Not Cold Enough in Beijing? Try Harbin for a Weekend in Early 2016

Figuring out how to escape Beijing's cold is always a challenge, but if you think you aren't cold enough and want to experience what it is like to live in what is basically Siberia, even if just for a few days, you should go check out the Harbin Ice Festival, like many have done before.
 

Realistically, you only need one evening to visit the ice festival grounds itself, and most other sights (for example the Sofia Church pictured below) can be seen in an extra day and a half. This makes it the perfect winter trip (especially if you get lucky with the weather), unless you want to explore Heilongjiang Province further or want to go skiing in the region, in which case visiting for a week is more appropriate.
 

The world-renowned ice festival runs between different dates every winter, making international headlines around the world. This year's dates for the festival are January 5 to February 25 2016, and here is the official ice festival website for more information. Why not take the high-speed train and pay using WeChat wallet?

If you're looking for somewhere else to go, there are plenty of escapes from Beijing, and not all of them are this cold.

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Photo: Margaux Schreurs