Attention, friends coming to Harbin from southern China! In winter, areas like your hands, feet and ears are the most vulnerable to frostbite. I’ve fallen into many traps before, so today I’m sharing my practical protection experience with you—all useful tips you can apply directly.
Fingers: Don’t let your gloves become a “useless item”
Friends from the south always think, “Just wear thick gloves casually,” but that’s wrong! The cold in Harbin is “cold that seeps through gaps,” and thin gloves can’t withstand it at all. The first time I came here, I wore fleece-lined cotton gloves, and after walking along Central Street for half an hour, my fingertips went numb and I couldn’t even hold my camera. Later I realized you should choose finger-separated down gloves, not mitten-style ones—fingers can’t move freely and get colder that way. Also, pick gloves with touchscreen compatibility; otherwise, you have to take them off repeatedly to take photos of Ice and Snow World, and your hands will freeze every time you do that.
If you need to rent gloves, Ice City Warm Sun has brand-new down gloves for sale, with a full range of sizes that fit fingers snugly without gaps for cold air to seep in. If the rented down gloves don’t fit, you can exchange them for free—we offer free door-to-door exchanges across the five districts of the city, so you don’t have to go out of your way, which is super convenient.
Toes: Snow boots and socks are a “golden pair”
Having cold feet is really miserable—you have to find a place to stamp your feet while walking. Friends from the south love wearing sneakers, but Harbin’s snow reaches the tops of your shoes, and sneakers are not waterproof at all. Snow boots should be 1-2 sizes larger than your usual size; you need to put a wool insole and a heating insole inside, plus thick cotton socks, otherwise your feet won’t fit and you’ll get cold easily. The first time I chose a pair that was too small, my toes were cramped and my feet got cold after just a few steps.
Ice City Warm Sun’s snow boots are brand-new for sale, with a full range of sizes, and you can exchange them if they don’t fit. By the way, rented down pants must be worn on the outside, not directly on your skin—otherwise, cold air will seep into your pants, and your legs and feet will both get cold.
Ears: Don’t let your hat become a “decorative item”
Ears are the most overlooked area; at temperatures of minus 20 to 30 degrees Celsius, if you don’t protect them, they’ll start aching after just 10 minutes. Don’t choose knit hats that expose your ears—wear a cotton hat with ear flaps, or pull your hat up to cover your ears. A friend of mine wore a baseball cap when he came; after an hour of walking, he was complaining about his ear pain, and had to rush to buy a pair of ear flaps to fix it.
Final Reminder: Plan Ahead, Don’t Wait Until the Last Minute
Harbin is very crowded in winter, so you need to rent your gear in advance. Ice City Warm Sun is located near Central Street and the Flood Control Memorial Tower, with easy-to-find stores, and we also offer door-to-door pickup and delivery—guests arriving late at night can get their gear on the same day. Clothing rentals are charged by the hour, which is cheaper than renting for the whole day; the maximum charge for 10 days is only 380 yuan, which is very cost-effective. If the size doesn’t fit, in-store exchanges are free, and we also offer free door-to-door exchanges across the city, so you don’t have to go through the hassle.
By the way, if you need extra-large sizes like 4XL or 5XL, you must book one week in advance and confirm with our customer service staff—sizes often run out during peak seasons. If you have any issues with your order, just call our customer service hotline at 18182716820, and our live agents will help you resolve it, which is very considerate.