China - Event

Harbin makes the most of its freezing winters with the impressive Harbin Ice Lantern Festival (Haerbin Bingdengjie). Huge ice blocks are carved into sculptures and buildings are lit from within to create the glittering Ice and Snow World.

As night falls, the gigantic sculptures light up in electric blue, bubblegum pink and other kitsch colours. Touch them and your hand will come away completely dry - the ice is so cold that even body heat won't shift it. Arrive before dark to watch ice- and snow-sculpting in progress.

The city-centre Zhaolin Park hosts a side event, the Harbin International Ice Sculpture Competition; back over the river on Sun Island is its snowy sister, the Harbin International Snow Sculpture Competition. The sculptors carefully chisel away at blocks of ice or snow to create anything from chilled-out restaurants to marble-smooth Buddha statues.

Don't worry, there's little chance of the constructions melting, as Harbin's location near the Russian border provides icy temperatures for most of the year. Remember to wrap up warm!