CHINA: The 29th Harbin International Ice and Snow festival opens in freezing cold with an opulent display of illuminated ice and snow structures followed by a fireworks show

Record ID: 872589

  • Title: CHINA: The 29th Harbin International Ice and Snow festival opens in freezing cold with an opulent display of illuminated ice and snow structures followed by a fireworks show
  • Date: 5th January 2013
  • Summary: ICE CASTLE PEOPLE WALKING INTO ICE CASTLE VARIOUS OF PEOPLE IN ICE CAVE PEOPLE WALKING ON STAIRS ON ICE CASTLE ROOFTOP OF ICE CASTLE
  • Embargoed: 20th January 2013 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: China
  • City:
  • Country: China
  • Topics: Accidents,Entertainment
  • Reuters ID: LVA9HJDI14LY02EZ0D8IY9092ZJ3
  • Aspect Ratio:
  • Story Text: Harbin inaugurated its annual Ice and Snow Festival on Saturday (January 5) with a celebration of ornate ice and snow sculptures illuminated by colourful lights.
    The theme for this year's Ice and Snow World was "Dream Snow Forest and Magic Ice Animation" and featured majestic ice castles and sculptures of fairytale characters equipped with LED lights, bringing a colourful and warm aura to the icy wonderland.
    Nie Mingzun travelled from southern Guangdong province to experience the Ice Festival with his family.

    "I like it a lot. The lights and ice sculptures are so pretty. I have been to many places before, but nothing can compare with this. I feel I am in a fairytale land. It is very good," he said.
    The snow and Ice world covers more than 600,000 square meters, and it used about 150,000 cubic meters of snow and 180,000 cubic meters of ice to create the larger-than-life sculptures.
    The year's icy arena boasts a 140-metre long and 20-metre tall ice slide, that has attracted many adventurous young people.

    "I don't even know how I slid down from the top. It was really fast. It was so cool. It is worth trying. I am really excited to be here," said 23-year-old student Chou Hongnan.
    The festival has gathered global recognition, drawing more than 13 million visitors in 2012.
    That number is expected to be even higher this year considering the number of local and international tourists.
    Despite temperatures dipping below - 26 degrees Celsius (-14.8 Fahrenheit), visitors like 23-year-old Huang Yanjiao kept a warm disposition.

    "To be honest, it is really cold today. I felt so cold when I stepped off the train. And I was worried it would be colder here since there is ice everywhere. My feet had gone numb even before I came here. But once I am here, I get very excited. I don't feel cold any more when I see these beautiful sculptures. The travel is worth it," said Huang from neighbouring Jilin province.
    The opening ceremony was topped off with an opulent fireworks display which lasted for over 10 minutes admired by festival's visitors.
    The Snow and Ice Festival will continue until end of February, and will feature a plethora of cool activities like ice swimming, ice weddings and ice sculpture competitions among others.
    LUGE
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