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!
A new kind of ice skating for us. Sitting on a chair, on skis, poling yourself along.
Finally a warm restaurant, Bi Feng Tang, a chain we know of from Shanghai. Great food and fun atmosphere.
After getting warmed and fed we headed off to see St. Sophia, the famous, must see Russian Orthodox church of Harbin.
Seems to need a little interior repair.
Hard to see, but straight up next to the chandelier was a Mickey Mouse balloon.
We were unexpectedly treated to a concert in the church. 
We headed home to get warm and relax before our evening excursion to Zhaolin Park with the Disney ice festival.
Familiar faces greeting us.
All the known Disney characters appeared in one form or another.
Lots of big block ice buildings with interior lights bringing the magic alive. Storey was having a bit of trouble staying on her feet! Quite a few tumbles on the slippery ice floor.
Paige braved the sloped ice floor in this fun house.
There were huge blocks of ice lined up in several rows. Most had been carved, some were still waiting to have their inner beauty revealed. It looked like they were all from contestants from different countries. All the ice blocks were the same size. Here are some of the wonders that were revealed inside the ice. It was the detail that was mind boggling in these sculptures. And the twisting and ins and outs.
I had to get a detail of the incredible earrings. How do they do this?
This was a favorite of Paige's from Denmark entitled: "Plugged In"
Can you see the bubbles? These artists are genius.
One of our personal favorites. A father leading his children up the path of books - learning.
This one from China. Most were from Finland, Norway and Russia.
This is really all ice - from one chunk!
We were in a bit of a line, so Storey and Ridley finally left so Storey could ride a Dumbo-like ride. The girls had ridden a very tame version of a roller coaster earlier. Paige and I braved out the line and had a fun slide.
Our farewell from the princesses. We were done at this point, no matter what we missed! An hour and a half was almost intolerable. The temperatures were hovering around -10 or more. Off to find a warm dinner and home. We are pretty happy about that hot room that awaits us now!
