A group wedding ceremony is held during the first Harbin International Ice and Snow Festival on Jan 5, 1985. [Photo/MY399.COM]
Harbin, the capital city of China's northernmost Heilongjiang province, has a major claim to fame thanks to its often harsh winters that yield it bountiful and beautiful ice and snow – so much so that it has been dubbed China's Ice City.
In recent years, Harbin has seen its fortunes continue to rise as a winter mecca for tourists from home and abroad.
For most, merely to mention traveling to Harbin calls to mind delightful images of the ice and snow sculptures and the rich winter entertainment options that feature during the annual Harbin International Ice and Snow Festival.
It is so popular that it has become one of the world's four biggest such events, along with the Sapporo Snow Festival in Japan, the Quebec Winter Carnival in Canada and Norway's Holmenkollen Ski Festival.
Originating from the Ice Lantern Show in 1985, the Harbin International Ice and Snow Festival starts from late December and lasts until the ice and snow begin melting in the new year.
A drawing depicts the opening ceremony of the third Harbin International Ice and Snow Festival. [Photo/MY399.COM]
Highlights during the month-long festival include ice and snow sculpture competitions, Harbin Ice and Snow World, the Harbin Sun Island International Snow Sculpture Art Expo, the Ice Lantern Show in Zhaolin Park and various entertainments on the frozen Songhua River.
In addition to tourism, the festival has served as a bridge for Harbin to conduct international exchanges and commerce, with business negotiations and technical exchanges being held annually during the period.
