Ice sculpture festival

Participants pour snow during the opening of the 17th International Ice Sculpture Festival in Harbin, capital of Northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, December 20, 2004. The festival, with its main theme of "shining snow," has eight scene areas, including a national and international snow sculpture competition, an entertainment area and a skating area. Tourists can also enjoy other traditional activities. The lowest temperature was 24 C below zero Monday in Harbin. (newsphoto)

Tourists buy candy-coated haws at the opening of the 17th International Ice Sculpture Festival in Harbin, capital of Northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, December 20, 2004. (newsphoto)

Tourists look at a snow sculpture at the 17th International Ice Sculpture Festival in Harbin, capital of Northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, December 20, 2004. (newsphoto)

Tourists look at a snow sculpture at the 17th International Ice Sculpture Festival in Harbin, capital of Northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, December 20, 2004. (newsphoto)