This children’s article, A kids’ guide to the Harbin Ice Festival in China, has been written for native English speakers and learners of English as a second or foreign language. It can help children practise reading and comprehension, learn useful vocabulary, and explore one of the world’s most spectacular winter events. Written by Sinead O’Carroll, an experienced teacher and writer.
What is the Harbin Ice Festival?
The Harbin Ice and Snow Festival is the largest ice and snow festival in the world. It takes place every winter in Harbin, a city in northeast China. Visitors can explore whole castles, palaces, and sculptures made from blocks of ice.
At night, colourful lights make the icy creations glow like something from a fairytale.
How it all began
The festival started in 1963 as a small local event. Over the years, it has grown into a huge international celebration. Today, artists from all over the world come to Harbin to show off their skills in carving giant ice and snow sculptures.
What can you see and do at the Harbin Ice Festival?
The festival is like a frozen theme park. There are enormous ice buildings taller than houses, glittering ice slides you can whizz down, and snow sculptures of animals, dragons, or famous landmarks.
Some sculptures are so big that people can walk inside them. Visitors can also enjoy ice skating, sledging, and even swimming in icy water – if they are brave enough!
Why is Harbin perfect for ice art?
Harbin has extremely cold winters, with temperatures that can drop to –30°C. The nearby Songhua River provides huge blocks of crystal-clear ice for the artists. These frozen conditions make the city the perfect place to host such a magical winter festival.
A festival for the world
Every year, millions of visitors travel to Harbin for the festival. It is not just about the ice and snow, but also about sharing Chinese culture, food, and traditions. For both children and adults, it is an unforgettable winter adventure.
If you want to discover even more, take a look at the Harbin Ice Festival website.
Article vocabulary list
- Festival – a special event often with celebrations, food, and fun
- Sculptures – shapes or figures made by carving or building materials like ice or stone
- Fairytale – a magical story, often with castles and lights
- Carving – cutting into something to create a shape or design
- Landmarks – famous or important places that people recognise
- Temperatures – how hot or cold the air is
- Crystal-clear – very clean and see-through
- Traditions – customs or ways of doing things passed down in families or cultures
Comprehension questions
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1. Where does the Harbin Ice and Snow Festival take place?
a) Beijing
b) Harbin
c) Shanghai
Answer: b) Harbin
2. When did the Harbin Ice Festival first begin?
a) 1850
b) 1963
c) 2005
Answer: b) 1963
3. What makes the ice glow at night?
a) Coloured paint
b) Candles inside the ice
c) Colourful light.
Answer: c) Colourful lights
4. Why is Harbin a good place for the ice festival?
a) It has very hot summers
b) It has very cold winters and lots of clear ice
c) It is close to the deserts
Answer: b) It has very cold winters and lots of clear ice
5. What else can visitors do at the festival besides looking at sculptures?
a) Ice skating, sledging, and swimming in icy water
b) Sunbathing and swimming in the sea
c) Hiking in the mountains
Answer: a) Ice skating, sledging, and swimming in icy water
Sinead is a writer and EFL teacher with eight years’ experience. She’s a native English speaker who loves making news stories fun and easy to understand for children around the world. Her passions include travel, animals, and helping to make the world a kinder, more sustainable place.
