China's city of ice

1 / 15

Updated on Jan 06, 2014 11:25 pm IST

A Russian ice sculpture team put the final touches to their creation, entitled 'Swan Lake' at the China Ice and Snow World, as workers make last minute preparations for the opening ceremony of the 15th Harbin International Ice and Snow Festival in Harbin, northeast China's Heilongjiang province. (AFP photo)

2 / 15

Updated on Jan 06, 2014 11:25 pm IST

Visitors walk past an ice sculpture depicting the late pop star Michael Jackson on display along a street in conjunction with the China Ice and Snow World, of the 15th Harbin International Ice and Snow Festival in Harbin, northeast China's Heilongjiang province. (AFP photo)

3 / 15

Updated on Jan 06, 2014 11:25 pm IST

Visitors jump for a picture in front of a large snow sculpture at the Harbin International Snow Sculpture Art Expo in the northern city of Harbin, Heilongjiang province. (Reuters photo)

4 / 15

Updated on Jan 06, 2014 11:25 pm IST

A vendor sells steamed corn at a stall with its exterior decorated with a snow sculpture at the Harbin International Snow Sculpture Art Expo in the northern city of Harbin, Heilongjiang. (Reuters photo)

5 / 15

Updated on Jan 06, 2014 11:25 pm IST

Visitors gather at the China Ice and Snow World, after the official opening of the 15th Harbin International Ice and Snow Festival in Harbin, in northeast China's Heilongjiang province. Thousands of visitors braved temperatures of minus 27° Celsius to visit the Ice and Snow World. (AFP photo)

6 / 15

Updated on Jan 06, 2014 11:25 pm IST

Visitors gather at the China Ice and Snow World, after the official opening of the 15th Harbin International Ice and Snow Festival in Harbin, in northeast China's Heilongjiang province. Thousands of visitors braved temperatures of minus 27° Celsius to visit the Ice and Snow World. (AFP photo)

7 / 15

Updated on Jan 06, 2014 11:25 pm IST

Visitors walk past a snow sculpture on display at the Sun Island International Snow Sculpture Art Expo, as part of the 15th Harbin International Ice and Snow Festival in Harbin, northeast China's Heilongjiang province. (AFP photo)

8 / 15

Updated on Jan 06, 2014 11:25 pm IST

Visitors look at a snow sculpture on display at the Sun Island International Snow Sculpture Art Expo, as part of the 15th Harbin International Ice and Snow Festival in Harbin, northeast China's Heilongjiang province. (AFP photo)

9 / 15

Updated on Jan 06, 2014 11:25 pm IST

Visitors look at a snow sculpture on display at the 15th Harbin International Ice and Snow Festival in Harbin, northeast China's Heilongjiang province. (AFP photo)

10 / 15

Updated on Jan 06, 2014 11:25 pm IST

Visitors walk past a snow sculpture on display at the Sun Island International Snow Sculpture Art Expo, as part of the 15th Harbin International Ice and Snow Festival in Harbin, northeast China's Heilongjiang province. (AFP photo)

11 / 15

Updated on Jan 06, 2014 11:25 pm IST

A snow sculpture on display at the Sun Island International Snow Sculpture Art Expo, as part of the 15th Harbin International Ice and Snow Festival in Harbin, northeast China's Heilongjiang province. (AFP photo)

12 / 15

Updated on Jan 06, 2014 11:25 pm IST

Visitors look at stuffed polar bears on display at the 15th Harbin International Ice and Snow Festival in Harbin, northeast China's Heilongjiang province. (AFP photo)

13 / 15

Updated on Jan 06, 2014 11:25 pm IST

Visitors walk past a snow sculpture on display at the 15th Harbin International Ice and Snow Festival in Harbin, northeast China's Heilongjiang province. China's most famous and popular winter attraction has drawn a combined 28.5 million visitors in the past two years. (AFP photo)

14 / 15

Updated on Jan 06, 2014 11:25 pm IST

The Ice Palace, which is built by ice bricks, is open annually from December to February and attracts visitors during the Harbin Ice and Snow Festival. (Reuters photo)

15 / 15

Updated on Jan 06, 2014 11:25 pm IST

A couple eat hot food at the Ice Palace in Shangri-La Hotel in the northern city of Harbin, Heilongjiang province. The Ice Palace, which is built by ice bricks, is open annually from December to February and attracts visitors during the Harbin Ice and Snow Festival. (Reuters photo)

China's city of ice

Visitors walk past an ice sculpture depicting the late pop star Michael Jackson on display along a street in conjunction with the China Ice and Snow World, of the 15th Harbin International Ice and Snow Festival in Harbin, northeast China's Heilongjiang province. (AFP photo)

Visitors jump for a picture in front of a large snow sculpture at the Harbin International Snow Sculpture Art Expo in the northern city of Harbin, Heilongjiang province. (Reuters photo)

A vendor sells steamed corn at a stall with its exterior decorated with a snow sculpture at the Harbin International Snow Sculpture Art Expo in the northern city of Harbin, Heilongjiang. (Reuters photo)

Visitors gather at the China Ice and Snow World, after the official opening of the 15th Harbin International Ice and Snow Festival in Harbin, in northeast China's Heilongjiang province. Thousands of visitors braved temperatures of minus 27° Celsius to visit the Ice and Snow World. (AFP photo)

Visitors gather at the China Ice and Snow World, after the official opening of the 15th Harbin International Ice and Snow Festival in Harbin, in northeast China's Heilongjiang province. Thousands of visitors braved temperatures of minus 27° Celsius to visit the Ice and Snow World. (AFP photo)

Visitors walk past a snow sculpture on display at the Sun Island International Snow Sculpture Art Expo, as part of the 15th Harbin International Ice and Snow Festival in Harbin, northeast China's Heilongjiang province. (AFP photo)

Visitors look at a snow sculpture on display at the Sun Island International Snow Sculpture Art Expo, as part of the 15th Harbin International Ice and Snow Festival in Harbin, northeast China's Heilongjiang province. (AFP photo)

Visitors look at a snow sculpture on display at the 15th Harbin International Ice and Snow Festival in Harbin, northeast China's Heilongjiang province. (AFP photo)

Visitors walk past a snow sculpture on display at the Sun Island International Snow Sculpture Art Expo, as part of the 15th Harbin International Ice and Snow Festival in Harbin, northeast China's Heilongjiang province. (AFP photo)

A snow sculpture on display at the Sun Island International Snow Sculpture Art Expo, as part of the 15th Harbin International Ice and Snow Festival in Harbin, northeast China's Heilongjiang province. (AFP photo)

Visitors look at stuffed polar bears on display at the 15th Harbin International Ice and Snow Festival in Harbin, northeast China's Heilongjiang province. (AFP photo)

Visitors walk past a snow sculpture on display at the 15th Harbin International Ice and Snow Festival in Harbin, northeast China's Heilongjiang province. China's most famous and popular winter attraction has drawn a combined 28.5 million visitors in the past two years. (AFP photo)

The Ice Palace, which is built by ice bricks, is open annually from December to February and attracts visitors during the Harbin Ice and Snow Festival. (Reuters photo)

A couple eat hot food at the Ice Palace in Shangri-La Hotel in the northern city of Harbin, Heilongjiang province. The Ice Palace, which is built by ice bricks, is open annually from December to February and attracts visitors during the Harbin Ice and Snow Festival. (Reuters photo)

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