Geographically, it is located in Northeast China under the direct influence of the cold winter wind from Siberia.
The annual Harbin International Ice and Snow Sculpture Festival has been held since 1963.
It had been interrupted for a number of years during the Cultural Revolution until it was resumed in 1985.
Officially, the festival starts January 5th and lasts one month.
However the exhibits often open earlier and stay longer if weather permits.
Ice sculpture decoration technology ranges from the modern (using lasers) to traditional (with ice lanterns).
There are ice lantern park touring activities held in many parks in the city.
