Winter wonderland

Far from the dense, stifling skylines and the hustle and bustle of urban jungles, there is a place where snow dances in the chill air, and where sculptures of magnificent ice castles and palaces glow in fabulous colors, creating a scene of complete tranquility.

Ice and Snow World park is a quintessential symbol of Harbin, the capital of Heilongjiang province in Northeast China.

With grand ice sculptures and fascinating snow scenes, the park's International Snow and Ice Festival, which is now in its 17th year and runs until March, has already attracted hundreds of thousands of tourists since it opened in December.

It features a 320-meter-long ice slide, an ancient pavilion carved from ice, and the sublime 33-meter-tall Continental Castle.

Visitors can also get a taste of local treats and snacks, and enjoy the dazzling outdoor shows of light and music, and performances such as figure skating and snowboarding.

One netizen who visited the festival describes it as an unparalleled world of ice, brimming with romantic fairy tales.

zhouhuiying@chinadaily.com.cn

(China Daily European Weekly 01/15/2016 page4)