The 32nd Harbin International Snow and Ice Festival got off to a good start in the city of Harbin, Heilongjiang province, on Jan 5, on the same day as the Ice and Snow World, with around 20 ice and snow amusement sites, such as a 320-meter-long ice slide, a U-style slide, a special ski run, snowy football and tug-of-war games, and ice biking, for locals and tourists alike.

There are also the usual ice and snow sculptures, as well as live performances, fashion shows, winter swimming, a disco party, and a float parade. Highlights this year include a Russian oil painting exhibit, dance performance on ice, and international winter sports.

People can get a look at the ice work of many leading sculptors from China and abroad for free now that the sculpture contest, which got sculptors from Finland and the United Kingdom as jury members, has concluded on Jan 4 as part of Ice and Snow World, which has a store near its exit for local green, organic and pollution-free products, and where visitors can get the most authentic Harbin tastes if they want to take a break to warm themselves.

Snow and ice sculptures at the Sun Island Snow Expo, in Harbin, Heilongjiang province, on Jan 1. [Photo/Xinhua]