The 34th Harbin International Ice and Snow Sculpture Festival, in China's far northeastern Heilongjiang Province, has opened. Hundreds of thousands of visitors are expected to flock to the annual attraction, which features a dazzling array of gigantic illuminated ice sculptures.
Visitors look at ice sculptures on the opening day of the annual Harbin Ice and Snow Sculpture FestivalGreg Baker/AFP
Organisers say a record 180,000 cubic metres of ice have been used this year to recreate some of the most famous landmarks around the world, such as Beijing's Temple of Heaven, Moscow's Red Square, and Thailand's Wat Phra Kaew.
More than 10,000 staff have reportedly been involved in constructing the exhibits since early December, gathering large blocks of ice from the Songhua River. Harbin is one of the coldest places in China. Temperatures can drop as low as minus 35 degrees Celsius (–31F).
An ice cathedral is lit up at nightAFPVisitors look at ice sculptures on the opening day of the annual Harbin Ice and Snow Sculpture FestivalGreg Baker/AFPVisitors walk and slide on icy paths on the opening day of the annual Harbin Ice and Snow Sculpture Festival in HarbinGreg Baker/AFPA replica of Buddhist temple, made of ice, is lit up at nightAFPVisitors look at ice sculptures on the opening day of the annual Harbin Ice and Snow Sculpture FestivalGreg Baker/AFPOne of the huge ice sculptures is illuminated at nightAFPVisitors look at ice sculptures on the opening day of the annual Harbin Ice and Snow Sculpture FestivalGreg Baker/AFPVisitors walk up an ice sculpture on the opening day of the annual Harbin Ice and Snow Sculpture Festival in HarbinGreg Baker/AFPVisitors look at ice sculptures on the opening day of the annual Harbin Ice and Snow Sculpture FestivalGreg Baker/AFPVisitors look at ice sculptures on the opening day of the annual Harbin Ice and Snow Sculpture FestivalGreg Baker/AFPVisitors look at ice sculptures on the opening day of the annual Harbin Ice and Snow Sculpture FestivalGreg Baker/AFPVisitors look at ice sculptures on the opening day of the annual Harbin Ice and Snow Sculpture FestivalGreg Baker/AFPVisitors look at ice sculptures on the opening day of the annual Harbin Ice and Snow Sculpture FestivalGreg Baker/AFPVisitors look at ice sculptures on the opening day of the annual Harbin Ice and Snow Sculpture FestivalGreg Baker/AFPVisitors take selfies with ice sculptures on the opening day of the annual Harbin Ice and Snow Sculpture FestivalGreg Baker/AFP4 January 2018: People visit the Harbin Ice and Snow World, part of the annual Harbin Ice and Snow Sculpture FestivalGreg Baker/AFPPeople visit the Harbin Ice and Snow World, part of the annual Harbin Ice and Snow Sculpture FestivalGreg Baker/AFPVisitors take photos in front of a snow sculpture before the opening of the annual Harbin Ice and Snow Sculpture FestivalGreg Baker/AFP5 January 2018: A worker walks past a snow sculpture before the opening of the annual Harbin Ice and Snow Sculpture FestivalGreg Baker/AFPVisitors line up to climb a snow sculpture before the opening of the annual Harbin Ice and Snow Sculpture FestivalGreg Baker/AFPWorkers are seen preparing one of the huge snow sculptures in Harbin on 10 December 2017Reuters1 January 2018: Visitors attend a 3D light show at the Harbin Sun Island International Snow Sculpture Art Expo in HarbinReuters
This year's Harbin International Ice and Snow Festival is expected to run until 25 February 2018.
