The Ice and Snow Festival

A cultural, shopping and eating tour to China

Join the trip of a lifetime with CEE to Harbin, an ice fantasy-land to experience the world famous International Ice Lantern Festival where thousands of ice sculptures, Illuminated ice pagodas, bridges, lanterns and palaces turn the city into a shining crystal palace and the world's largest man-made wintry garden.

Immerse yourself in the rich culture of the warm, friendly and hospitable local people and treat yourself with northeast favorite Hot Pot feast, dumpling feast and the Manchuria farmers' special natural food feast!

Activities include iceboat sailing; observing winter swimming and attending a local couple's wedding ceremony on ice.

You will then enjoy three days exploring Beijing to visit the Tiananmen Square, the Forbidden City (home of Chinese Emperors for more than 500 years), the Temple of Heaven, the Great Wall and much more.

What's Included:

• Roundtrip international air from New York to Beijing, Beijing/New York
• Air and land transportation within China
• Services of an English-speaking tour manager
• 4 star hotel accommodations
• Admissions and cultural events  
• Meals according to itinerary
• Dai Ethnic dinner party  
• Local farmer’s special feast  
• Acrobatic Show
• Baggage handling for one piece of luggage per person
• Airport / hotel transfers

Tour Date(s):

• January 2-11, 2009

Tour Cost:

• $2,599 per person, double occupancy

• Single supplement: $520

Detailed Itinerary

Day one                      Leave for China

Depart New York for Beijing. Cross the International Date Line to the wonders of China. In-flight meals. 

Day Two                      Beijing

We will be met by our guide at the airport and transferred to our hotel. (China Resources Hotel, 4 star)  

Day Three                   Harbin

Today we will fly to Harbin, capital of Heilongjiang Province and home to one of China's top engineering universities. Harbin is more like a Russian city, often coined the City of Ice, Moscow in the East, or mini-Paris. Upon arrival, we will be transferred to Singapore Hotel, the best five star hotel in town (please bring your swimming suit). Sightseeing in the afternoon including Church of St. Sofia, an Orthodox church survived the Cultural Revolution and the famous Russian influenced Center Street in Daoli District. Tonight, we will enjoy a specially arranged local Hot Pot feast. (B,L,D)   

Day Four                      Harbin

Our full day excursion begins with the tour of the Song Hua River Ice and Snow World. We will attend the poetic and idyllic grand opening ceremony of the 29^th International Ice and Snow Festival. Boasting the world's largest man-made wintry garden, the Ice and Snow world covers a total area of 333,000 square meters, and features over 3,000 flamboyant sculptures, carvings and statues made of some 10,000 cubic meters of ice and 200,000 cubic meters of snow.  In the evening we will visit Zhaolin Park, the famous park for Ice Carvings. (B,L,D)   

Day Five                      Harbin

Today’s program will begin by being a guest to a world famous master artist home. The artist will demonstrate his unique painting style-Ice and Snow Painting in China. Then we will enjoy a well-known dumpling feast with Chinese people (over 20 kinds of dumplings for you to choose). This afternoon is reserved for you to shop in the local department stores and underground shopping streets (a chance to buy traditional costumes at a bargain price!).  (B,L)

Day Six                        Harbin

Today we will go with Ming to her Heilongjiang University.  We will tour the campus, visit its Russian Style Main Building then have a cup of tea at a professor's home.  Lunch today will be at the foreign guest house with Ming's classmates. In the afternoon we will visit Harbin Traditional Medical College to observe Chinese doctors practicing traditional acupuncture. We will then board an overnight express soft sleeper train for Beijing, an experience you will never forget! (B,L,D)

Day Seven                   Beijing

Tour of Beijing today includes the imposing Forbidden City, the secluded and guarded home to the Emperors of China. In front of the Forbidden City is Tiananmen Square, at 98 acres, the largest public square in the world. A visit to the 15^th century Temple of Heaven shows you where the Emperors made offerings for the harvest. Later we will visit a cloisonné factory to see local craftspeople at work. (L)

Day Eight                     Beijing

It is a thrill to walk along the Great Wall of China - a formidable construction that winds its way over hills for more than 3,000 miles. On a d full day excursion we will also visit the legendary Ming Tombs, the last resting place of 13 Emperors from the Ming Dynasty. (B,L) 

Day Nine                     Beijing

Be a Chinese citizen for a day with a visit to the famous New Year temple fair followed by a rickshaw tour of the Hutong area-an old working class Chinese settlement within Beijing. Here, workers live in a typical Chinese house with carved doors; the neighborhood is laced with canals crossed by small bridges. We will then visit a kindergarten where we invite you to give small, practical gifts to the children. We will enjoy Dai ethnic dinner party followed by the famous Chinese Acrobatic Show. (B,L,D)  

Day Ten                      Beijing/US

Our flight regains the day lost crossing the International Date Line. (B) Return home with memories to last a lifetime.

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