Harbin's Ice City

Karen and I decided to spend the past few days(including Christmas Day!) in the winter wonderland known as Harbin, China. Harbin is located next to next to Siberia in the extreme northeastern part of China. Its famous in China as being home to an ice city. Since the temperatures in Harbin average 3-4 F during the winter months, ice sculptors from all over the world have made Harbin one of the few places in the world where their art form is viable for long stretches of time. Starting in December, the ice city opens up in the outskirts of Harbin. Building replicas of famous Chinese landmarks, such as the Great Wall, the ice city is beautifully and spectacularly lit by LED's placed inside the ice blocks that create the structures. Walking around the ice city is a surreal experience...truly breathtaking.