Shanghaied Family: Harbin Ice Festival

Getting up and out on day 2 was a little difficult. The rooms were so hot the girls did not want to put on layers of warm clothes, so there was much protesting to get them out of the room. Also hard to wake up from that hot, heavy kind of sleep. We barely made it to breakfast before it closed at 9. We did pass all the officials on the way. The hotel was bustling. The restaurant was in an older part of the hotel that a bell boy had to guide us to. Down halls, through foyers, out into rock gardens with dried up fountains, more halls and then the dining room. Adventures at every turn!

We walked to the river which was behind our hotel and found we were right at the cable car entrance to cross over to the other side. A gentleman was trying to warn us of the expense of the cable car and kept telling us to walk across. After 15 minutes outside we were already pretty cold, so opted for the ride across. A little scary swaying over a frozen river! The girls in the cable car as we leave the building.

Frosty views of the river below. I gave up on picture taking here as the windows were so frosted and the mist really prevented capturing much of anything. There was a lot of activity on the river, though. Right below us we saw men digging through the ice for ice fishing (no warming huts around here) and there were all kinds of ice sports happening further down the river. We saw horse drawn carriages crossing the river. We decided then it would be our transport back.

On the other side there was a beautiful boulevard heading to the snow festival. Couldn't pass us this summer sign.

The Polar Express train was the first thing that greeted us.

I am trying to capture the incredible detail on the sculpture.

I am just going to inundate with photos now. The sculptures were gorgeous, and I tried to take pictures of as many as possible. My iphone needs my bare finger to press the button for the photo, so I had to slow down eventually as my hand was literally freezing being out of my glove.

Paige's year - the year of the Ox, beginning on January 26, Chinese New Year.

The detail on these is outrageous. Hope you can glimpse it.

Massive snow sculpture. They have inner tubes to rent to slide down. We went into a warming hut for tea and hot chocolate and $20 later (outrageous price for China!) we emerged a little warmer and ready for a slide.

You could go in a circle being pulled by dogs for a pretty penny. Declined this one as we have had the experience in Idaho.

Heading up to the tube slide.

The 4 of us went as one, laughing and screaming the whole way!

Lots of sculptures were still in the midst of being carved. Fun to watch - for just a minute!

A real reindeer. He may have been the one who made it to Yangshuo this year!

This worker was sweeping the sculpture, making sure the snow looked good. When we first arrived on the boulevard, the girls were so excited to see all the snow they were walking in it and trying to pick it up. We were immediately yelled at as a worker came running over, sweeping away the "mess" they had made in the snow. Neat and tidy around here.

Here we are, at our carriage for the river crossing. We were being hurded to another sled, but Paige insisted on going in the old fashioned carriage. It was fun.

A peak at the driver in between Storey and Ridley.

Our exit on the other side of the river.

Would have been fun to try on a warmer day - bumper bikes!

Ice skating, ice slides in the background.

In the middle of all the ice festivities and games and man was gutting a pig. I am not sure if these were buyers of meat, but it seemed to garner quite a gathering. A quick shot from me - the others ran quickly in the opposite direction!