Freezing conditions heat up Harbin(2)
Tourists enjoying an ice castle. Photos: Xinhua
One of the most stunning sculptures at Ice and Snow World is the Dreaming Castle. Standing 50 meters tall and taking 2,000 workers to construct in 15 days, the castle is the tallest ice sculpture in the world and is lit by hundreds of red, green and yellow lights, turning it into a fairyland. It drew as many as 30,000 visitors on its first test-run day, according to staff at the center.
Aside from the professional sculptures, hands-on activities always feature highly at the event. The making of snowmen, sporting competitions, exhibitions and concerts are all hoping to draw children and adults alike to Harbin.
Tour operators are also offering visits to local families, for those keen on taking a look at life in the countryside. Tours include snow-sledding, local foods and enjoying the tranquility far from the hustle and bustle of city life.
According to the festival's official website, the Harbin Ice and Snow Festival operates for more days each year than any other in the world and this year is scheduled to run until late February, covering the traditional Chinese Spring Festival and the Lantern Festival.
First opening its doors in 1985, the annual festival is one of the four greatest ice and snow festivals in the world, sharing the limelight with Quebec City Winter Carnival, Norway Ski Festival and Japan's Sapporo Snow Festival, according to the website.
As the most famous city in China for ice and snow attractions, Harbin is also home to numerous world skiing competitions, ice lantern tourism and beer festivals, earning it the nickname "the capital of ice and snow tourism."
