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Published: January 7th 2015
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SUN ISLAND ICE AND SNOW PARK When we moved to China we had a list of things we wanted to do or see........Harbin was at the top of our list!! During the winter season they have lots of great ice sculptures and many different winter sports to see and do!! Lots of fun was waiting for us!!! And we were not disappointed at all!!
We only went for a long weekend trip so we crammed as much in as possible. We flew out on Friday 2nd January (My Birthday!!! I planned this trip well!!) We got a late flight and arrived at our hotel at 11pm. We saw a couple of ice sculptures at the airport and we were looking forward to seeing lots more in the morning. Our hotel was really nice but just outside of the main town. On Saturday morning we managed to get a nice taxi man to stay with us for a few hours, he took us to see the Tigers in the morning.
This was a really nice place. we went on a little bus tour around the grounds seeing all the tigers in the large open areas. We got up very close to them. There was another area
where the tigers could roam around and there was a walkway above for people to look down and get even closer. I was watching a little old lady with a lovely little chicken......a friend of ours had already visited this place a couple of days before us so I knew what was about to happen but Matthew did not! The little old lady put the chicken in a little metal basket and pulled it along a metal rope that went over the tigers area. Matthew was watching but still did not realise what was about to happen.....and then the penny dropped!!! Mummy, mummy that lady has just dropped the chicken........Lunch time I replied!!!! He was not impressed!!!!
Next was our lunch time!!! We wanted to find a western restaurant but we could not find one close enough so we asked our taxi driver and he took us a Chinese restaurant. The people we so welcoming inside and made us feel at home. The restaurant had small little rooms rather than a big open space. In the middle of the room there was a large looking wok and seating bench around that. We did not have a menu but the
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WILLIAM GETTING READY TO GO OUT....NOT LIKING ALL THE EXTRA CLOTHES HE HAS TO WEAR!!!! manager asked us do we like fish.....not a lover but thought we would give it a go. We just sat down when the man said "Come, come follow me I will show you........" We went down into the basement where we were fronted with a very large table with chopped up fish parts!!!!! Most restaurants have fish tanks in...... There were 2 large fish ponds also. Some of the fish on the table were still alive even though they were headless!!!! Something I have never ever seen before. Matthew's face was a picture. He was not impressed. The man standing at the table slapped the fish to show us it was really fresh......it wriggled away!!! We choose what we wanted to eat and they got the vegetables ready and we went back to sit in our room. 2 minutes later a man appeared with our fish and veg and cooked our food in front of us. Matthew after watching the fish down stairs did not want to eat it so the manager made a nice chicken and mushroom dish for him. The fish was sooooooo yummy, we had Sturgeon fish......very tasty. We were sitting eating when I noticed something in
Matthews dish......he had not spotted it so I quietly took it out.......It was the chickens head!!! I forgot they use the whole chicken!!!!! William enjoyed looking at it!!!!!
In the evening we went to the Ice and snow world..............AMAZING PLACE!!!!!!!! I knew it was going to be really good but it was just so breath taking to see. The park was huge. The sculptures were amazing to see up close, they were so big and with so much detail on each. We went for a horse and carriage ride around the park which the boys really enjoyed. There were ice castles and ice slides to whizz down, an ice maze and a skating area. There was also a large ice train to go on and giant ice crystals hanging and a couple of igloos. The temperature was around -15 but feel factor was -25 so we had on lots of layers of clothes on and heat pads to make sure we stayed warm and an extra couple of pads in my pocket to keep my phone warm!!! We had a go at ringing the large Chinese bell........ This was also huge!! We spent a few hours at this park,
having fun whizzing down the slides and climbing in the ice castles. Matthew and I rode on the bikes on the ice rink......So much fun!!!! Were so tired at the end of the evening!
On the Sunday we went to Stalin Park.........This park was on the frozen river. There was a large area for skating on chairs.....like skiing but sitting down!!!! I have never seen these before!!! There were also slides and horse and carriage rides and dog sleighs. There was a play area and a maze for children. There was a ride I went on.......there was 8 rings tied together and a car pulls you along on the ice!!! Going forward was great fun, coming back against the wind.......OH MY GOD WAS IT COLD!!!!!!! I have never felt cold like this. It hurt my face and I could not keep my eyes open due to all the snow and ice hitting my face!!!!! Gets the heart pumping!!!!!!! We went on a slide, again we had to sit in a ring but they were in 2's so William could have a go, then we were pushed down the slide!!!!!!
We got back to the hotel late afternoon and
after a quick warm up and a rest we went for a lovely walk around the hotel grounds, having fun playing in the snow in the dark. I have never seen or felt snow like this, it was like flour....so soft. The boys had fun making snow angels and trying to have a snowball fight!! we could see all the lights from the ice park from our hotel......lit up the sky with lots of colour.
Our flight was Monday evening so we thought we would stay in the warm and visit the local aquarium.....Harbin Polarland. The reviews of this place said it was small and not great but I would have to disagree.... this aquarium was small but they had 2 great shows and lots to see. William and Andy bottle fed some very special carp fish.....by doing this we will have good luck!!! We also got to feed some seals. It was a lovely morning out.
During the weekend same as where ever we go with the boys, they had lots of photos taken and their hair touched but I think they are used to it and just get on with it!!!!
Harbin is a must
see place!!!!!
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