Stunning photos taken in -25C temperatures show mammoth ice palaces and snow sculptures at a Chinese festival.
The Harbin Ice and Snow World festival, based in Heilongjiang, China, is home to extreme cold weather, which formed unique ice shapes – therefore explaining the -25°C temperatures.
From staggering ice sculptures to fairground rides, the festival has it all and has attracted thousands of people to come and visit the largest exhibition of ice and snow sculptures in the world.
Teachers Laine Perse, 34, and Arturs Drinins, 34, from Latvia, visited the festival together and said it was something that ‘can’t be experienced elsewhere in the world’.
‘Our favourite part was seeing the sculptures in both “worlds” – at the daylight time and after sunset,’ they said.
‘Harbin city experiences long and bitterly cold winters, making it an ideal location for the famous Harbin International Ice and Snow Festival, which is the grandest exhibition of ice and snow sculptures on earth.
‘The roots of this event trace back to the post-Cultural Revolution era when Harbin’s traditional Ice Lantern show gained global recognition over eight years.
‘Its first edition unfolded in 1985. Every year now, over a period of 3-4 weeks, Harbin undergoes a magical transformation that leaves spectators speechless.’
Light elements illuminate the impressive buildings made out of blocks of ice at the festival
A performance is staged during the launching ceremony of the giant snowman wearing a red scarf at Harbin Music Park on December 17, 2024 in Harbin, Heilongjiang Province of China
From staggering ice sculptures to fairground rides, the festival has it all and has attracted thousands of people to come and visit the largest exhibition of ice and snow sculptures in the world
Ice sculpture with elements of the 9th Asian Winter Games Harbin 2025 is seen at the construction site of the 26th Harbin Ice and Snow World
Three snowmen with hats and red scarves welcome tourists at the entrance of the 26th Harbin Ice and Snow World
Ice sculpture with elements of the 9th Asian Winter Games Harbin 2025
Tourists pose for selfies on the steps of one of the ice palaces
An aerial drone photo shows the main tower of the Harbin Ice-Snow World
Tourists visit the Harbin Ice-Snow World in Harbin, northeast China’s Heilongjiang Province
An aerial drone photo shows hundreds of visitors at the Harbin Ice-Snow World festival
Harbin Ice and Snow World officially opened on December 20, 2024
The attractions include a snowflake-shaped labyrinth
Two tourists standing next to the wall of one building shows the scale of the monuments
The construction of the Ice and Snow World finished earlier this month and the festival was recently opened for tourists
The Harbin Ice and Snow festival, based in Heilongjiang, China , is home to extreme cold weather, which formed unique ice shapes – therefore explaining the -25°C temperatures
Ice sculpture with elements of the 9th Asian Winter Games Harbin 2025
