Heilongjiang Province, China – IN PHOTOS: Art Snow Expo Unveils Breathtaking Sculptures In China

Heilongjiang Province, China – Rising out of the snow, a stunning display of sculptures, entire castles several stories tall out of compacted snow were unveiled at the 26th China Harbin International Snow Sculpture Art Expo on Dec., 20, 2013 to the delight of tens of thousands of tourists from across the globe, The event, held since 1963, can last more than a month, depending on the weather, and attracts visitors from around the world who come to see the elaborate ice and snow sculptures.

Harbin Ice and Snow World is held on the bank of Songhua River in every winter. Those skillful craftsmen from all over the world build up a crystal and bizarre fairyland with local resources. This theme park covers more than 400,000 square meters in total, using 120,000 cubic meters ice and 100,000 cubic meters snow. What’s more, its ice artworks and entertainments top the world.

On a side note, Harbin once had the largest Jewish population in the Far East. In the late 10th and early 20th centuries, located in Jingwei Street, Daoli Strict, Harbin, the New Synagogue was built in 1918 in a unique and special in style and finished in 1921 covering an area of more than 1,230 square meters. As the biggest of its kind in Northeast China, the New Synagogue accommodates more than 800 worshipers.

It has not been used for worship since the Jewish people left Harbin in 1950s. It was re-opening in 1990s, being used as a club for the local Public Security Bureau. After renovation and reconstruction by the Harbin Municipal Government in 2004, the New Synagogue was transformed into a Jewish museum of history and culture, preserving and exhibiting Jewish artifacts.

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