Original source
I Never Expected China to Look Like This (Harbin)
Harbin Ice Festival Adventure in Harbin China Winter Wonderl
I never expected China to look like this! Join me as I explore Harbin, the city transforming into a winter wonderland for the world-famous Ice and Snow Festival. From surviving freezing temperatures to tasting authentic Dongbei food in hidden local spots where tourists rarely go, this adventure shows...
I never expected China to look like this! Join me as I explore Harbin, the city transforming into a winter wonderland for the world-famous Ice and Snow Festival. From surviving freezing temperatures to tasting authentic Dongbei food in hidden local spots where tourists rarely go, this adventure shows a side of China you won’t see in travel guides.
December 2025 | Vlog 568 | Harbin, China
When we finally started our adventure
Buy us a beer and I will toast to you on the next video. Cheers 🍻
Hello and welcome to our channel,
We are Reanne and Ben living in Portsmouth, England. We have been together from the age of 15.
We brought our first house together at 23, got married at 25 and Reanne started her own business at 27.
We have been wanting to travel the world so
The day has finally come we have sold our business and and our house to explore as much of the world Full Time.
We created this YouTube channel to share our adventure with everyone who wants to explore but don’t know how. Let us know what you think of our channel so leave a comment we’d love to hear from you x
Join us on our adventures
In this travel vlog, the couple Reanne and Ben take viewers on a wintertime journey to Harbin, China, where the city comes alive as a global stage for the Ice and Snow Festival. The video sits at December 2025, Vlog 568, and follows their adventure as they brave freezing temperatures to experience the magical winter landscape. They promise a side of China that isn’t often shown in travel guides, focusing on authentic Dongbei cuisine found in hidden local spots away from the typical tourist trails. The duo shares their personal backstory—selling their business and home to pursue full-time travel—creating a warm, personal frame for their discoveries. Viewers can expect immersive scenes of ice sculptures, snow-dusted streets, and the unique spirit of Harbin’s winter, along with practical moments about navigating the cold and enjoying local flavors. The tone remains intimate and hopeful, inviting audience engagement and tips for exploring more of China’s northern destinations with an open,
I never expected China to look like this! Join me as I explore Harbin, the city transforming into a winter wonderland for the world-famous Ice and Snow Festival. From surviving freezing temperatures to tasting authentic Dongbei food in hidden local spots where tourists rarely go, this adventure shows a side of China you won’t see in travel guides.
December 2025 | Vlog 568 | Harbin, China
When we finally started our adventure
Buy us a beer and I will toast to you on the next video. Cheers 🍻
Hello and welcome to our channel,
We are Reanne and Ben living in Portsmouth, England. We have been together from the age of 15.
We brought our first house together at 23, got married at 25 and Reanne started her own business at 27.
We have been wanting to travel the world so
The day has finally come we have sold our business and and our house to explore as much of the world Full Time.
We created this YouTube channel to share our adventure with everyone who wants to explore but don’t know how. Let us know what you think of our channel so leave a comment we’d love to hear from you x
Join us on our adventures
Reanne and Ben arrive in Harbin in midwinter and immediately feel the bite of the city’s cold, joking about southern potatoes and the price of a beer at a chilly beer hall. They wander along Jongyang Pedestrian Street, tracing the area’s Russian heritage and noting Harbin as one of China’s most remote big cities. The pair samples Dongbei food, from spicy red sausage to hearty stews served with cornbread, and they explore the ice prison of a frozen river market where people skate and ride ice cars. They ride the river’s ice and watch locals barter in a room warmed by steam and laughter, all while discovering the practicalities of staying warm: heat pads, gloves, and mall stops for comfort. The day includes visits to a chocolate museum, a Russian shop full of vodka, and a tech-filled Huawei store where Ben geek-outs over foldable and triple screen phones. They reflect on Harbin’s cool, welcoming vibe and the surprising sophistication of a city in the far north, before ending with a hopeful note about tomorrow’s snow festival and more cold-weather adventures. The traveler duo, Reanne and Ben, share laughs and learnings as they chase warmth, food, and icy wonders. They note that the river Songhua is the source of much of the festival ice, and they marvel at people walking on thick ice, dog-sledges, and the astonishing scale of ice art. They close by acknowledging the cultural richness of Harbin’s northeastern cuisine and vowing to return for more snow and stories.
Reanne and Ben take us to Harbin during its world famous Ice and Snow Festival season, braving frigid winds and deep blue skies to reveal a winter wonderland that feels almost surreal. The episode opens with practicalities and jitters about the cold, then dives into the heart of Harbin’s historic street life on Jongyang Pedestrian Street, a Russian-built thoroughfare that hints at the city’s colonial past. They wander between cloudless, freezing air and bursts of warmth—from heated beer halls to a busy underground mall where you can buy heat packs and warm clothing on the fly. The couple explores street food that warms the body from the inside, including spicy red sausages and local northern snacks, while noting the Russian influence visible in architecture, shops, and even the food culture. A memorable moment comes in a huge immersive ice festival arena where ice blocks are used as furniture and even a beer hall is carved from ice, underscoring the magical, almost contrived nature of冬
Travel vloggers in Harbin chase winter magic, tasting northern Dongbei cuisine, and exploring the Ice and Snow Festival as they battle the cold with heat packs,
Harbin Ice Festival and Northeastern Cuisine Adventure in Harbin
01:55 Explore the historical streets on foot; wear multiple layers and have heating elements ready for hands and feet.
09:10 Visit heated indoor spaces to endure the cold; use hand warmers and pack footwear with extra socks and insoles.
34:48 Walk carefully on river ice; consider guided sled rides and check ice thickness before venturing far.
39:04 Taste authentic Dongbei dishes, share a pot with locals, and embrace hearty stews with bread dumplings.
01:55 Explore the historical streets on foot; wear multiple layers and have heating elements ready for hands and feet.
09:10 Visit heated indoor spaces to endure the cold; use hand warmers and pack footwear with extra socks and insoles.
34:48 Walk carefully on river ice; consider guided sled rides and check ice thickness before venturing far.
39:04 Taste authentic Dongbei dishes, share a pot with locals, and embrace hearty stews with bread dumplings.
00:01 Intro and cold prep
01:55 Jongyang Street intro
08:11 Beer hall and warmers scene
12:35 Ice block and beer spillage
19:16 Chocolate museum excitement
31:10 Ice river and skating on Songhua River
37:19 Dongbei stew and Harbin beer
46:14 Walk back and wrap-up
00:01 Intro and cold prep
01:55 Jongyang Street intro
08:11 Beer hall and warmers scene
12:35 Ice block and beer spillage
19:16 Chocolate museum excitement
31:10 Ice river and skating on Songhua River
37:19 Dongbei stew and Harbin beer
46:14 Walk back and wrap-up
Is Harbin really as cold as it looks?
Yes, in midwinter Harbin can feel biting cold, but locals stay warm with heated spaces, heat packs, and layered clothing.
What food represents Harbin’s northeastern cuisine?
Dishes like hearty stews with dumplings or cornbread, Harbin beer, and Dongbei specialties are iconic and deeply warming in the cold.
