The photos show an artistic ice sculpture resembling the famous Saint Sofia Cathedral in Harbin city, capital of northeast China's Heilongjiang Province. The "ice cathedral" was built by pouring, dripping or spraying roughly 9.6 million drops of local brand Harbin Beer on framework ropes. The spectacular work of art, which is 5.5 meters high and 3.5 meters wide, took about 10 people 15 days to complete. [Photo: CRI] 

Beer was chosen as the material since it congeals into yellow and white crystals at cold temperatures and shines brilliantly in sunlight.

The Saint Sofia Cathedral is an example of typical Byzantine architecture as well as one of Harbin's landmark buildings.