the ice festival experience in Harbin 2011

I have just attended the ice festival in Haerbin. My advice would be to go in the evening, unless you want to photograph the ice exhibits in natural daylight. For example, if you go into the ice sculture and competition pavilion in Zhaolin Park before 4.30pm as we did. there is no internal lighting and none of the sculptures are lit. The attendants do not speak English, so unless your Mandarin is good it will take you some time to ask about illumination. I found them most unhelpful. There is no sign stating anywhere the time when the lights are on. They did offer to turn on the lights early for 20 rmb. So go in the early evening and pay just over half the normal admission fee. Also be ruthless with the photogapher touts near the entrance. They are a damn nuisance and get in your way when you try and take your own photographs. Remember that the temperatures vary every day and it was - 13 C when I attended but can be much colder. I was well-wrapped-up but you camera will freeze unless you have a hot-bag in your camera case - not to mention your numb fingers.