Thousands of visitors are flocking to China's Heilongjiang province for the 21st International Ice and Snow Festival in Harbin.

Huge blocks of ice are cut from the ground in preparation for the festival in China's northernmost major city, known for its brutally cold winters.

During construction of the Trans-Siberian Railway Harbin was a bleak Russian outpost that remained below freezing for half the year. Today it is still freezing but there is now colour in all directions.

The scale of the sculptures on show is overwhelming, comprising 120,000 cubic metres of ice and snow in total.

Even the footpath is impressive - blocks of ice lit from below lead visitors around the huge site.

The sculptures are not just to look at. A visitor climbs an ice carving to ensure a front row seat for the fireworks...

...while others make their way through an ice maze.

The festival attracts over 600 participants from more than 40 countries. Alongside the ice sculpture many sporting activities are planned for the coming days.