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Error occurred while fetching labs Subtitles - Off Video Ad Feedback See the world's best ice-sculptors in action 01:08 • Source: [CCTV](http://english.cctv.com/) Best of Travel 9 videos  Video Ad Feedback Tapas dishes that won’t let you down 06:09 Now playing • Source: [CNN](https://www.cnn.com/)  Video Ad Feedback How United crews turn a Boeing 737 in 90 minutes on the tarmac 02:46 Now playing • Source: [CNN](https://www.cnn.com/)  Video Ad Feedback Seville’s convent cookies: A taste of cloistered tradition 05:52 Now playing • Source: [CNN](https://www.cnn.com/)  Video Ad Feedback See the world's best ice-sculptors in action 01:08 Now playing • Source: [CCTV](http://english.cctv.com/)  Video Ad Feedback American influencer among thousands stranded in the Middle East 02:57 Now playing • Source: [CNN](https://www.cnn.com/)  Video Ad Feedback How Middle East flight disruptions are leaving foreigners stranded 01:25 Now playing • Source: [CNN](https://www.cnn.com/)  Video Ad Feedback Two Boeings and an Airbus made Richard Quest's top airplanes. 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Now’s your chance. Ad Feedback The Harbin International Snow and Ice Festival, famed for its gigantic illuminated sculptures, has officially kicked off in northern China. Ad Feedback The annual event, held in the capital of Heilongjiang Province, is now in its 33rd year. The festival is made up of several themed zones. The main attraction is the Harbin Ice and Snow World, which covers more than 750,000 square meters and features up to 180,000 cubic meters of ice.  **Songhua River:** Remarkably, the blocks of ice used to create the sculptures were taken from Harbin's frozen Songhua River. Tao Zhang/NurPhoto via Getty Images  **Icy art:** Thanks to the area's chilly winter climate, the festival usually lasts until late February. Tao Zhang/NurPhoto via Getty Images  **Harbin International Snow and Ice Festival:** Famous for its huge, intricate ice sculptures, the 33rd Harbin International Snow and Ice Festival is now underway. Kyodo News via Getty Images  **Opening ceremony:** The event, which lasts till the end of February, kicked off with a large fireworks display on January 5. NICOLAS ASFOURI/AFP/Getty Images  **Selfie central:** Expect plenty of scenes like this. The festival's Ice and Snow World zone, which covers more than 750,000 square meters, was made for selfies. NICOLAS ASFOURI/AFP/Getty Images  **The goddess:** Many of the Ice and Snow World's sculptures were inspired by Chinese fairy tales and global landmarks. This giant sculpture of Kuanyin, the Chinese goddess of mercy, towers over a castle-like structure made from blocks of ice. Chinatopix via AP  **World's best snow festival?:** The Harbin International Snow and Ice Festival has grown to become one of the biggest snow festival destinations in the world, joining the ranks of the Sapporo Snow Festival in Japan, Canada's Quebec Winter Carnival and Norway's Holmenkollen Ski Festival. NICOLAS ASFOURI/AFP/Getty Images  **Songhua River:** Remarkably, the blocks of ice used to create the sculptures were taken from Harbin's frozen Songhua River. Tao Zhang/NurPhoto via Getty Images  **Icy art:** Thanks to the area's chilly winter climate, the festival usually lasts until late February. Tao Zhang/NurPhoto via Getty Images  **Harbin International Snow and Ice Festival:** Famous for its huge, intricate ice sculptures, the 33rd Harbin International Snow and Ice Festival is now underway. Kyodo News via Getty Images  **Opening ceremony:** The event, which lasts till the end of February, kicked off with a large fireworks display on January 5. NICOLAS ASFOURI/AFP/Getty Images ##### Harbin Ice Festival 2017 1 of 7 Prev Next Sculptors come from all over the world to compete in the annual festival. What’s perhaps most remarkable about the event is the fact the ice is sourced from Harbin’s Songhua River. According to a [China Daily](http://usa.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2016-12/14/content_27663530.htm) report, more than 50 farmers worked for 20 days to supply Harbin International Snow and Ice Festival’s sculptors with blocks of ice from the river. The best time to go is at night, when sculptures are illuminated with LED lights. Though it’s been open to visitors since late December, the official launch took place on January 5. [Move over Sydney – the Harbin Opera House is a work of art](http://edition.cnn.com/2016/10/13/architecture/harbin-opera-house/) ## Chilly in China Since 1985, the Harbin International Snow and Ice Festival has grown to become one of the biggest snow festival destinations in the world, joining the ranks of the Sapporo Snow Festival in Japan, Canada’s Quebec Winter Carnival and Norway’s Holmenkollen Ski Festival. There’s just one deterrent. It’s cold. Very cold. January daytime temperatures in Harbin range from minus 13 to minus 24 Celsius. The city is, after all, pretty close to Russia, its northern neighbor’s influence permeating everything from architecture to food. But there is an upside to the chill. The sculptures can stick around for quite a while. Depending on weather conditions, the festival usually lasts until late February. Thinking of visiting? We suggest staying away from January 27-February 3, when the Lunar New Year holidaymakers move in. 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### Story highlights 33rd annual Harbin International Snow and Ice Festival kicked off January 5 At night, the massive sculptures are illuminated CNN — Always wanted to visit a real life winter wonderland, complete with its own ice castle? Now’s your chance. Ad Feedback The Harbin International Snow and Ice Festival, famed for its gigantic illuminated sculptures, has officially kicked off in northern China. Ad Feedback The annual event, held in the capital of Heilongjiang Province, is now in its 33rd year. The festival is made up of several themed zones. The main attraction is the Harbin Ice and Snow World, which covers more than 750,000 square meters and features up to 180,000 cubic meters of ice. ##### Harbin Ice Festival 2017 1 of 7 Sculptors come from all over the world to compete in the annual festival. What’s perhaps most remarkable about the event is the fact the ice is sourced from Harbin’s Songhua River. According to a [China Daily](http://usa.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2016-12/14/content_27663530.htm) report, more than 50 farmers worked for 20 days to supply Harbin International Snow and Ice Festival’s sculptors with blocks of ice from the river. The best time to go is at night, when sculptures are illuminated with LED lights. Though it’s been open to visitors since late December, the official launch took place on January 5. [Move over Sydney – the Harbin Opera House is a work of art](http://edition.cnn.com/2016/10/13/architecture/harbin-opera-house/) Since 1985, the Harbin International Snow and Ice Festival has grown to become one of the biggest snow festival destinations in the world, joining the ranks of the Sapporo Snow Festival in Japan, Canada’s Quebec Winter Carnival and Norway’s Holmenkollen Ski Festival. There’s just one deterrent. It’s cold. Very cold. January daytime temperatures in Harbin range from minus 13 to minus 24 Celsius. The city is, after all, pretty close to Russia, its northern neighbor’s influence permeating everything from architecture to food. But there is an upside to the chill. The sculptures can stick around for quite a while. Depending on weather conditions, the festival usually lasts until late February. Thinking of visiting? We suggest staying away from January 27-February 3, when the Lunar New Year holidaymakers move in. [*Harbin International Snow and Ice Festiva*](http://www.icefestivalharbin.com/)*l, North bank of Songhua River, Songbei District, Harbin 150000 China*