For one month in a year, Harbin turns into a fairy-tale city. Both children and adults from all over the world dream of getting there to visit one of the major international festivals - Harbin Ice and Snow Fest.

Thousands of workers, hundreds of architects and sculptors work hard to create real magic that can barely be found in any other country.

The history of that festival started in 1963. During that winter, several enthusiasts created beautiful ice sculptures and expositions. They placed them not far from the Songhua River. In several days that unusual exhibition attracted the attention of locals. The next year the creators decided to repeat the experiment, but that time they invited sculptors from other regions.

After 10 years, amusement became an international festival. The park of ice sculptures covered an area of hundreds of square meters, exhibits outnumbered 2 thousand, and they became equal in size to real houses and buildings.

Nowadays, masters of ice sculpturing from all over the world come here annually at the beginning of December to create a magical fairy-tale. After a month, at the beginning of January, all the festival sites get opened and work till the middle of February. If the weather is favorable, the sculptures are left to stay for a longer time.

The festival does not have a central place. Beautiful compositions made out of ice and snow are placed all over the city. However, there are some especially interesting places which are «Sun Island» with giant sculptures, «Ice and Snow World» – a festival site where you will find the most beautiful buildings made of ice blocks which are highlighted by colorful floodlights (it is better to come here during the evening time) and «Ice Lantern Art Fair» where the light-music show is organized every evening. Moreover, you will also have an opportunity to go ice skating or sledding on the Songhua River.