Perhaps because we didn’t think things through; or perhaps we’re just not as smart as we give ourselves credit for; or perhaps because we got caught up in the backpacking lifestyle we lost track of time – but whatever the reason – the decision itself was not our most brilliant.
We ended up saving the ultimate tourist event of Northern China to the very last day of our trip that just so happened to be the Chinese New Year.
Thankfully, we had very few problems getting to or in the “Harbin Snow and Ice Big World”.
It’s a park made entirely of ice. Featuring world monuments like the Westminster Abbey, the Acropolis and temples made of ice, from top to bottom, including a fully functional concert stage.
In case you didn’t know, it needs to be cold for there to be ice, and so therefore, it was ridiculously cold. Cold enough that my camera froze and I didn’t get to take as many photos as I’d have liked.
A couple hours later the Chinese New Year’s cheer really began. All day long fireworks were randomly being shot off, on the streets, sidewalks, parking lots, off the tops of buildings. But when midnight started drawing closer there were multiple fireworks going off every 5 minutes on every single block in the entire city.
I am not, in the least, exaggerating.
For about 4 to 5 hours there wasn’t even a tiny lull between fireworks going off.
So far as I know, there are no – or very few – rules or regulations regarding fireworks in China. And New Year’s is the best time to truly discover this.
Nothing Chinese was really open, but good ol’ USABUCKS was, thankfully. So the New Zealander and I rang in the New Year with a couple beers and a walk the long way back to the hotel.
3 comments:
That ice park looked AMAZING Tal!! That would be so incredible to see!
And I would be scared about getting hit by a firework going off around me!
Thats so awesome Tal! Beats winterlude sculptures for sure!
Tal those ice sculptures look INCREDIBLE - I'd LOVE to see them!!!
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