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January 20, 2012 |
Harbin International Ice and Snow Festival 2012
The annual Harbin International Ice and Snow Festival has been held since 1963, interrupted for a number of years during the Cultural Revolution until it was resumed in 1985. Harbin is the capital of Heilongjiang province, in northeastern China. It is nicknamed "Ice City" and aptly so for winter January temperatures that average minus 18 degrees Celsius, under the influence of the cold winter wind from Siberia. The festival officially starts January 5th and lasts one month, although exhibits often stay open longer, weather permitting. Harbin is one of the world's four largest ice and snow festivals, along with Japan's Sapporo Snow Festival, Canada's Quebec City Winter Carnival and Norway's Ski Festival. -- Paula Nelson (28 photos total)

A newly married husband and wife celebrate after a group wedding ceremony as part of the 28th Harbin International Ice and Snow Festival. The wedding was organized by the city government, and 18 couples from Nigeria, Russia and China participated in the ceremony, local media reported. (Sheng Li/Reuters) #

The Harbin Ice and Snow festival, an annual event, now in its 26th year, draws crowds from across China and even a few visitors from overseas, drawn to the unique visions of an international roster of sculptors who illuminate their creations with multicolored electric lights encased in the translucent ice. (Stringer/AFP/Getty Images) #
More links and information
Harbin Ice Festival Photos - Google Images
BBC News in Pictures: Harbin Ice Festival - BBC News
Harbin International Ice and Snow Sculpture Festival - Wikipedia entry
Harbin - Wikipedia entry