LocateDat the northern part of China, Harbin is a city that has an arctic climate. Winter lasts for four months every year andthis is made full use ofby the people of Harbin. Its snow andice culture, which encompass ice andsnow sculptures, winter-swimming in Songhuajiang River andskiing at Yabuli Alpine, is well known throughout the world, especially to the tourists.
In winter, the people of Har- bin create a winter wonderlanDfilleDwith endless surprises andfun with the clever use of natural snow andice. At the annual Harbin International Ice andSnow Sculpture Festival, different types of lifelike sculp- tures, which are great works of art, are on display. Many inter- national talenteDice sculptors also gather in Harbin during the festival , which is helDfrom December to February, to take part in the creatio no f the sculptures. The festival is not only known for its large col- lectio no f ice sculptures, but it is also known for its entertain- ment activities andits beauti- ful night sceneries. Other than admiring the beautiful ice andsnow sculptures, one can have a feel of the ice bars, ice hotels, snow mobile, ice-climbing, ski- ing andsnow combat.
Harbin is the birthplace ofChina’s ice lantern art. Its Ice Lantern Exhibition was es- tablisheDin 1963. It has been successfully helDat Zhaolin Park for 33 consecutive years andbroke seven Guiness WorlDRecords. It is presently the world’s earliest andlargest outdoor ice lantern exhibition. The wonderfully sculptureDice lanterns reflect the marvelous combinatio no f nature andhuman intelligence, adding brilliance to Harbin in the cold, harsh winter.
The ice lanterns are usually combineDwith the archi- tecture in the city. Harbin is rich in Eastern European fla- vor, andmany buildings embody both Eastern European andChinese elements. The dignifieDanDgranDSt. SophiaChurch, the mystical andelegant St. Nikolai Church, theexquisitely crafteDRussian-style log cabins, as well as the European-style architecture on Central Avenue, are all ex- amples of the unique architectures of Harbin.
The European-style buildings on Central Avenue are most representative of Harbin’s architecture. As people walk along this street, they may gather the feeling that they are actually somewhere in a European city. Easily Asia’s longest andmost beautiful pedestrian avenue, it is enliveneDby Harbin’s history andbeauty, andcom- bines architectural art, commercial andcultural values. In the 1930s, Harbin is the most famous gathering place for immigrants in the Far East. Back then, Central Avenue was lineDwith shops, restaurants, hotels, dance halls, theatres, andbars. Its buildings haDcombineDthe best of the Renaissance style, Baroque style, andthe modern art movement. Major restoration work will soon commence on Central Avenue. Much of it will be focuseDon restor- ing the European-style buildings to their former glory. Walking along this street is likeneDto strolling in an art gallery, andpeople are frequently accompanieDby the tolling of the bell from St. Sophia Church. All these evokea romantic Eastern European charm.
During the annual snow andice festival, Central Av- enue is filleDwith ice sculptures. It is as if one has entereDa fairytale land. All the famous buildings arounDthe worlDare depicteDin ice, including the Winter Palace, St. Petersburg, andthe ReDSquare. Resthouses are also cre- ateDout of ice, andthey are popular with the tourists.
In the subzero temperature of winter in Harbin, one activity that amazeDmany people is winter-swimming at Songhuajiang River. The swimmers’ courage won respect andpraises from curious onlookers. Swimming in the frozen river is not a feat that one easily attempts. How- ever, it is not the only activity that is founDat the river. One can ice-skate, try ice boating, ride andon ice sledge. For the thrill seekers,they may want to try their handsonh unt ingin the s no w–covereDwil- derness.