Budget-Friendly: Indonesian Couple's Affordable Two-Day Harbin Ice and Snow Trip

The law of travel dictates: from cold lands to the tropics, from the tropics to cold lands. So, when I saw an inquiry email from Surat and Mella, a couple from Jakarta, Indonesia, about Harbin, China's ice and snow wonderland, I wasn't surprised.

Their dream Harbin trip was filled with the dazzling lights of the Ice and Snow World, the exquisite snow sculptures on Sun Island, and the Russian architecture they'd seen in travel magazines. They hoped to visit some less conventional spots, which are often harder to arrange than popular tourist attractions and may require extra transportation or entrance fees. The tricky part, however, was their budget.

They planned to arrive in Harbin on January 6th, the second day of the Harbin Ice and Snow Festival, when hotel and car rental prices skyrocket, yet their budget was only two-thirds that of the average tourist.

A Win-Win for Desired Attractions and Budget? It Was Achieved!

Arranging Classic and Unique Harbin Attractions

"We want to see the most beautiful snow scenery," Surat's eyes sparkled with anticipation, "but we heard the Ice and Snow World tickets are very expensive." Mella added, "We also want to go to places with fewer tourists and take some special photos." They took out their phones to show me various Harbin snow photos they had saved online, including many remote attractions like Volga Manor that required private car hire to reach.

I carefully reviewed their wish list, mentally calculating how to fulfill these expectations within their limited budget. Ice and Snow World tickets were indeed costly, and hotel accommodation would also be a significant expense. Exploring the hidden Russian-style old buildings scattered throughout the city would incur additional transportation costs.

However, travel should be unique, creating more interesting memories. Since they had come all this way, they shouldn't have regrets. I fully understood their needs, so I designed an itinerary that included Harbin's classic attractions: Saint Sophia Cathedral, Sun Island, Harbin Ice and Snow World, Central Street, Stalin Park, plus the less crowded Volga Manor.

Itinerary Set, Now to Solve the Budget!

A Budget-Friendly Harbin Trip Takes Shape

Fortunately, Surat spoke Chinese. To save on transportation costs, I suggested they fully utilize Surat's language skills and take taxis to the hotel instead of renting a car. They could also use the subway, as Harbin's subway system directly serves many attractions. For more distant places, they could use ride-sharing services. I also prepared a Chinese-Russian phrasebook for them to communicate with locals in the old town.

An itinerary that balanced budget and dreams was finalized.

The biting cold of minus 25 degrees Celsius gave the tropical visitors a frosty welcome on the Harbin morning they arrived. Through the hotel lobby's glass windows, I saw Mella wrapped in a scarf, covering her entire face, with only her eyes, bright with excitement, visible.

When they first saw Saint Sophia Cathedral, "Waduh (OMG)" escaped their lips. Although the church's brick-red exterior was common in Jakarta, growing up in Jakarta's year-round tropical climate, they had never imagined that brick-red buildings could partner with pure white snow. The church's golden dome shimmered brilliantly under the winter sun, and inside, a lively piano and accordion concert was taking place.

On Sun Island, they took a cable car, looking down at a vast expanse of white, the frozen lake seemingly endless beneath them. Mella sat on a stone piano by the lake, admiring the sunset, with the frozen bridge in the distance.

The Ice and Snow World after dusk made the two completely forget the minus twenty-degree cold. Colorful lights pierced through the ice sculptures, unfolding a dreamlike, crystal world before their eyes. The Surat couple, bundled in rented heavy winter coats, clumsily tried the ice slides, their screams and laughter intermingling. The Ice and Snow World also had a lively party where all tourists, regardless of who they were, danced together in the snow. Surat and Mella had a great time.

The next day's Volga Manor lived up to expectations. Everywhere was pure white, clean powder snow, coupled with a large area filled with numerous Russian-style buildings. Every shot was picturesque, whether photographing people or scenery. Hours could be spent there without getting bored. Mella and Surat enjoyed the horse-drawn sleigh ride.

On Central Street, Surat confidently chatted with locals, who warmly gifted them local Harbin Sausages. They followed the locals' example, savoring the rich meaty aroma and unique smoky flavor in the sub-zero temperatures.

The twilight at Stalin Park drew a perfect conclusion to their trip. The Surat couple stood by the shore, watching locals glide effortlessly on the frozen Songhua River. A new group of musicians arrived from time to time in the park, setting up their instruments for a choir. The conductor took his position, and with a wave of his hand, a large group sang old songs that sounded full of power. They sang so happily, and the Surat couple loved the atmosphere.

Despite their limited budget, this Harbin trip allowed the tropical couple to experience the wonders of the ice and snow world with bodies that had never known cold!