INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
One of the world's largest ice festivals has opened in north-eastern China, featuring frozen castles, glistening snow sculptures and lots of
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The Harbin International Ice and Snow Sculpture Festival officially opened on
Saturday.
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It opened with a fireworks display and a light show.
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The festival draws millions of visitors from around the world every year.
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Some 120,000 cubic metres of ice and 111,000 cubic metres of snow have been used
to build the Ice and Snow World.
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Thousands of artists and workers built
the displays in a city where temperatures can plunge as low as -35C (-31F).
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There are 2,019 snowmen on display on the frozen Songhua River.
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There is even a winter swimming competition - with more than 300 people braving the chilly waters.
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caption
The festival, which first started in the early 1980s, runs until 5 February.
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