The Harbin International Ice and Snow Festival draws tens of thousands of visitors each year to its enormous ice buildings and sculptures. Harbin is located in in northeast China’s Heilongjiang province and this is the 16th year that the festival has been operating. The stunning photos below will give you a glimpse of what to expect if you ever venture there to see it for yourself.
Visitors walk at the China Ice and Snow World at the 16th Harbin International Ice and Snow Festival in Harbin, northeast China’s Heilongjiang province on January 7, 2015. The festival draws tens of thousands of visitors each year to its enormous ice buildings and sculptures. AFP PHOTO / FRED DUFOUR (Photo credit should read FRED DUFOUR/AFP/Getty Images) []
Visitors walk at the China Ice and Snow World at the 16th Harbin International Ice and Snow Festival in Harbin, northeast China’s Heilongjiang province on January 7, 2015. AFP PHOTO / FRED DUFOUR
A young girl sits on an ice horse at the China Ice and Snow World at the 16th Harbin International Ice and Snow Festival in Harbin, northeast China’s Heilongjiang province on January 7, 2015. AFP PHOTO / FRED DUFOUR
Visitors walk through the China Ice and Snow World at the 16th Harbin International Ice and Snow Festival in Harbin, northeast China’s Heilongjiang province on January 7, 2015.. AFP PHOTO / FRED DUFOUR
A couple take a selfie photograph as they kiss at the China Ice and Snow World at the 16th Harbin International Ice and Snow Festival in Harbin, northeast China’s Heilongjiang province on January 7, 2015. AFP PHOTO / FRED DUFOUR
Visitors walk through the China Ice and Snow World at the 16th Harbin International Ice and Snow Festival in Harbin, northeast China’s Heilongjiang province on January 7, 2015. AFP PHOTO / FRED DUFOUR
Visitors walk through the China Ice and Snow World at the 16th Harbin International Ice and Snow Festival in Harbin, northeast China’s Heilongjiang province on January 7, 2015. AFP PHOTO / FRED DUFOUR
Visitors walk through the China Ice and Snow World at the 16th Harbin International Ice and Snow Festival in Harbin, northeast China’s Heilongjiang province on January 7. AFP PHOTO / FRED DUFOUR
Visitors walk through the China Ice and Snow World at the 16th Harbin International Ice and Snow Festival in Harbin, northeast China’s Heilongjiang province on January 7, 2015. AFP PHOTO / FRED DUFOUR
Bears kept to entertain tourists stand chained to posts during the 16th Harbin International Ice and Snow Festival at Harbin in northeast China’s Heilongjiang province on January 6, 2015. AFP PHOTO / FRED DUFOUR
People go sledging on the frozen Songhua river on January 6, 2015 as part of the16th Harbin International Ice and Snow Festival in Harbin, northeast China’s Heilongjiang province. AFP PHOTO / FRED DUFOUR
Visitors walk on the frozen Songhua river on January 6, 2015 as part of the16th Harbin International Ice and Snow Festival in Harbin, northeast China’s Heilongjiang province. AFP PHOTO / FRED DUFOUR
A horse-drawn carriage driver waits for clients on January 6, 2015 during the 16th Harbin International Ice and Snow Festival at Harbin in northeast China’s Heilongjiang province. AFP PHOTO / FRED DUFOUR
A woman enters a tent to warm herself at Zhaolin Park on January 6, 2015 as part of the16th Harbin International Ice and Snow Festival in Harbin, northeast China’s Heilongjiang province. AFP PHOTO / FRED DUFOUR
A woman looks at ice sculptures while visiting the Zhaolin Park on January 6, 2015 during the 16th Harbin International Ice and Snow Festival in Harbin, northeast China’s Heilongjiang province. AFP PHOTO / FRED DUFOUR
People walk in a wheel on the ice while visiting the Zhaolin Park on January 6, 2015 during the 16th Harbin International Ice and Snow Festival in Harbin, northeast China’s Heilongjiang province. AFP PHOTO / FRED DUFOUR
