Photos: International Ice and Snow festival kicks off in China

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Photos: International Ice and Snow festival kicks off in ChinaPeople gather at the amusement park on the frozen Songhua river beside the Harbin international ice and snow festival in Harbin, on January 3, 2015. Over one million visitors are expected to attend the spectacular Harbin Ice Festival, where buildings of ice are bathed in ethereal lights and international ice sculptors compete for honours. AFP PHOTO / FRED DUFOUR

The 31st International Ice and Snow Festival kicked off on Monday (January 5) in Harbin, one of the coldest cities in China, with a spectacular display of ice sculptures. This year’s festival, themed ‘Fascinating Ice-Snow Harbin, Charming Chinese Dream’ and organized by China National Tourism Administration and local governments, lasts until the of February and is expected to attract tourists from China and around the world.