A view of Harbin Ice and Snow World in Heilongjiang Province on January 5, 2024 /CFP
Boasting rich ice and snow resources in winter, both China and Russia have demonstrated their exceptional proficiency in ice and snow sculpting.
Snow sculptures are seen at Harbin Ice and Snow World in Heilongjiang Province on January 12, 2024. /CFP
Harbin Ice and Snow World, a major part of the annual Harbin International Ice and Snow Festival, has been recognized by the Guinness World Records as the "largest ice and snow-themed amusement park" in the world.
A giant ice sculpture of a cathedral is seen at Harbin Ice and Snow World in Heilongjiang Province on February 11, 2024. /CFP
Founded in 1999, the park has been expanding every year and covered an area of 816,682.5 square meters last winter. Featuring colorful ice and snow sculptures and a variety of winter entertainment activities, it's one of the most popular winter attractions in China, attracting about 30,000 visitors daily during this year's opening season.
An ice sculpture featuring a horse is seen during the Olkhon Ice Fest on the shores of Lake Baikal's Olkhon Island in Russia on February 17, 2024. /CFP
A diverse array of ice sculptures also forms a unique spectacle on the shores of Lake Baikal's Olkhon Island every winter. The Olkhon Ice Fest, an international festival of ice sculptures, used to be an ice sculpture competition, but the format has changed to allow artists to work together to create an ice sculpture park.
A visitor poses for photos with an ice sculpture during the Olkhon Ice Fest on the shores of Lake Baikal's Olkhon Island in Russia on February 17, 2024. /CFP
During this year's festival, sculptors from Russia and Mongolia built an entire kilometer of ice figures on the theme "Universe of Baikal." Like those at Harbin Ice and Snow World, the sculptures at Baikal were also illuminated in the evening.
Visitors pose for photos with ice sculptures during the Olkhon Ice Fest on the shores of Lake Baikal's Olkhon Island in Russia on February 17, 2024. /CFP
Representatives from the Harbin International Ice and Snow Festival also attended the Olkhon Ice Fest to exchange knowledge and expertise.