Harbin, China is considered to be one of the coldest places on Earth. It’s a superlative the city’s million million residents don’t take lightly. In fact, for the last 36 years, the community has embraced its frigid identity and invited people from around the globe to experience it for themselves with its famed International Ice and Snow Sculpture Festival.
Billed as the world’s largest winter festival, the ice and snow sculpture festival is truly a sight to behold.
Don't believe us, take a look!
A man visits ice sculptures at the Harbin International Ice and Snow Sculpture Festival in the northern Chinese city of Harbin. The annual festival officially runs from January 5 to February 25. Photograph: Aly Song/Reuters
An aerial view of the Harbin Ice and snow world. The festival is set to stun tourists with a 148-acre, neon-lit 'Kingdom of Snow' built by around 10,000 workers in 15 days. Photograph: Lintao Zhang/Getty Images
Fireworks light up the sky behind ice sculptures on the opening day of the Harbin International Ice and Snow Sculpture Festival. The fairy-tale-like theme park comprises 21 groups of semi-transparent sculptures, which have been hand-carved by artists with ice blocks hauled from the famed local river Songhua. Photograph: Aly Song/Reuters
People visit the colourful, illuminated ice sculptures at the Harbin Ice and Snow World. Entrance to Harbin Ice and Snow World costs RMB330 (Rs 3,400). Photograph: Lintao Zhang/Getty Images
The tallest sculpture in the display touches the sky at a whopping 150 feet. Photograph: Lintao Zhang/Getty Images
People visit a snow sculpture prepared for the Harbin International Ice and Snow Sculpture Festival. First celebrated in 1985, the Harbin International Ice and Snow Sculpture Festival was inspired by Heilongjiang's traditional lanterns, which were carved out of ice and illuminated by candles. Photograph: Aly Song/Reuters
The festival attracts up to 15 million visitors annually. Photograph: Lintao Zhang/Getty Images
Chinese workers are seen polishing an ice sculpture two days before tourists swarm to be impressed by the frozen neon city. The sculptures have been devoted to celebrating China's 'One Belt, One Road' initiative unveiled by China’s President Xi in 2013. Photograph: Lintao Zhang/Getty Images
If you’re planning to visit the park this winter you may want to act fast. According to The Washington Post, it’s expected to be warmer than usual in the region over the next few weeks, with temperatures in the teens during the day and hitting just below zero at night. Photograph: Lintao Zhang/Getty Images
Girls play in front of a snow sculpture at the Harbin International Ice and Snow Sculpture Festival, in the northern city of Harbin, Heilongjiang province, China. Photograph: Aly Song/Reuters