A city made of ice: Spectacular ice sculptures at the 2015 Harbin International Ice and Snow Festival
Every winter, a magical city made of ice glows brightly in north-eastern China's Heilongjiang province.
Ice castles, towers and fantastical structures illuminated with coloured lights form the centrepiece of the Harbin International Ice and Snow Sculpture Festival.
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The blocks of ice used to create the vast structures are cut from the nearby Songhua River. De-ionised water is used for some structures, making them transparent.
The event, which also features the world's largest snow sculptures, has become hugely popular, drawing around a million visitors every year.
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Harbin is one of coldest cities in China and is commonly referred to as "the ice city." The average temperature in winter is -16.8°C (1.8°F) and lows of -35°C (-31°F) are not uncommon.
The 31st International Ice and Snow Sculpture Festival runs in the city of Harbin from January 5 to February 25, 2015.
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