Disney's Frozen in real-life: Harbin Ice and Snow Sculpture Festival 2016

Image source, Wu Hong / EPA

The annual Harbin Ice and Snow Sculpture Festival takes place in China's north-eastern province of Heilongjiang.

It's expected to draw hundreds of thousands of people to see the sculptures.

The festival began in 1963 but was not held for many years before beginning again in 1985.

This year's theme is Pearl on the Crown of Ice & Snow...

Image source, Wang Zhao / AFP

Image caption, The Harbin International Ice and Snow Sculpture Festival officially opens on 5 January but preparations have been under way for some time.

Image source, Wu Hong / EPA

Image caption, Workers have been putting the finishing touches to many of the sculptures.

Image source, Sheng Li / Reuters

Image caption, This large sculpture began to take shape in December as workers carved it out of the ice.

Image source, Aly Song / Reuters

Image caption, Here a worker polishes a delicate ice sculpture...

Image source, Aly Song / Reuters

Image caption, ....while others are lifted by crane to the top of one of the larger pieces on show.

Image source, Wu Hong

Image caption, The ice is cut from the nearby river and teams from different countries take part in the event.

Image source, Imaginechina / Rex Features

Image caption, At night, the ice is illuminated with colourful light that draws tourists from all over the world.