11-Day Harbin Ice Festival Tour

🌟 Day 5: Luoyang Start your morning with a peaceful walk through Xiyuan Park, where you can watch locals join daily community activities from tai chi to group dance. Next, head to the world-famous Shaolin Monastery, the birthplace of Chinese kung fu, for a guided tour of the historic temple grounds. Catch a dynamic, unforgettable martial arts performance by Shaolin monks before sitting down to a dinner of authentic Luoyang cuisine at a local restaurant. 🍽️ Breakfast and dinner are included today, with overnight accommodation in Luoyang 🏨.

🌟 Day 6: Luoyang to Xi'an Catch your 2nd class high-speed train west to Xi’an, the ancient starting point of the Silk Road. Once you’re settled, explore the massive, well-preserved Xi’an City Wall at your own pace—opt for a leisurely bike ride or a slow stroll along the top with panoramic views of the city. Next, wander the bustling historic Muslim Quarter, full of street food and traditional shops, before visiting the elegant Gao Family Courtyard, where you’ll enjoy a 15-minute traditional shadow puppetry performance. 🍽️ Breakfast is included, and dinner is a fun interactive experience: you’ll make your own dumplings before enjoying them with a refreshing drink. Overnight stay at your Xi’an hotel 🏨 is included.

🌟 Day 7: Xi'an Today is all about one of China’s most incredible archaeological finds: the Terracotta Army! Join a guided tour to explore the massive excavation pits, where thousands of life-sized warrior statues have stood guard for over 2000 years. You’ll also stop by a local Terracotta Warrior factory to see how craftspeople create hand-made replica statues today. After exploring, sit down to a hearty lunch of local Shaanxi cuisine at a nearby restaurant. 🍽️ Breakfast and lunch are included, with an overnight stay at your Xi’an hotel 🏨.

🌟 Day 8: Xi'an to Harbin Today you’ll fly north from Xi’an to Harbin, the frosty winter wonderland of Northeast China. After checking into your hotel and settling in, sit down to a classic local dinner featuring iconic Guo Bao Rou (Fried Pork in Scoop), a tangy, crispy local favorite made with thinly sliced pork. 🍽️ Breakfast and dinner are included today, with overnight accommodation in Harbin 🏨.

🌟 Day 9: Harbin Dive into all the icy magic Harbin has to offer today! Start at the lively Hongzhuan Local Market to experience daily local life and pick up warm winter snacks. Next, head to Sun Island Park to explore the incredible hand-carved ice and snow sculptures on display for the annual Ice and Snow Sculpture Festival. In the afternoon and evening, you’ll visit Harbin’s famous Snow and Ice World, a massive park full of towering glowing ice sculptures, where you can zoom down an icy luge and wander the frozen wonderland. 🍽️ Breakfast, lunch, and a dinner of hearty Northeastern Braised Chicken in Iron Pan are all included today. Overnight stay at your Harbin hotel 🏨 is provided.

🌟 Day 10: Harbin to Beijing Before leaving Harbin, squeeze in a few more iconic city sights! First, walk across the historic Chinese Eastern Railway Bridge, which offers stunning views of the frozen Songhua River. Next, explore the riverside Stalin Park, then stop to see the beautiful domed exterior of St. Sophia, Harbin’s iconic historic Russian Orthodox Church. End your time in Harbin with a trip to Zhaolin Park for the magical Ice Lantern Art Fair, full of intricately carved glowing ice lanterns. After your sightseeing, you’ll travel back to Beijing and check into your hotel 🏨 for the night. 🍽️ Breakfast is included today.

🌟 Day 11: Beijing Your 11-day adventure comes to a close today. We provide a seamless scheduled transfer from the train station to your hotel to wrap up your trip.

✅ What's Included

• Guided tours and entry fees for all attractions and activities listed in the itinerary
• 2nd class high-speed train transport between Beijing → Luoyang and Luoyang → Xi'an
• All meals explicitly noted in the daily itinerary, including iconic regional specialties and cultural dining experiences
• All overnight hotel accommodation across every stop of the tour
• One-way flight from Xi'an to Harbin, plus all scheduled transfer services
• All cultural performances (acrobatics, Shaolin martial arts, shadow puppetry) as outlined

❌ What's Not Included

• There are no excluded core tour experiences; all activities, transport, and included experiences outlined in this itinerary are covered in your booking price (no hidden fees)

ℹ️ Important Information

• Duration: 11 days
• Destinations: Beijing, Harbin, Luoyang, Xi'an
• Free Travel Guide: https://hellochinatrip.com/china-travel-guide-2025/

My consultant Sunny from HelloChinaTrip helped me adjust a small dietary request in my itinerary before I left, and everything went off without a hitch. The mix of historic sites in Beijing, Luoyang, and Xi’an paired with the showstopping Harbin Ice Festival made this trip feel perfectly varied, never rushed. I loved getting to try local street food in every city, from crispy Beijing duck to Harbin’s tangy sugar-coated hawthorn skewers. All the transportation between cities was seamless, and our local guides at each stop were incredibly knowledgeable.

If you’re on the fence about booking this tour, don’t hesitate—book it right now!

Luoyang’s Longmen Grottoes were an unexpected highlight for me, I didn’t realize how breathtaking they would be in person. The Harbin Ice Festival was everything I dreamed of, and the cold was totally manageable with the layers the tour team advised us to pack. This tour really shows off the best of different parts of China, from modern history to ancient wonders to one-of-a-kind winter festivals.

The itinerary was well curated and every stop was absolutely fascinating, but we visited during peak Harbin Ice Festival weekend so the crowds at the main ice park were much bigger than expected. Still, we had an incredible time exploring all four incredible destinations.

This 11-day Harbin Ice Festival tour exceeded every single one of my travel expectations!

The ice sculptures in Harbin were even more magical than any photo I’d seen online. We got perfect access to all the best viewing spots and had plenty of time to explore each city along the route. Beijing’s Forbidden City and Xi’an’s Terracotta Army were perfectly balanced with the Harbin festival highlight.