cluelessly took a dig at global warming, as a matter of fact, it is: the record melting of Arctic sea ice in the summers of 2007 and 2008 has contributed to a shift in the jet stream / airflow at the pole, resulting in colder and snowier winters in China and North America. This was supported by several modeling studies presented at the AGU this year.

Brr! It’s a wrap at China’s winter wonderland

Teresa Dearing, Sioux Falls, S.D. — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 18:27:22 GMT

I loved the pictures, but a full six months of the cold...maybe not; but then again I just spent 2 yrs in MN and am now into my secound winter in SD; so how bad can it be???

Brr! It’s a wrap at China’s winter wonderland

Craig Paulson, Crosslake, MN — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 18:45:03 GMT

Wahhhhh... I had -36 F in my car on the way to work this morning. Supposed to be a high of -4 today. Too bad the safety czars wouldn't let those ice castles happen here in the States. Very beautiful with the lighting.

Brr! It’s a wrap at China’s winter wonderland

B, San Jose — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 18:57:08 GMT

I went there in winter 2001, and I agree it is amazing, but way cold. We could only last two hours at a time and would warm back up at the hotel (it's a good idea to stay somewhere close to the Songhua).
Too bad you missed the tiger reserve (they throw live chickens at the tigers!) and the 731 germ warfare museum (the animated display of a vivisection is something you don't see every day).
To get to Harbin, I took a local tour from Beijing.

Brr! It’s a wrap at China’s winter wonderland

Tue, 13 Jan 2009 19:07:04 GMT

EVER GO TO ALASKA'S WINTER FESTIVAL? QUITE NICE EVEN THE IDITAROD. THAT'S RIGHT HERE-HOW ABOUT IT?

Brr! It’s a wrap at China’s winter wonderland

LTCSTAN — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 19:12:43 GMT

al gore. Still looking for al gore. Did he desert us?

Brr! It’s a wrap at China’s winter wonderland

John Smith, San Francisco, CA — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 19:25:34 GMT

Uh... b4r I book my flight, what is this "man made snow" and "dense ice" compose off? And what's the environmental impact of this yearly show?

Brr! It’s a wrap at China’s winter wonderland

Wanderer — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 19:30:53 GMT

I know someone who made this trip about 6 or 7 years back. It was organized by one of these tour agents specializing in exotic tours like the ones that National Geographic photographers might use to photo artic polar bears. This particular tour was really small, only seven people drawn from all over the world. Getting there was real arduous too, requiring split second timing on rail routes running perhaps once a week or so. Probably easier now and google would make it easier to find a tour but at the time yiu had to be on somebody's list as an exotic traveller.

Brr! It’s a wrap at China’s winter wonderland

BUisiness Traveler — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 19:33:16 GMT

While there you have to check out the museum at Sun-Ilsand park. One floor has a collection of statues that can only be described as the "display of wildly exageratted human anatomical (mostly mammory glands)features". Pretty amusing.

Brr! It’s a wrap at China’s winter wonderland

L McClure, Scottsdale, AZ — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 19:55:31 GMT

I have visited the Harbin ice festival two times (2000 and 2002) and it is a world class, awe inspiring experience! And yes, Harbin in winter gives new meaning to the word cold. Wear your woollies!

Brr! It’s a wrap at China’s winter wonderland

Justin Speicher, Minneapolis, MN — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 20:28:32 GMT

Absolutely beautiful! It's not really "bitter" anyway until the Ferenheit negative temps catch up to their Celcius equivalents. Try telling central Alaskans that -4 F is cold right about now.

Brr! It’s a wrap at China’s winter wonderland

Alex Clarke — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 20:51:54 GMT

Here I am thinking how beautiful the sunset will be today while I sit on the beach and enjoy the nice caribbean weather.... layers of clothes????? I rather this anyday

Brr! It’s a wrap at China’s winter wonderland

Merilee, Ottawa, Ontario. — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 20:57:57 GMT

As a Canadian, I fail to see what the big deal with the weather is. Also as a Canadian, I wish Canada would have an ice festival of this caliber.

Brr! It’s a wrap at China’s winter wonderland

Don Littleton,Co — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 21:39:25 GMT

So global warming is going to make it colder? Am I missing something?

Brr! It’s a wrap at China’s winter wonderland

Katie B. Fairbanks, Alaska — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 21:41:33 GMT

whimps. thats all i gotta say. try livin in Alaska, where the temps plunge to alomst -60f below. if you cant handle it dont go there and dont complain.

Brr! It’s a wrap at China’s winter wonderland

Kathy Dalton, Burlington, North Carolina — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 21:58:39 GMT

To me he most awesome thing besides the beauty is that it was made by the people. The long hours, the cold,and the fact that it will melt did not slow them down one bit. It is apparent that they did not short change the project on their artistic abilety either.I congradulate each and every one of them for creating such a tredmous work of art.

Brr! It’s a wrap at China’s winter wonderland

Ila , Chicago — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 22:10:31 GMT

Beautiful pictures

Brr! It’s a wrap at China’s winter wonderland

judy fischer — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 23:02:15 GMT

"O Cananda" how I wish you did have an ice festival on par with the Chinese! Perhaps it would be easier to get there from Chicago....which by the way is also very cold right now!

Brr! It’s a wrap at China’s winter wonderland

Larry Justine — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 23:12:24 GMT

Global warming!!! What a joke. Just gives Al Gore something to whine about and give the EPA Wackos a job!

