Blog 17 – China’s frozen paradise

My first friend from Dallas Texas, Ernest Kwan married a girl from China about 5 years ago.  She is from Harbin and they first introduced the idea of a vacation to this crazy spot. 

Harbin is near Russia and bitterly cold in the winter.  It is known for the Russian influence and actually has a higher concentration of Christians in that region for that reason. 

It is a big place (>10mm people), but just about every place in China is.  It isn’t a tier 1 city (there are only four – Beijing, Shanghai, Shenzhen, and Guangzhou), but is probably considered a tier 2. 

For 2 months each year this city hosts the most amazing ice and snow festival in the world.  We didn’t know it at first, but the US mega hotels (like the Gaylord in Dallas) actually contracts Harbin artists to build the sculptures in ice houses… 

We told Jacob that this would be the best, worst experience of his life.  It would be bitterly cold and miserable outside, but you would be seeing sites that no-one else gets to see.  That turned out to be a pretty good description. 

We were outside all day… From 9am to 8pm.  We did occasionally take some time to warm up and the frequency increased as the day wore on.  We started at the Wanda ski center (largest in the world).  It was fun and worthwhile, but not great.  And, then we ended with the snow and ice festival. 

It was ridiculous outside.  Temperatures dropped into the -35C (-25F) range without wind chill.  If you had exposed skin, you would feel it immediately, and quite frankly, it would be dangerous.  It was really hard to get pictures…. I used my nose to navigate between selfie and normal.  And, I left the camera on the entire time so I didn’t need bare skin to start the phone.  By the way, the gloves with special iPhone strips don’t work worth a darn. 

This place was huge; probably 7-8 different areas.  It was a nice blend between stuff to see and stuff to do.  Kids had a lot of fun and enjoyed both.  The pictures are good, but as you would expect, don’t really do it full justice. 

On day two we experienced a Chinese Jurassic park for Siberian tigers.  Dude.  This place was redonkulous.  You get loaded into a bus built like an armored tank and then ride through a look at the tigers… Then for real fun, you buy live animals to feed to the tigers; we only saw chicken (10 usd), but you could also buy a cow for 200 usd.  I will let the videos do the talking. 

For a two day trip, this was great.  If we (ok, Amanda) hadn’t prepared appropriately, we would have died… But, with the proper winter wear, it was a lot of fun. 

Here are a few snipits that the kid’s remembered:  Ice slides, Siberian tigers, Walking on a frozen lake, Powdery snow, Cell phones dying in 3 minutes, Crispy outer ware, Taxi cab with plush red furry seats, Sleeping on air mattresses, Not feeling our toes, Indoor snow skiing, Big wheels and tricycles on ice, Tigers fighting for strips of chicken, Live chickens… not for long.

Picture 1 - First look:  There was a lot of anticipation for Harbin... years of build-up.  But, honestly, it didn't disappoint.  We arrived at night, so that definitely helps, but the ice and light displace is just amazing.

Picture 2 - Bitter Cold:  We were prepared, but it was really really cold.  We bundled up and didn't feel much until later that evening, but our snow suits crinkled like we were wrapped in Christmas paper.   They say the cold only kills the drunks... they go out to pee, pass out, and never wake up.  I will also tell you that cell phone batteries will only last 45 seconds in this type of weather.

Picture 3 - Snow Skiing:  We didn't realize this until week before, but Harbin hosts the worlds largest indoor snow ski facility.  Jacob and I skied while the girls went sledding.  It was a lot of fun and Jacob hasn't forgotten how to do it.

Picture 4 - Ice Everything:  Thought Grandpa's would like the pictures of the granddaughters shooting ice rifles.  And yes... that is in degrees F prior to a wind chill adjustment and while the sun is shining.

Picture 5 - The Ice Village is awe-inspiring:  It is difficult to find words for this one.  It is just incredible.  Art that lasts only one season takes a love of love.

Picture 6 - Getting colder now:  By this point in the day, we have been outside around 8hrs... It was beginning to show.  The ice around our mouths was collecting and we were running low on energy.  The park is split 80/20 between ice and snow.  Its all great.

Picture 7 - We needed a break:  We were done.  Ready to go home, ready to warm up, and really tired from all of the walking.  This respite provided a cool diversion from the pain in our fingers and toes.

Picture 8 - More cold cool:  It just goes on and on and on.  Amazing.

Picture 9 - Mini-Breaks:  the park is split nicely between things to look at and things to do.  Kids loved the slides and the big wheels on ice, and the tricycle races...

Picture 10 - Frozen stuff on a stick?  Go figure.

Picture 11 - Getting crazy now:  The middle temperature reflect Fahrenheit and the right Celsius.  Notice Amanda's eyelashes; frosty white.

Picture 12 - A lovely little family park:  If your family likes the forced massacre of innocent chickens, feeding strips of raw meet to tigers, and Jurassic park style buses.

Picture 13 - Enormous:  These animals are unbelievably big.  Probably because they are fed too much and also because of genetics.

Picture 14 - not my proudest moment:  I am sure years of counselling will be required to repair the kids from these experiences, but for now the just loved it.  Feeding a tiger a live chicken tests the ethical framework by which you live.