The Harbin Ice and Snow World, a highlight of the annual ice and snow festival in Harbin, capital of China's northernmost Heilongjiang province, recently started construction.
 
The ever-popular extravaganza will feature exquisite ice and snow sculptures, abundant entertainment items on ice, as well as an array of ice-and-snow-related activities.
 
Unlike in previous years, this year’s Harbin Ice and Snow World will use the 40,000 cubic meters of ice reserved in 2021.
 
After the ice was collected from the frozen Songhua River last year, it was sent to the ice storage fields.
   
It was covered with eight layers of "cold jackets" such as grass, plastic sheeting and cotton cloth, and then sealed with snow walls and soil layers, allowing the ice to withstand temperatures of up to 30 degrees Celsius.
 
The Harbin Ice and Snow World Ferris Wheel, a new landmark of Harbin, will be put into use during this year's ice and snow world operation period, allowing tourists to admire the splendid Songhua River scenery and extraordinary ice and snow sculptures.
 
Construction workers responsible for setting up Harbin Ice and Snow World are busy in the ice storage field. [Photo/Harbin Release]