Winter wonderland at ice sculpture festival

A family takes a picture in front of ice sculptures at the Harbin Ice and Snow Sculpture Festival in the northern city of Harbin, Heilongjiang province, China, Jan. 5, 2014.

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A worker takes a rest while putting the last touches on an ice replica of Rome's Colosseum ahead of the Harbin Ice and Snow Sculpture Festival in the northern city of Harbin, Jan. 4, 2014.

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Visitors jump for a picture in front of a large snow sculpture at the Harbin International Snow Sculpture Art Expo in the northern city of Harbin, Jan. 5, 2014.

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Visitors are silhouetted against lighted ice sculptures at the Harbin Ice and Snow Sculpture Festival, Jan. 5, 2014.

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A swimmer dives into a pool carved into the thick ice covering the Songhua River during the Harbin Ice Swimming Competition in the northern city of Harbin, Jan. 5, 2014.

According to organizers, about 700 swimmers across China took part in the event on the official launch day of the Harbin Ice and Snow Sculpture Festival.

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A thermometer on an ice sculpture indicates a reading of -22 degree Fahrenheit at the Harbin Ice and Snow Sculpture Festival, Jan. 5, 2014.

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An official from the organizing committee instructs swimmers before he guides them to a pool carved into the thick ice covering the Songhua River during the Harbin Ice Swimming Competition in the northern city of Harbin, Jan. 5, 2014.

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A swimmer reacts after swimming in a pool carved into the thick ice covering the Songhua River during the Harbin Ice Swimming Competition in the northern city of Harbin, Jan. 5, 2014.

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A general overview of ice sculptures at the Harbin Ice and Snow Sculpture Festival, Jan. 5, 2014.

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A girl rides a dog-drawn sleigh in front of a large snow sculpture at the Harbin International Snow Sculpture Art Expo in the northern city of Harbin, Jan. 5, 2014.

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Skiers descend down from a slope during the opening ceremony of the Harbin Ice and Snow Sculpture Festival, Jan. 5, 2014.

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A woman stands in front of an ice sculpture at the Harbin Ice and Snow Sculpture Festival in the northern city of Harbin, Jan. 5, 2014.

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A worker breaks ice on a pool carved into the thick ice covering the Songhua River in the early morning as he prepares the Harbin Ice Swimming Competition in the northern city of Harbin, Jan. 5, 2014.

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A couple shares an embrace in front of an ice sculpture at the Harbin Ice and Snow Sculpture Festiva, Jan. 5, 2014.

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Tourists sit on a horse-drawn carriage in front of ice sculptures at the Harbin Ice and Snow Sculpture Festival in the northern city of Harbin, Heilongjiang province, Jan. 5, 2014.

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Visitors are silhouetted against lighted ice sculptures at the Harbin Ice and Snow Sculpture Festival, Jan. 5, 2014.

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A visitor sits inside an ice sculpture at the Harbin Ice and Snow Sculpture Festival, Jan. 5, 2014.