The northeast United States might be feeling an uncomfortable chill this week, but for Harbin, a city in China’s northeastern Heilongjiang province, the colder, the better. Rather than complain, chilly temperatures are a cause for celebration with the 31st annual Harbin International Ice and Snow Festival, which kicked off on Monday.
It's colder in Harbin.weather.com
The festival, sponsored by the Heilongjiang Provincial Government, the Harbin Municipal Government, and the Tourism Administration of Harbin, begins on January 5 every year and runs through the end of February, depending on weather conditions.
The agenda for the festival includes snow and ice sculpture competitions, ice sailing, skiing, a "snow film art festival," exhibitions, performances and even a few wedding ceremonies on ice.
As temperatures dip, the city becomes a feast for the eyes, even if visitors can’t quite feel their toes.
Visitors look around ice sculptures ahead of the festival. Kim Kyung-Hoon/Reuters
People heading to the festival on the opening day are silhouetted against ice sculptures illuminated by colored lights.Kim Kyung-Hoon/Reuters
Newlyweds pose in front of an ice sculpture for their wedding photographs after their group wedding ceremony which was held as part of the festival.Kim Kyung-Hoon/Reuters
People visit a maze built with ice bricks and illuminated by colored lights during a trial operation ahead of the festival. Kim Kyung-Hoon/Reuters
People visit ice sculptures illuminated by colored lights during the opening day of the festival. Kim Kyung-Hoon/Reuters
People ride slides on ice sculptures illuminated by colored lights during the opening day of the festival.Kim Kyung-Hoon/Reuters
Visitors use kaleidoscopes which are displayed with ice sculptures ahead of the festival. Kim Kyung-Hoon/Reuters
A visitor takes a picture with an ice sculpture ahead of the festival.Kim Kyung-Hoon/Reuters
A woman looks for space to hang her red ribbon bearing her wish on an ice sculpture during the opening day of the festival. Kim Kyung-Hoon/Reuters
Visitors walk past a train-shaped ice sculpture ahead of the festival. Kim Kyung-Hoon/Reuters
Visitors walk past large snow sculptures during the festival.Kim Kyung-Hoon/Reuters
Swimmers dive into a pool carved into thick ice covering the Songhua River during the Harbin Ice Swimming Competition.Kim Kyung-Hoon/Reuters
People visit ice sculptures illuminated by colored lights during the opening day of the festival. Kim Kyung-Hoon/Reuters
Chinese lanterns are seen in front of ice sculptures illuminated by colored lights during the opening day of the festival.Kim Kyung-Hoon/Reuters