Brr! It’s a wrap at China’s winter wonderland

Mark Kessinger, New York, NY — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 23:36:26 GMT

The few folks here who think this article in any way refutes the fact of global warming have merely demonstrated how utterly rudimentary is their understanding of climate science.

Brr! It’s a wrap at China’s winter wonderland

Tiffiny Turner, Sleepy Hollow, IL — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 23:53:31 GMT

I was in Harbin this last summer. It has many interesting sights. The Siberian Tiger Park had to be one of our favorites. My 8 yr old got to feed a tiger and we got to hold a baby tiger. Also, China's first movie theater is in Harbin - they have to have something to do when it's that cold. When we were there the sun rose at 3:30am and by 4am people were out in the parks biking and roller blading. All in all a very neat city!

Brr! It’s a wrap at China’s winter wonderland

marc los angeles, ca — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 00:22:19 GMT

looks like it would only be possible through slave labor or extortion

Brr! It’s a wrap at China’s winter wonderland

Wed, 14 Jan 2009 00:56:44 GMT

Don't get me wrong, the festivals really nice. However, you might not be able to enjoy it so much when you're near frozen. And I mean LITERALLY frozen.

Brr! It’s a wrap at China’s winter wonderland

Alexia Joiner St Joseph, MO — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 01:13:42 GMT

Alaska, South Dakota, Minnesota or Missouri......I've been to all 4 states and trust me they're all the same in the winter....Cold!! The worst has to be Missouri where the weather is sooo unpredictable......Regardless I'd love to see ice sculptures in the U.S.....

Brr! It’s a wrap at China’s winter wonderland

KK, Wakefield NH — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 02:11:43 GMT

If all the polticians and politico factions could group us artists together we could solve some of this hostility in beauty and ,maybe they would try harderfor all common man. Really not BS

Brr! It’s a wrap at China’s winter wonderland

KK, Wakefield NH — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 02:13:08 GMT

If all the polticians and politico factions could group us artists together we could solve some of this hostility in beauty and ,maybe they would try harderfor all common man. Really not BS

Brr! It’s a wrap at China’s winter wonderland

Alex Moran — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 02:34:56 GMT

Harbin's hardly exotic travel. Just book a cheap international flight to China and get online with ctrip or elong to book a cheap domestic flight within China. The Chinese love their long underwear!!! I wish the article had listed the other major festivals. I went to one in Breckinridge about 8 years ago that was impressive. Cold is relative, right now it's 65F and dry and I don't want to go outside because it feels freezing compared to the 80 and humid I'm used to! And I come from a ski town where 65 is considered a balmy summer day!

Brr! It’s a wrap at China’s winter wonderland

Tash — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 07:55:40 GMT

You can get there by Continental Airway to Beijing (or Air Canada). You can also book a trip from Beijing to Harbin from here through Cheapoair.com (it really is the cheapest as everywhere else in NA is more expensive at least a $100 or more ). If you try to buy your ticket in China then you will be robbed blind there.

Brr! It’s a wrap at China’s winter wonderland

David Mishiwiec, San Diego, CA — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 08:48:34 GMT

-4 F! It was 87 at my house today. My wife and I have decided that its too cold for us. We'll check out the images on the Internet and leave it at that.

Brr! It’s a wrap at China’s winter wonderland

Hans J. Schneider, Miami, Florida, and now teaching in China — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 11:32:45 GMT

I teach in China, and just went for a week long visit to the Ice and Snow Festival in Harbin, and it is nothing short of spectacular. You are welcome to read my two-part Travelblog and photos on Harbin at: www.mytb.org/Hans Entries #110 and #111.
My journey took me on a train-ride from Taizhou,Jiansu through Beijing and on the Harbin, some 1,500 miles. It was bitter cold but worth it. I come from Florida, and though I will never regret the experience, one visit is enough. It was beyond cold.

Brr! It’s a wrap at China’s winter wonderland

Scott Gates, Shenyang, China — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 12:38:37 GMT

you can take the D train from Beijing and it goes through Shenyang a city of 8 million in Liaoning Province, it also has a ice and snow festival but not as nice as Harbin. Then get back on the D train and head to Harbin it is a wonderful place to spend a few days.

Brr! It’s a wrap at China’s winter wonderland

Bob Hoffman, Royal Center, In. — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 12:38:41 GMT

Message for Brent Fry which he posted Jan13,09 at11:08am.
To travel to anywhere in China is very easy.
Purchase a round trip ticket to wherever you want to go and send it to a Visa company which can, for a fee of course, have a Visa for you in a day or so and you can be on your way.
I acquire my Visas from a company in Miami Fl.
I have been to China three times since June 2006.
It is a trip you will never forget.

Brr! It’s a wrap at China’s winter wonderland

Michelle Shanghai, PRChina — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 14:03:09 GMT

I have been there - you need to get passage to Shanghai...once in Shanghai, book passage to Harbin...excellent place to hang out - this article doesn't even tell you about the guys that SWIM (yes, swim) year round. Every morning, they break the thin ice that has formed over their pool hole and go for a swim...I loved going there and watching that everyday!

Brr! It’s a wrap at China’s winter wonderland

Lou Zandstra Byron Center , MI — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 16:10:47 GMT

My son Matthew & family live in S.China Guangzhou and just returned from a trip to Harbin. They said it was cold but very beautiful and the kids loved seeing and playing in snow something they miss @ Michigan.