While thermometers in Harbin dip to -25°C (-13°F), the heart of China’s "ice city" is burning bright with Lunar New Year energy ❄️✨. At 5 AM, vendors at the Central Street Morning Market are already serving steaming guo bao rou (sweet-and-sour pork) to crowds wrapped like Arctic explorers. "We’ve sold 1,000 fried dough sticks since sunrise," laughs Wang Li, a third-generation stall owner, her breath visible in the frosty air.
This year’s Spring Festival has turned Harbin into a viral paradox: TikTok clips show tourists slurping hotpot while icicles form on their eyelashes 🥘❄️. The city’s ice lantern festival—featuring a 20-meter-tall dragon sculpture—has drawn over 2 million visitors since February 1.
Local officials report a 300% spike in winter sports bookings compared to 2025, with ice-slide selfies dominating WeChat moments 📈⛸️. As night falls, the market transforms into a glowstick-lit dance floor, where Uygur musicians jam with erhu players under the northern lights. Cold hands, warm hearts? In 2026’s Harbin, it’s more like frozen fingers and fiery spirits 🔥.
