Harbin Ice and Snow Festival takes shape in China - in pictures

People visit the Harbin Ice-Snow World in China's northeastern Heilongjiang province. AFP

Chinese labourers work to finish the main ice sculpture in preparation for the Harbin Ice and Snow Festival in Harbin, China. Getty Images

Chinese workers use a machine to cut into large blocks of ice that will be used in the making of ice sculptures from the frozen Songhua River in preparation for the Harbin Ice and Snow Festival in Harbin, China. Getty Images

Chinese labourers work on an ice sculpture in preparation for the Harbin Ice and Snow Festival in Harbin, China. Getty Images

Chinese labourers work to finish large ice sculptures in preparation for the Harbin Ice and Snow Festival. Getty Images

Cranes are seen next to workers sculpting a giant snowman by the Songhua River in Harbin, Heilongjiang province, China. Reuters

Chinese labourers work on large ice sculptures in preparation for the Harbin Ice and Snow Festival. Getty Images

Chinese labourers work on large ice sculptures in preparation for the Harbin Ice and Snow Festival. Getty Images

Chinese workers gather lights that will be placed inside ice sculptures in preparation for the Harbin Ice and Snow Festival in Harbin, China. Getty Images

Chinese labourers work to finish large ice sculptures in preparation for the Harbin Ice and Snow Festival in Harbin. Getty Images

A Chinese labourer pauses in a large ice sculpture while working in preparation for the Harbin Ice and Snow Festival. Getty Images

Chinese labourers work to finish large ice sculptures in preparation for the Harbin Ice and Snow Festival in Harbin, China. Getty Images

A Chinese labourer uses a tool to shave large ice blocks in preparation for the Harbin Ice and Snow Festival in Harbin, China. Getty Images

A Chinese labourer cuts into a large ice block to place lights as he works with others to finish large ice sculptures in preparation for the Harbin Ice and Snow Festival in Harbin, China. Getty Images

A team of Chinese labourers carve into a large snow mound in preparation for the Harbin Ice and Snow Festival in Harbin, China. Getty Images

A man works on an ice sculpture marking the 40th anniversary of China's reform and opening up, on the Central Street in Harbin, Heilongjiang province, China. Reuters

The annual Harbin Ice and Snow Festival in China, is considered the worlds largest.

The massive and detailed snow sculptures and full-sized illuminated ice buildings attract more than a million visitors a year to the north-eastern city, where the cold Siberian wind plunges the average temperature to -13 degrees Celcius.

The elaborate ice buildings and intricately carved sculptures are made from blocks cut from the frozen Songhua River.

For weeks before the festival, hired workers collect and transport nearly 200,000 cubic metres of ice to the site.

Most of the cutters are farmers from nearby villages who start work before dawn at bitterly low temperatures to earn about $35 US per day.

Blocks weighing up to 700kg each are sculpted to different themes recreating animals and architectural wonders.

Multi-coloured lights give the structures a dazzling glow across the 750,000 square metre festival, which is marking its 35th year.

It officially opens on January 5, 2019, and runs for one month.

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