Xin Yu Tan, 19, from Malaysia, managed to see some of the city’s best attractions in the freezing temperatures of Harbin, China’s coldest city, which is home to the world-famous ice festival
Xin Yu Tan, a 19-year-old from Malaysia, had the adventure of a lifetime documenting her journey to Harbin, known as China’s coldest city and the site of the renowned ice festival.
Battling temperatures dipping to a chilling -20C, Xin made sure she stayed bundled up while exploring some of Harbin’s most captivating sights. She immersed herself fully into the festivities, marvelling at gigantic ice sculptures, trying her hand at ice biking, and hitting the slopes for some skiing.
Adding an enchanting touch to her winter escapade were encounters with both reindeer and huskies. When it came to local delicacies, Xin seemed particularly enamoured with the popular Tanghulus (candied fruit) and an innovative egg burger found in the city’s market.
Reflecting on her visit, Xin shared: “The main purpose was to visit the festival; I wanted to experience a theme park entirely made out of ice. It’s such a rare and fascinating concept that I couldn’t miss the chance to see it in person.”
“A favourite moment was enjoying freshly made Tanghulus (candied fruit) and hot drinks provided by our hotel. We also visited their morning market at 6 am, and the food was delicious, especially this egg burger, which was just a patty between two eggs.”
“A highlight was skiing for the first time. It was a bit challenging, but so much fun, definitely something I won’t forget.
“I wore four layers on both my upper and lower body along winter cap with ear flaps to stay warm, a layer of heat tech, thick sweater, vest, coat. Plus, I brought two of three sticks of horse oil (it’s like a sunscreen stick) for my skin to prevent it from cracking due to the cold.”
