Featuring amazing sculptures and replicas, the 16th Harbin International Snow and Ice Festival opened January 5.
Harbin Ice Festival kicks off —
Featuring amazing sculptures and replicas, the 16th Harbin International Snow and Ice Festival opened January 5.
FRED DUFOUR/AFP/Getty Images
The annual event, which normally runs until March, depending on weather conditions, takes place in northeast China's Heilongjiang Province. This year, a colorful ice maze offers visitors a chilly challenge.
Lost in colors —
The annual event, which normally runs until March, depending on weather conditions, takes place in northeast China's Heilongjiang Province. This year, a colorful ice maze offers visitors a chilly challenge.
FRED DUFOUR/AFP/Getty Images
Psychedelic ice castles and fortresses light up like a 1980s video game.
On the rocks —
Psychedelic ice castles and fortresses light up like a 1980s video game.
FRED DUFOUR/AFP/Getty Images
The Ice and Snow World's sculptures are mostly inspired by Chinese fairy tales and landmarks like the Great Wall of China, the Egyptian Pyramids and Iceland's Hallgrimskirkja church.
Forget 'Frozen' —
The Ice and Snow World's sculptures are mostly inspired by Chinese fairy tales and landmarks like the Great Wall of China, the Egyptian Pyramids and Iceland's Hallgrimskirkja church.
FRED DUFOUR/AFP/Getty Images
Over the years the Harbin International Snow and Ice Festival has grown to become one of the biggest snow festival destinations in the world.
The big leagues —
Over the years the Harbin International Snow and Ice Festival has grown to become one of the biggest snow festival destinations in the world.
FRED DUFOUR/AFP/Getty Images
Known as China's 'Ice City,' Harbin has biting winters -- perfect if you need to maintain a month-long ice festival. Average January daytime temperatures range from minus 13-23 Celsius.
Slip n' slide —
Known as China's 'Ice City,' Harbin has biting winters -- perfect if you need to maintain a month-long ice festival. Average January daytime temperatures range from minus 13-23 Celsius.
FRED DUFOUR/AFP/Getty Images
Visitors can walk through a castle of blocks made with ice taken from Harbin's frozen Songhua River.
Building blocks —
Visitors can walk through a castle of blocks made with ice taken from Harbin's frozen Songhua River.
FRED DUFOUR/AFP/Getty Images
Harbin's cuisine and architecture are heavily influenced by its close proximity to Russia, which makes the festival a popular attraction for Russian tourists.
Gateway to a winter wonderland —
Harbin's cuisine and architecture are heavily influenced by its close proximity to Russia, which makes the festival a popular attraction for Russian tourists.
FRED DUFOUR/AFP/Getty Images
Visitors can use telescopes to get a better look at the ice sculptures.
Closeups —
Visitors can use telescopes to get a better look at the ice sculptures.
FRED DUFOUR/AFP/Getty Images
For those who have always wanted to snap a selfie in a snow globe, the Harbin International Snow and Ice Festival is full of photo ops.
Perhaps a selfie stick would help? —
For those who have always wanted to snap a selfie in a snow globe, the Harbin International Snow and Ice Festival is full of photo ops.
FRED DUFOUR/AFP/Getty Images