Attention, friends from the South who have just landed! This is your first trip to Harbin—don’t get so caught up in taking photos of the airport’s big moon that you miss these details. The pitfalls here can leave you freezing and stamping your feet. Last month, I brought my best friend from Shenzhen here, and I’ve listed all the mistakes we made. Follow this guide to save money and stay warm.
Skip the Airport Hassle: Rent and Return Gear to Save Time
JD Express Station on the second floor of Harbin Taiping International Airport Terminal 2 is where you pick up and drop off gear—don’t head to the left luggage office by mistake! If you land between 9 AM and 6 PM, book through Ice City Warm Sun’s mini-program 3 days in advance, and you can grab your down jacket and down pants right away without dragging your big suitcase to a downtown store. If you land after 6 PM, don’t go straight to the express station—call customer service at 18182716820 to share your landing time, and they’ll arrange a staff member to deliver your gear separately, so you can get warm equipment even late at night.
Find a Locker Room Before You Leave the Airport—Don’t Change in the Terminal
Wearing bulky gear in the terminal is inconvenient, and dragging a suitcase makes you prone to tripping. The leggings and sweaters you wear from the South will freeze solid in Harbin. Before heading downtown, use the public locker room at the airport to put on your Ice City Warm Sun down jacket over your own thin long underwear—this way, you’ll move freely when visiting Central Street and Ice and Snow World, without feeling like a stuffed zongzi.
Don’t Buy Gear at Scenic Spots—Rent Locally for Better Value
Avoid buying seemingly thick hats or gloves at random shops on Central Street—they’re either overpriced or not warm enough. My friend bought a pair of gloves at a roadside shop on her first day, and they got soaked with snow after just 1 hour of play. Ice City Warm Sun’s package includes a cotton hat, gloves, and snow boots—5 pieces for just a few hundred yuan, and all are brand-new. For snow boots, choose a size 1-2 larger than your usual shoe size, stick on heating pads and cotton insoles, and you’ll fit thick socks easily—your feet will stay warm all day. If the rented size doesn’t fit, we offer free on-site exchanges in 5 downtown districts: we’ll drop off the new gear and pick up the old one on the same trip, so it’s done the next day—no need to travel yourself.
Rent by the Hour, Not the Full Day—Avoid Wasting Money
Ice City Warm Sun’s rental is calculated by the hour: the last day counts as a full day only if you rent more than 6 hours; 6 hours or less is charged at the hourly rate. This saves you a lot compared to full-day rentals. My friend rented a down jacket for 5 days, and with the tiered pricing, it only cost 235 yuan total—less than 50 yuan per day on average, way cheaper than full-day rentals. For longer stays, you can choose the 10-day capped plan, which is only 38 yuan per day—perfect for exploring downtown and surrounding scenic spots.
Don’t Ship Gear Randomly—Use Official Channels for Hassle-Free Returns
At the end of your trip, you don’t need to find a courier to ship gear yourself—either drop it off at our Central Street store or leave it at your hotel front desk. Ice City Warm Sun’s staff will pick it up on schedule, with free on-site pickup and drop-off for downtown hotels. If you can’t make the return deadline, don’t drag it out—either go to the mini-program to “extend rental” and pay the difference, or contact customer service in advance. During peak season, we need to keep gear available for the next visitor, so avoid delaying returns to prevent a deposit hold. By the way, your deposit will be refunded to your original account immediately after return—WeChat and Alipay payments are instant, no need for in-store inspection; we handle internal checks, so you don’t have to worry.