Sun Island International Snow Sculpture Art Expo Travel Guide in Harbin China

Hello, I’m Michael Zhang, a China-based travel writer with extensive international travel experience. Over the years, I’ve explored destinations around the world while also documenting China’s cities through the lens of history, culture, and real on-the-ground travel experiences. Rather than rushing through photo checklists, I focus on a simple question: why a place is worth visiting, and whether it truly deserves your time. This guide to the Sun Island International Snow Sculpture Art Expo comes from my long-term observation of winter travel in Harbin and multiple on-site visits. It aims to help you understand this snow-focused northern art festival beyond the crowds, and decide if it fits your travel style.

Introduction to the Sun Island Snow Sculpture Art Expo

The Sun Island Snow Sculpture Art Expo, officially known as the Sun Island International Snow Sculpture Art Expo, is one of China’s most iconic winter snow sculpture events and a core part of Harbin’s ice and snow culture. Unlike the Harbin Ice and Snow World, which is famous for ice architecture and nighttime lighting, this expo uses snow as its only material. It emphasizes scale, form, and artistic expression, offering a more natural, minimalist, and art-focused experience.

Founded in 1988, the expo takes place inside Sun Island Scenic Area and usually runs from late December to late February. Each edition follows a specific theme. The 38th edition in 2026 carries the theme “Poetry and Painting in a World of Ice and Snow,” presenting over 260 large-scale snow sculptures carved from approximately 120,000 cubic meters of snow across a 1.5-million-square-meter park.

• Address: Sun Island Scenic Area, No. 3 Sun Avenue, Songbei District, Harbin (Apple Maps/Amap)
• 38th Edition Opening Dates: December 31, 2025 to late February 2026 (closing date is weather-dependent); open daily from 9:00 to 17:00, ticket sales stop at 16:00, entry ends at 16:30
• Recommended Visit Duration: 3–4 hours
• Best Season to Visit: Winter
• Ticket Price: 198 CNY
• Ticket Purchase: Trip.com Discounts

Sun Island Snow Sculpture Art Expo Map

Why You Should Visit the Sun Island Snow Sculpture Art Expo

World-Class Snow Sculpture Scale

The Sun Island Snow Sculpture Art Expo centers entirely on snow sculpture, not simple snow piles but monumental works created by professional artists from China and abroad. These sculptures feature massive forms and smooth lines, forming what feels like a vast outdoor gallery of white sculptures. Under natural daylight, the details and shadows appear especially striking and remain visually engaging for longer viewing. If you consider Harbin Ice and Snow World a must-see attraction, this expo works best as the most worthwhile second stop.

Suitable for All Age Groups

The walking routes across the expo stay gentle and safe, and many areas allow children to observe snow sculpture details up close. For families traveling with seniors or young children, the overall experience feels more comfortable than high-intensity ice attractions.

Sun Island Snow Sculpture Art Expo vs. Harbin Ice and Snow World: Which Is More Worth Visiting?

Most visitors prioritize the Harbin Ice and Snow World, while the Sun Island Snow Sculpture Art Expo often serves as a complementary attraction. From a stylistic perspective, the two are completely different. Harbin Ice and Snow World focuses on ice architecture and thrill-based activities, but long lines are common. In contrast, the Sun Island Snow Sculpture Art Expo highlights snow sculpture art and encourages slow exploration and photography, with far fewer crowds. If waiting in lines matters to you, Sun Island is often the better choice. In addition, tickets here cost about 100 CNY less than those for Harbin Ice and Snow World.

Top Things to Do at the Sun Island Snow Sculpture Art Expo

Main Attractions

Snow Sculpture Art

The core highlight of the Sun Island Snow Sculpture Art Expo is its large-scale, well-organized collection of snow sculptures. These are not simple decorative displays. Professional snow sculptors carve them from massive blocks of natural snow, combining structural planning with fine detailing. Unlike ice sculptures, which focus on transparency and lighting, snow sculptures emphasize volume, clean lines, and overall composition. Under natural daylight, surface layers, shadows, and carving details become especially clear, creating an experience closer to an open-air “white sculpture museum.”

Panda Hall

The Panda Hall is one of the most popular stops inside the Sun Island Snow Sculpture Art Expo, especially for families traveling with children. Visitors must first purchase a Sun Island Snow Sculpture Art Expo ticket. After entering the park, you can reserve a same-day visit to the Panda Hall by scanning the on-site QR code.

