Every year, in northeastern China’s Heilongjiang province, the city of Harbin hosts the Harbin International Ice and Snow Sculpture Festival, which features massive ice and snow sculptures—and attracts more than 1 million visitors. At night, the sculptures are colorfully illuminated and visitors can climb and play on some of the structures. This year, the 35th-annual festival opened on January 5, and will run through the end of February.
Photos of the 2019 Harbin Ice and Snow Festival
-
-
Chinese workers use a machine to cut large blocks of ice that will be used to make ice sculptures from the frozen Songhua River in preparation for the Harbin Ice and Snow Festival on December 20, 2018, in Harbin, China. #
Kevin Frayer / Getty -
A team of Chinese workers pulls a large block of ice that will be used in to make ice sculptures from the frozen Songhua River on December 20, 2018. For weeks before the festival, hired workers collect and transport nearly 200,000 cubic meters (261,500 cubic yards) of ice to the site. The blocks weigh up to 700 kilograms (1,545 pounds) each. #
Kevin Frayer / Getty -
-
Workers carve the main sculpture ahead of the Harbin Sun Island International Snow Sculpture Art Exposition on December 19, 2018. The snow sculpture is 33 meters high and more than 100 meters long. #
VCG via Getty -
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Tourists walk among illuminated ice sculptures during the opening day of the 35th Harbin International Ice and Snow Festival, on January 5, 2019, in Harbin, Heilongjiang province, China. #
VCG / VCG via Getty
We want to hear what you think about this article. Submit a letter to the editor or write to letters@theatlantic.com.