China’s wonderland of ice and snow
The world’s largest celebration of the cold begins in China with the Harbin International Ice and Snow Festival.
- Visitors walks in an ice mazeat the China Ice and Snow World on January 4, 2015 on the eve of the opening ceremony of the 16th Harbin International Ice and Snow Festival in Harbin, northeast China’s Heilongjiang province. (Fred Dufour/Getty Images)
- A child slides at the China Ice and Snow World on January 4, 2015 on the eve of the opening ceremony of the 16th Harbin International Ice and Snow Festival in Harbin, northeast China’s Heilongjiang province. (Fred Dufour/Getty Images)
- Visitors walk amongst ice sculptures at the 16th Harbin Ice and Snow World, which will officially open on Jan. 5, in Harbin in northeast China’s Heilongjiang province. (AP Photo)
- Visitors look at snow sculptures during the 16th Harbin International Ice and Snow Festival in Harbin, northeast China’s Heilongjiang province on January 5, 2015. (Fred Dufour/Getty Images)
- A man clad in a teddy bear suit leans on a snow sculpture during the 16th Harbin International Ice and Snow Festival in Harbin, northeast China’s Heilongjiang province on January 5, 2015. (Fred Dufour/Getty Images)
- Visitors walks in an ice castle, on January 4, 2015 at the China Ice and Snow World on the eve of the opening ceremony of the 16th Harbin International Ice and Snow Festival in Harbin, northeast China’s Heilongjiang province. (Fred Dufour/Getty Images)
- A woman and her child poses in front a snow sculpture during the 16th Harbin International Ice and Snow Festival in Harbin, northeast China’s Heilongjiang province on January 5, 2015. (Fred Dufour/Getty Images)
- Visitors take photographs on an ice sculpture during the 16th Harbin International Ice and Snow Festival in Harbin, northeast China’s Heilongjiang province on January 5, 2015. (Fred Dufour/Getty Images)
- Workers polish a snow sculpture ahead of the 16th Harbin Ice and Snow World in Harbin, Heilongjiang province, December 22, 2014. The 16th Harbin Ice and Snow World will be officially opened on January 5, 2015. (Reuters)
- People visit newly-built ice sculptures illuminated by coloured lights during a trial operation of the 16th Harbin Ice and Snow World in Harbin, Heilongjiang province, December 22, 2014. The annual Harbin Ice and Snow World will be officially opened on January 5, 2015. (Reuters)
- A guide leads visitors during the 16th Harbin International Ice and Snow Festival in Harbin, northeast China’s Heilongjiang province on January 5, 2015. (Fred Dufour/Getty Images)
- A couple takes pictures on a snow sculpture during the 16th Harbin International Ice and Snow Festival in Harbin, northeast China’s Heilongjiang province on January 5, 2015. (Fred Dufour/Getty Images)
- Ice sculptors carve a snow sculpture, on January 4, 2015 at the China Ice and Snow World on the eve of the opening ceremony of the 16th Harbin International Ice and Snow Festival in Harbin, northeast China’s Heilongjiang province. (Fred Dufour/Getty Images)
- Workers put the finishing touch to a sculpture prior to the 27th Harbin Sun Island International Snow Sculpture Art Expo on December 20, 2014 in Harbin, China. The expo will be open to the public today. (ChinaFotoPress/ChinaFotoPress/Getty Images)
- Children ride on a miniature bus during the 16th Harbin International Ice and Snow Festival in Harbin, northeast China’s Heilongjiang province on January 5, 2015. (Fred Dufour/Getty Images)
- Visitors take photographs on an ice sculpture during the 16th Harbin International Ice and Snow Festival in Harbin, northeast China’s Heilongjiang province on January 5, 2015. (Fred Dufour/Getty Images)
- Visitors look at snow sculptures during the 16th Harbin International Ice and Snow Festival in Harbin, northeast China’s Heilongjiang province on January 5, 2015. (Fred Dufour/Getty Images)
- A swimmer dives into a pool carved from thick ice during an ice swimming competition at the 16th Harbin International Ice and Snow Festival in Harbin, northeast China’s Heilongjiang province on January 5, 2015. (Fred Dufour/Getty Images)
- A picture taken on January 4, 2015 shows people visiting the China Ice and Snow World on the eve of the opening ceremony of the 16th Harbin International Ice and Snow Festival in Harbin, northeast China’s Heilongjiang province. (Fred Dufour/Getty Images)
- Visitors walks in an ice castle, on January 4, 2015 at the China Ice and Snow World on the eve of the opening ceremony of the 16th Harbin International Ice and Snow Festival in Harbin, northeast China’s Heilongjiang province. (Fred Dufour/Getty Images)
- A picture taken on January 4, 2015 shows the China Ice and Snow World on the eve of the opening ceremony of the 16th Harbin International Ice and Snow Festival in Harbin, northeast China’s Heilongjiang province. (Fred Dufour/Getty Images)
- A picture taken on January 4, 2015 shows the China Ice and Snow World on the eve of the opening ceremony of the 16th Harbin International Ice and Snow Festival in Harbin, northeast China’s Heilongjiang province. (Fred Dufour/Getty Images)
- A picture taken on January 4, 2015 shows a giant red fish at the China Ice and Snow World on the eve of the opening ceremony of the 16th Harbin International Ice and Snow Festival in Harbin, northeast China’s Heilongjiang province. (Fred Dufour/Getty Images)
- a woman slides at the China Ice and Snow World on January 4, 2015 on the eve of the opening ceremony of the 16th Harbin International Ice and Snow Festival in Harbin, northeast China’s Heilongjiang province. (Fred Dufour/Getty Images)
- Visitors walks the stairs of an ice tower at the China Ice and Snow World on January 4, 2015 on the eve of the opening ceremony of the 16th Harbin International Ice and Snow Festival in Harbin, northeast China’s Heilongjiang province. (Fred Dufour/Getty Images)
- A woman and her child walk through the gate of an ice castle at the Harbin international ice and snow festival in Harbin, on January 3, 2015. Over one million visitors are expected to attend the spectacular Harbin Ice Festival, where buildings of ice are bathed in ethereal lights and international ice sculptors compete for honors. (Fred Dufour/Getty Images)
- Visitors enjoy the amusement park on the frozen Songhua river beside the Harbin international ice and snow festival in Harbin, on January 3, 2015. Over one million visitors are expected to attend the spectacular Harbin Ice Festival, where buildings of ice are bathed in ethereal lights and international ice sculptors compete for honors. (Fred Dufour/Getty Images)
- This picture taken on December 9, 2014 shows people cutting ice blocks used for Harbin international ice and snow festival from the frozen Songhua river in Harbin, northeast China’s Heilongjiang province. As China’s most famous and popular winter attraction, the annual festival is set to kick off on January 5, 2015 and last for a month, local media reported. (Getty Images)
- This picture taken on December 9, 2014 shows people cutting ice blocks used for Harbin international ice and snow festival from the frozen Songhua river in Harbin, northeast China’s Heilongjiang province. As China’s most famous and popular winter attraction, the annual festival is set to kick off on January 5, 2015 and last for a month, local media reported. (Getty Images)