Harbin Weather in January, Best Things to Do & Useful Tips

Harbin International Ice and Snow Festival is the highlight of your tour in Harbin if you come here in January. It is also the must-do activity for tourists to Harbin. This festival will be opened in early January and will last for about 2 months and even more days. (Actually, the relevant celebrations had started since December of the former year.) During this festival, you will feast your eyes on the arts of ice and snow. You will see enormous ice sculptures in Harbin’s Ice and Snow World and Stalin Park, huge and delicate snow sculptures in Sun Island, and Ice Lantern Show in Zhaolin Park. Apart from appreciating ice and snow artworks, you will be gifted with the opportunity to witness different kinds of sport games such as winter swimming, Hockey, Snow Football, Skiing, ice sculptures, skating, etc.

If you go to China Snow Town in January, you must be fascinated by the charm of northeastern China. China Snow Town, the no.1 snow town in China, is the best place to appreciate a paradise-like world with very beautiful snowscape. Located at the Shuangfeng Forest in Hailin County of Heilongjiang Province, China Snow Town is about 280 km away from Harbin. The snow here can up to about 2 meters. Snow looks like milk scream and hangs from the eaves to the ground, forming a unique scene of "snow curtains". You also can take part in lots of winter activities. Here, it can satisfy your imagination and desire about snow.

Furthermore, there is a popular ski resort for you to explore. Yabuli Ski Resort, about 220 km away from Harbin, is famous for its longest ski trail in Asia. It is one of the most popular ski resorts in China and full of professional equipment and multiple items to provide a wonderful skiing experience for ski enthusiasts in winter.

Other Useful Links

>>Harbin to China Snow Town
>>5 Days Charming Harbin & China Snow Town Winter Tour
>>5 Days Harbin Winter Tour with Yabuli Ski Resort

As we have seen before, January is the coldest month in a year with temperature ranges from -24℃ (-11.2℉) to 0℃ (30℉). Actually, the indoor temperature in Harbin is about 18℃ (64.4℉). What we mentioned above is just the outdoor temperature. Therefore, you should keep yourself warm from such a cold weather when you have any outdoor activities.

◆Clothes: The temperature difference between day and night is great, so you need to dress right for the temperature. You need to wear thermal underwear which is soft, loose and breathable. Then you wear sweater, fleece series and waterproof jacket. If you don’t have waterproof jacket, you could also wear water-/wind-/cold-proof down jacket.

◆Shoes: The cold stars from your feet. So you need to wear cold-proof shoes with thick sole. The top choice is a pair of hiking boots. It would be better for you to wear water-proof shoes in case of snow water soaking your socks. You can also wear the gaiters over your shoes.

◆Glove: It is advised to wear cotton or fleece gloves with five fingers, so that you could play or work flexibly.

◆Cap: It is advised to wear wool cap which can keep your ears warm. You can also wear overcoat with cap.

In addition, you should also wear mask and wind-proof scarf. All in all, just wear as warm as you can, and wear multiple layers, so you can take them off as you heat up.

1. Keep yourself warm while touring in Harbin in January. When you have some outdoor activities, keep your camera, telephone and other electronic equipment warm to work with battery. You can also take several batteries to keep your camera working.

2. It is advised to bring backpack rather than rod box considering your convenience.

3. You need to bring moisturizer and any other skincare products to stay your face and hands hydrating, as it is dry and cold in winter. A lip balm will also be needed for you. It is advised to eat more fruits and drink more water to prevent yourself from the dry weather.

4. As the cuisine in Harbin may be salty for you if you always eat some light food, so you can ask for adjustment before ordering food.

5. As the temperature difference between indoor and outdoor is great, you need to wear right according to the temperature.

6. While you have some winter activities with a little risk like skiing, etc, you should listen to your coach and keep yourself safe.

7. If you accidentally have some frostbite, remember not to warm it with hot water but ask help from doctors.

8. Bring sunglasses in case of snow blindness.

Other Useful Links
>>3 Days Classic Harbin Winter Tour
>>3 Days Harbin Ice Festival Tour

Usually, most travellers spend about 2 to 4 days when touring in Harbin, covering 2 days catching highlights of downtown area of Harbin city and 1 to 2 days exploring the hot destinations around Harbin city. In Harbin’s downtown area, you could enjoy those delicate masterpiece of artists, such as ice lantern show in Zhaolin Park, Ice and Snow World, Sun Island Scenic Resort, etc. You can also appreciate St. Sophia Cathedral, Zhongyang Pedestrian Street, and Laodaowai Baroque Styled Architectures, etc. After visiting downtown area of Harbin, travellers can spend one full day to the Yabuli Ski Resort, a ski resort that is about 220 km away from Harbin, to experience the most professional skiing. Otherwise, they will spend one full day to the China Snow Town, the no.1 snow town in China that is about 280 km away from Harbin, to see the paradise-like snowscape. Some travellers may combine the trip in Harbin downtown area with these two destinations.
>>5 Days Harbin Winter Tour with Yabuli Ski Resort
>>5 Days Charming Harbin & China Snow Town Winter Tour

Furthermore, some tourists may also take 4 days to combine their trip in Harbin with Tianjin, or take 6 days traveling both Beijing and Harbin. Others may choose to explore the winter of northeast China with 8 days, covering Harbin, Jilin, Changchun, Shenyang and Dalian.
  >>4 Days Harbin Fantastic Winter Tour from Tianjin Cruise Port
>>6 Days Beijing & Harbin Stunning Winter Tour by Flight
>>8 Days Northeast China Tour with Harbin Ice & Snow Festival