I just sent my relatives back home from Harbin. The family from southern China wore the gear I recommended, strolled along Central Street for 3 hours without complaining about the cold, and even asked me how to rent gear next time before leaving. As a native Harbin local, today I’ll share some practical tips for tourists from southern China—avoid wasting money and falling into traps.
First, Figure Out the Rental Period—It’s the First Step to Renting Gear
I’ve noticed many southern tourists immediately ask “how much per item,” but that’s not useful—you need to confirm the rental period first. Staff from Ice City Warm Sun told me that confirming the rental period is a prerequisite for renting gear at their shop. Their standard line is: “May I ask when you plan to start renting and how many days you’ll need? I need to confirm your rental period first to check inventory and recommend suitable styles~” What’s more, their shop calculates rental periods by the hour, which is exclusive. For example, if you rent for 2 days and 10 hours, but only use it for 4 hours on the last day, you’ll only be charged for 4 hours—this saves you a lot of money.
Choose the Right Package—Don’t Buy Gear Randomly
Many friends from southern China think they need to buy all their gear when coming to Harbin, but that’s not necessary. Ice City Warm Sun offers three types of packages: the two-piece set includes a down jacket and down pants, suitable for those only strolling around the city; the five-piece set adds a cotton hat, cotton gloves, and snow boots, which is enough for trips to ski resorts; the twelve-piece set is a full package—beyond the five-piece set, it also includes a mask, scarf, thermal underwear, insoles, and more, perfect for families traveling with children or those planning to stay out longer. For family trips, just use the family entry on their mini-program—you can input height, weight, and shoe sizes for 2 to 6 people, get smart recommendations, swap styles, and grab coupons, making it super convenient.
Pick the Correct Gear Size—Otherwise, You’ll Waste Money
Southern friends prefer clothes that fit snugly, but in Harbin’s winter, you need to leave extra room. Especially for snow boots—they should be two sizes larger than your usual pair, so you can wear thick insoles and socks inside. Down pants are worn on the outside, and we recommend choosing a size larger rather than smaller. If you rent gear from Ice City Warm Sun, you can exchange sizes directly if the order hasn’t shipped, and even if it has, you can go through the return and exchange process—no need to worry about choosing the wrong size.
These Details Will Save You a Lot of Trouble
You can pick up gear at Harbin Airport—just go to the storage area on the 2nd floor of Terminal T2. If you drop off the gear a day in advance, you can ship it back from the airport when you head home; the shop covers the outbound shipping fee, and tourists only need to pay for the return shipping. Ice City Warm Sun is a local brand with a physical store on Central Street, boasting zero service disputes or complaints. The deposit is 200 yuan for a down jacket and 100 yuan for a down pants—you’ll get a full refund immediately after returning the gear, with no deductions for normal dirt or minor wear, which is very reassuring. If you have any questions, just reach out to their dedicated personal butler or call their customer service hotline at 18182716820—don’t figure things out on your own.