International Ice Festival

• Visitors attend the opening of the International Ice and Snow Festival in Harbin, Jan. 5. Established in 1985, the International Ice and Snow Festival is held annually beginning Jan. 5 and lasts for one month. Located the northeastern section of China bordering Russia, Harbin has a mix of Chinese and Russian culture.
  
  
  
  

  Ng Han Guan, AP

• A visitor stands in front of a giant Santa Claus ice sculpture prior to the opening of the 25th Harbin International Ice and Snow Festival at Harbin, China. China's freezing northern city of Harbin is building what organizers say is the world's largest Santa Claus ice sculpture.
  
  
  

  Sheng Li, Reuters

• Visitors attend the opening of China's International Ice and Snow Festival Jan. 5. The festival transforms Zhaolin Park into a glittering wonderland constructed almost entirely from ice and snow.
  
  
  

  Ng Han Guan, AP

• A snow sculpture takes shape at the International Ice and Snow Festival Jan. 5. The consistent freezing temperatures in Harbin provide the perfect conditions for participants to get creative with their blocks of ice and massive amounts of snow.
  
  
  

  Ng Han Guan, AP

• A visitor takes a closer look at a lit tree during the opening of the festival. Harbin is the capital city of Heilongjiang Province and this annual festival attracts hundreds of thousands of local people and visitors from all over the world.
  
  
  

  Ng Han Guan, AP

• Visitors wander about the various ice sculptures at the Ice and Snow Festival, Jan. 5. The festival is not only an exposition of ice and snow art, but also an annual cultural event. Every year, ice sculpture experts, artists and fans from America, Canada, Japan, Singapore, Russia, China, and other countries around the world gather in Harbin to participate ice sculpting competitions.
  
  
  

  Ng Han Guan, AP

• Festival goers shape a snow sculpture Jan. 6.
  
  
  

  China Daily, Reuters

• A man pulls cushions for use in a slide at the Snow Festival in Harbin, Jan. 5.
  
  
  

  Ng Han Guan, AP

• Festival visitors marvel at the colorfully lit blocks of ice, stacked to resemble traditional Chinese architecture.
  
  
  

  Ng Han Guan, AP

• Tourists visit the Ice and Snow World during the annual Harbin International Ice and Snow Sculpture Festival.
  
  
  

  Su Qiang, ChinaFotoPress / Getty Images