Stunning photographs taken in temperatures of -25C show gigantic ice palaces and snow sculptures at a Chinese festival.
The Harbin Ice and Snow World festival, based in Heilongjiang, China, is home to an extremely cold climate, which formed unique ice shapes, explaining the temperatures of -25°C.
From amazing ice sculptures to carnival rides, the festival has it all and has attracted thousands of people to visit the world’s largest ice and snow sculpture exhibition.
Professors Laine Perse, 34, and Arturs Drinins, 34, from Latvia, visited the festival together and said it was something “you can’t experience anywhere else in the world.”
“Our favorite part was seeing the sculptures in both ‘worlds’, during the day and after sunset,” they said.
‘The city of Harbin experiences long and extremely cold winters, making it an ideal location for the famous Harbin International Ice and Snow Festival, which is the largest ice and snow sculpture exhibition in the world.
‘The roots of this event date back to the post-Cultural Revolution era, when Harbin’s traditional Ice Lantern show gained global recognition for eight years.
“Its first edition was developed in 1985. Every year, for a period of 3 to 4 weeks, Harbin undergoes a magical transformation that leaves viewers speechless.”
Luminous elements illuminate the impressive buildings made of ice blocks at the festival
A performance is performed during the launching ceremony of the giant snowman with a red scarf at Harbin Music Park on December 17, 2024 in Harbin, China’s Heilongjiang province.
From amazing ice sculptures to carnival rides, the festival has it all and has attracted thousands of people to visit the world’s largest ice and snow sculpture exhibition.
Ice sculpture with elements of the 9th Harbin 2025 Asian Winter Games at the construction site of the 26th Harbin Ice and Snow World
Three snowmen in red hats and scarves welcome tourists at the entrance to the 26th Harbin Ice and Snow World Cup
Ice sculpture with elements of the IX Harbin 2025 Asian Winter Games
Tourists pose for selfies on the stairs of one of the ice palaces.
An aerial drone photo shows the main tower of Harbin Ice and Snow World.
Tourists visit Harbin Ice and Snow World in Harbin, Heilongjiang Province, northeast China
An aerial drone photo shows hundreds of visitors at the Harbin World Ice and Snow Festival.
Harbin Ice and Snow World officially opened on December 20, 2024
Attractions include a snowflake-shaped maze.
Two tourists standing next to the wall of a building show the scale of the monuments.
Construction on the World of Ice and Snow finished earlier this month and the festival recently opened to tourists.
The Harbin Ice and Snow Festival, based in Heilongjiang, China, is home to extremely cold weather, which formed unique ice shapes, explaining the temperatures of -25°C.
Ice sculpture with elements of the IX Harbin 2025 Asian Winter Games