Image: Harbin, China, “Ice & Snow World” across the Song Hua River is Part of the Harbin Ice Lantern Festival, at Night all Sculptures are colourful lighted with LED. Over a 100.000 Tones of Ice Blocks cut from the Song Hua River are used for the Festival Sculptors & Carvings from January till End of February, it is one of the largest of its kind & most interesting one in the World. It was said that some Fishermen made rough & simple Ice-Lanterns of ice just for lighting, with the Time passed, Ice-Lanterns embodied their Cultural Features & artistic Fascination gradually. The making of Ice-Lanterns & Ice Sculptures started in the 1960s. Harbin is an interesting Chinese City in the Heilongjiang Province Northwest of China & is strongly influenced by Russian Citizen which first immigrated to Harbin a 120 Years ago. Harbin was the birthplace of Jin (1115-1234) & Qing (1644-1911) Dynasties, the latter of which had a very considerable influence on modern Chinese history. At the end of the 19th century, Russia built the terminus of the Middle East Railway here. Later, more than 160,000 foreigners from 33 countries migrated to Harbin, promoting the development of a capitalist economy in the city. The economy & culture of Harbin achieved unprecedented prosperity at that time & the city gradually grew into a famous international commercial port. Assimilating external culture, Harbin created its unique & exotic cityscape. The majestic St. Sofia Orthodox Church & Zhongyang Dajie each built in a European style have the effect of bringing you into an 'eastern Moscow'. Even though you are sure to be attracted by various exotic buildings, the Dragon Tower which embodies the wisdom of the Chinese people is a must on your journey. by frank müller

Harbin