Some 60 ice sculptors gathered in Harbin, China's ice city, for an ice sculpting contest to mark the annual Snow and Ice Festival.

Its goal is to showcase a series of themed ice sculptures to thousands of visitors from around the world, as Harbin prepares to host the "24th Winter Universiade" in February.

Visitors have been able to see huge ice buildings in architectural styles from around the world, including giant pagodas and enormous ice Buddhas.

Local residents are hoping the Ice Festival would attract more tourists to help improve the economy of the Ice City amid world economic slowdown.

Tatyana Schiemko, sculptor from US said:
"I was born here and I love it here. I find the winter climate very exciting and vibrating. I am a professional sculptor, I do bronze sculptures, I do wood sculptures and the ice is another dimension. Every time you do a new material, you are learning more."

An estimated 800-thousand tourists, 90 per cent of them Chinese, were expected to visit the ice festival.

The annual Harbin Ice Festival, established in 1985, traditionally runs from mid-December to early February.

 Ebru News/Agency