It was January 6th that the Harbin International Ice and Snow Sculpture Festival took place in Harbin, China. This festival is an annual event which has been held since 1963. It was resumed in 1985 after years being delayed by the Cultural Revolution. This event is famous for large ice and snow sculptures, sparkling ice lanterns, icy Songhua River, etc.
Harbin, the tenth largest city in China, lying on the southern bank of the Songhua River, is affected by the cold winter wind from Siberia. Therefore, in the winter, the average temperature of Harbin is around -16.8 degrees Celsius and can decrease to -38.1 degree Celsius. It is the best condition to hold such an event like Ice and Snow Sculpture Festival. Normally, the festival lasts one month, but depending on weather, it could be longer or shorter.
Here are some original photos taken in the first day of the 26th Harbin Festival 2010.
People wearing warm coat visited an ice lantern in the Festival
Visitors were impressed by the firework sparking over the peak of the ice pagodas
Visitors were attracted by magnificent castles
Impressive building created from ice
People enjoyed the cold ice slide
Famous amphitheatrum Colosseum was "rebuilt" from ice
Icy statues of Buddha and giant the Sphinx
Snow sculpture of Giant Santa Claus
Taking photos with huge snowman
Mickey in the Chinese traditional costume welcomes visitors to Ice Festival
Ice lantern buildings stand out in the night sky
Trees light in the night
Taking a memorial photos in front of the lit ice pagodas
Bringing the famous world's buildings into the ice festival
Watching video the opening day of Harbin Ice Festival 2010
26th Ice Festival in China