Harbin's magnificent ice festival

If you’re pining for a white Christmas, or maybe just love the sight of a snowy landscape perhaps you had better experience the sights at Harbin’s Ice and Snow Festival.

This annual event in China’s Heilongjiang province is a sight that needs to be seen to be believed. As the largest ice and snow festival in the world, 20 million people travel to Harbin each year to see stunning ice sculptures.

Average temperatures in the region’s winter months are a chilly -16.8 degrees Celsius although lows of -25 Celsius are not uncommon.

But multiple layers are a small price to pay for the largest ice sculptures in the world. Past years have seen life-sized trains, a sphinx, and even palaces. Almost 10,000 workers are needed to create and maintain the art.

The festival has taken place annually since 1985 with roots in Harbin's traditional ice lantern shows. Running from Christmas day to the end of February, this is a bucket list location for those who just love this season.