Harbin & the Northeast: 5 Days of Ice and Snow

For a few months each winter, Harbin turns into something out of a Russian fairytale. The city's Ice and Snow World is the largest ice festival on earth, and its onion-domed Saint Sophia Cathedral looks like a piece of Moscow dropped into northeast China.

This is a short, sharp winter trip built around one showstopper — the ice festival — with the rest of the time spent on Harbin's distinctive architecture, its steaming winter street food and the surreal experience of being outside at minus 20°C.

What to know before you go

• The festival runs roughly December to late February; check dates before booking.
• Temperatures routinely hit minus 20°C — layers and heat packs are essential.
• The city comes alive after dark, when the ice is lit up.

Five days is the right length: enough to see everything without the cold wearing you down.