A woman takes pictures of ice sculpture in Zhaolin Park on January 6, 2015 as part of the16th Harbin International Ice and Snow Festival in Harbin, northeast China’s Heilongjiang province.. AFP PHOTO / FRED DUFOUR
Children ride a little train while visiting the Zhaolin Park on January 6, 2015 during the 16th Harbin International Ice and Snow Festival in Harbin, northeast China’s Heilongjiang province. AFP PHOTO / FRED DUFOUR
A man and a child visit an ice sculpture at Zhaolin Park on January 6, 2015 as part of the16th Harbin International Ice and Snow Festival in Harbin, northeast China’s Heilongjiang province.. AFP PHOTO / FRED DUFOUR
Children ride on a miniature bus during the 16th Harbin International Ice and Snow Festival in Harbin, northeast China’s Heilongjiang province on January 5, 2015. AFP PHOTO / FRED DUFOUR
A father and his daughter ride a cycle over ice during the 16th Harbin International Ice and Snow Festival in Harbin, northeast China’s Heilongjiang province on January 5, 2015. AFP PHOTO / FRED DUFOUR
A visitor exits an igloo during the 16th Harbin International Ice and Snow Festival in Harbin, northeast China’s Heilongjiang province on January 5, 2015. AFP PHOTO / FRED DUFOUR
Visitors take photographs on an ice sculpture during the 16th Harbin International Ice and Snow Festival in Harbin, northeast China’s Heilongjiang province on January 5, 2015. AFP PHOTO / FRED DUFOUR
Visitors look at snow sculptures during the 16th Harbin International Ice and Snow Festival in Harbin, northeast China’s Heilongjiang province on January 5, 2015. AFP PHOTO / FRED DUFOUR
A visitor with a Chinese national flag draped over her shoulders takes a photograph of a snow sculpture during the 16th Harbin International Ice and Snow Festival in Harbin, northeast China’s Heilongjiang province on January 5, 2015.
An ice skater glides over the frozen Songhua river at the 16th Harbin International Ice and Snow Festival in Harbin, northeast China’s Heilongjiang province on January 5, 2015. AFP PHOTO / FRED DUFOUR
A picture taken on January 4, 2015 shows a couple taking a pose at the China Ice and Snow World on the eve of the opening ceremony of the 16th Harbin International Ice and Snow Festival in Harbin, northeast China’s Heilongjiang province. AFP PHOTO / FRED DUFOUR
A picture taken on January 4, 2015 shows people visiting the China Ice and Snow World on the eve of the opening ceremony of the 16th Harbin International Ice and Snow Festival in Harbin, northeast China’s Heilongjiang province. AFP PHOTO / FRED DUFOUR
A picture taken on January 4, 2015 shows the China Ice and Snow World on the eve of the opening ceremony of the 16th Harbin International Ice and Snow Festival in Harbin, northeast China’s Heilongjiang province. AFP PHOTO / FRED DUFOUR
a woman slides at the China Ice and Snow World on January 4, 2015 on the eve of the opening ceremony of the 16th Harbin International Ice and Snow Festival in Harbin, northeast China’s Heilongjiang province. AFP PHOTO / FRED DUFOUR
Visitors walks the stairs of an ice tower at the China Ice and Snow World on January 4, 2015 on the eve of the opening ceremony of the 16th Harbin International Ice and Snow Festival in Harbin, northeast China’s Heilongjiang province. AFP PHOTO / FRED DUFOUR
a woman slides at the China Ice and Snow World on January 4, 2015 on the eve of the opening ceremony of the 16th Harbin International Ice and Snow Festival in Harbin, northeast China’s Heilongjiang province. AFP PHOTO / FRED DUFOUR
Visitors walks in an ice mazeat the China Ice and Snow World on January 4, 2015 on the eve of the opening ceremony of the 16th Harbin International Ice and Snow Festival in Harbin, northeast China’s Heilongjiang province. AFP PHOTO / FRED DUFOUR
Visitors walk through the China Ice and Snow World at the 16th Harbin International Ice and Snow Festival in Harbin, northeast China’s Heilongjiang province on January 7, 2015. The festival draws tens of thousands of visitors each year to its enormous ice buildings and sculptures. AFP PHOTO / FRED DUFOUR