Northeast China: a place to enjoy winter time

Harbin International Ice and Snow Sculpture Festival

The annual Harbin International Ice and Snow Sculpture Festival is a festival that takes place with a theme in Harbin, northeast China's Heilongjiang province. It is recognized as one of top four snow festivals in the world. The other three are Sapporo Snow Festival in Japan, Quebec Winter Carnival in Canada and Holmenkollen Ski Festival in Norway.

Photo taken on Dec. 23, 2012 shows an ice sculpture in the Ice and Snow World in Harbin, northeast China's Heilongjiang province. (Xinhua/Wang Song)

Photo taken on Dec. 23, 2012 shows ice sculptures in the Ice and Snow World in Harbin, northeast China's Heilongjiang province. (Xinhua/Wang Song)

Photo taken on Jan. 5, 2013 shows visitors in the Ice and Snow World in Harbin, northeast China's Heilongjiang province. (Xinhua/Wang Jianwei)

Photo taken on Jan. 2, 2013 shows Psy, a South Korean singer, in snow sculpture standing on Central Street in Harbin, northeast China's Heilongjiang province. (Xinhua/Wang Jianwei)

Snow sculpture artists carve their work for an expo of snow sculptures on Sun Island in Harbin, northeast China's Heilongjiang province on Dec. 8, 2015. (Xinhua/Wang Jianwei)

A snow sculpture artist carves his work for an expo of snow sculptures on Sun Island in Harbin, northeast China's Heilongjiang province on Jan. 12, 2015. (Xinhua/Wang Jianwei)