Since Jan 15 this year, the Ice Lantern Festival at Longqing Gorge 龙庆峡 (lóng qìng xiá) has been a must-visit for locals. Located near Yongning Ancient Town past Changping District in the northeast of Beijing, it’s a couple of hours drive from the city. Many families prefer to go after dark so as to truly enjoy the illuminated spectacle in all its glory.
While you are able to drive all the way into the entrance of the Ice Lantern Festival, there is also the option to walk from the main parking area. Moving at a distracted kid’s pace, the walk from the parking lot to the main entrance was less than an hour and lets you cross the “heart” bridge over the frozen lake. This is what former editor Cindy Marie Jenkins and I did with our young ones in 2021, which you can read about here. There’s also a shuttle bus for RMB 20 each way.
Once you get to the Ice Lantern Festival grounds, entry is RMB 100 per person, while children below 1.2m or under 6 years of age get in for free. There are lanterns of animals, Peking opera masks, and Chinese characters on display at this year’s festival, but some new highlights include the Beijing Winter Olympics-themed lanterns and ice sculptures.
Pro Tip: You can also check if the toboggan ride is still available, which depends on the weather conditions during your visit.
The ice exhibition itself is in an enclosed space past the open area with the lanterns. In here, you’ll find all sorts of beautiful ice creations including a model of the Forbidden City and other Chinese landmarks. When we went last year, our kids discovered a mini ice slide which they played on, though I’m not sure we’re supposed to touch the sculptures. One of the coolest things you’ll definitely want a photo of is the frozen waterfall, which will be flowing and gushing when you return in summer!
The Ice Lantern Festival is open from 2-10pm daily, with last entry at 9pm.
KEEP READING: Cold Hard Lessons That Parents Learned From Ice-Hiking
Images: Dianping
