Beijing, Jan 5 (IANS) A winter festival featuring all things related to ice and snow opened in Harbin, the capital of China's Heilongjiang province, on Tuesday.
The three-month long festival boasts of more than 100 ice and snow events, covering tourism, culture, trade, sports and fashion, Xinhua news agency reported.
In addition to an ice-themed fun fair and ice sculptures, visitors can participate in a parade, enjoy winter fishing, get married in or take a dip in the hot springs.
The festival is spread out over 800,000 sq.metres and contains more than 330,000 cubic metres of snow and ice.
This year's festival will feature a 51-metre tall crown of ice and snow, the tallest and heaviest structure of its kind, officials said.
LED lights line the streets, lakes and parks, creating a welcoming, festive atmosphere in Harbin.
More than 100 foreign artists will compete in the ice sculpture and LED lighting design competitions.