• Ticket: Free, already included in the Sun Island Snow Sculpture Art Expo ticket
• Opening Hours: Daily from 09:00 to 16:30, last entry at 16:30

Benxiong Amusement Park

Benxiong Amusement Park focuses on light entertainment and family-friendly experiences, making it ideal for visitors with children. The area features safe and easy snow-based rides, including a carousel, spinning snow rides, and a small roller coaster designed for kids. While the rides are not intense, they are highly engaging, and most attractions are free. This allows children to enjoy outdoor snow play in a relaxed and playful setting.

Sun Island Snow Sculpture Art Expo Ticket Guide

Ticket Prices

• Adults: 198 CNY
• Children: 128 CNY, for children aged 6 to 18
• Free Admission: Children under 1.2 meters in height or under 6 years old, and seniors aged 65 and above

Where to Buy Tickets

• Online: Official WeChat account or third-party booking platforms
  • Ticket Purchase: Trip.com Discounts
• On-site: Ticket counters at the entrance

Recommended Food Near the Sun Island Snow Sculpture Art Expo

There are several dining options inside the expo, but they mainly offer simple meals. You will find snacks, coffee shops, drink stands, and burger outlets. For a quick meal, eating inside the park is convenient, and prices are not significantly higher than outside. However, if you prefer a proper sit-down meal, it’s better to head to Central Street, where dining choices are far more diverse.

Recommended Hotels Near the Sun Island Snow Sculpture Art Expo

It’s best to stay near Shanghai Street Metro Station or Gonglu Bridge Metro Station. Compared with the area around Museum Metro Station, these locations sit closer to both Harbin Ice and Snow World and Sun Island, while still offering easy access to Central Street. Since hotels near Harbin Ice and Snow World are limited, most travelers stay in this area and commute by metro or taxi. In addition, this area lies closer to the Songhua River, offering beautiful riverside views. As a result, you’ll also find a wide selection of mid-range and upscale hotels, making it a strong choice if you prefer higher-end accommodation.

Seine House Harbin

• Location: 2 minutes walk from Friendship Palace Metro Station
• Price Range: 305 RMB
• Check Rates:Trip.com Specials, Compare on Klook
• Rating: 4.7 on Trip
• Special Amenities: Gym, laundry room, family rooms, quad rooms

Excellently located, the hotel is a short walk from the subway and just three blocks from the vibrant Red Brick Street Morning Market, offering great convenience.

Rooms are spacious and well-maintained, with a rich breakfast selection available.

Harbin DeRUCCI Hotelsl (Harbin Central Street St. Sophia Cathedral Branch)

• Location: 2 minutes walk from Shanghai Street Metro Station
• Price Range: 339 RMB
• Check Rates:Trip.com Specials
• Rating: 4.8 on Trip
• Special Amenities: Gym, laundry room, robot delivery service, family rooms

Ideally situated with Metro Line 3 right at the doorstep, the hotel offers easy access to shopping and sightseeing. Behind it lies the Songhua River, from where you can see the ferris wheel at Ice and Snow World and enjoy river sunsets.

Spacious and comfortable rooms with well-maintained hygiene and facilities that perfectly meet guests’ expectations. The hotel thoughtfully provides differently colored slippers and toothbrushes for double rooms, and offers a goodnight milk service at the front desk.

Harbin Central Street Habsburg Hotel (Sofia Church)

• Location: 2 minutes walk from Friendship Palace Metro Station
• Price Range: 369 RMB
• Check Rates:Trip.com Specials
• Rating: 4.8 on Trip
• Special Amenities: Gym, laundry room, children’s play area, quad rooms

The hotel’s prime location just across from the subway station and a 5-minute walk to Central Street allows for spectacular views of the ferris wheel across at Ice and Snow World.

Large, exceptionally clean rooms with comprehensive amenities and a diverse breakfast selection. Additionally, the hotel offers stunning nighttime views of the Songhua River from the rooms.

How to Get to the Sun Island Snow Sculpture Art Expo from Downtown Harbin

Taking the metro is the most convenient option. Line 2 runs directly to the area, and station exits are very close to the attraction. Buses are not recommended, as the drop-off points are relatively far from the entrance.

Metro

From downtown Harbin, take Metro Line 2 directly to Sun Island Station. Exit from Exit 2 or Exit 3, then walk for about 7 to 8 minutes to reach the Snow Sculpture Art Expo entrance.

Taxi / Ride-Hailing

The Sun Island Snow Sculpture Art Expo is not far from the city center. A direct taxi ride usually takes less than 20 minutes, with fares around 15 CNY.

FAQ