2025 Spring Festival Adventure in Beijing: Longqing Gorge

Upon arriving at Beijing Airport, we immediately took a ride to Longqing Gorge in Yanqing, located 200 kilometers away, to attend the 39th Ice Lantern and Snow Carnival. Spanning an area of 200,000 square meters, the ice lantern exhibition alone covers 8,000 square meters, making it the largest in history. The venue features three themed areas: "Golden Years," "Colorful Ocean," and "Frozen World," along with two unique marketplaces. After arriving in the afternoon, we took the escalator to the river valley area to experience the magical bubble ice (frozen rivers with bubbles trapped inside) and ice walking. Although we didn’t take a boat to explore the wild canyon, the breathtaking canyon scenery left us, who live near the equator, in awe. The stunning natural beauty truly deserves an early visit! The canyon area closes at 4 PM, so we walked down the mountain to the indoor fantasy ice sculpture area for photos. While the venue wasn’t as large as expected, the tallest sculptures reached three stories high. The intricate craftsmanship was evident, showcasing exceptional artistry. Combined with the lighting effects, it was genuinely fascinating! The most remarkable part was the hidden canyon ice sculpture in the back (like a small room concept). The lifelike canyon sculpture was arguably the most beautiful ice art piece in the exhibition. I kept hearing people exclaim, "This is absolutely stunning!" At 6 PM, a massive projection show was displayed on the cliff (though I could only make out a few words and lights). The park lit up with lanterns and decorative lights, and the evening’s specialty foods were steaming hot and deliciously aromatic. However, the temperature difference between day and night was significant. Having just gotten off the plane, we weren’t fully acclimated to the freezing world of zero degrees, so we quickly retreated to the hotel to rest. Probably no one else is as daring as us—getting off the plane with luggage, venturing into Longqing Gorge, exploring the park, admiring ice sculptures, enjoying lantern displays, and then heading back to the hotel for a rest!