A grand snow carnival featuring fancy snow carvings, real-size ice sculptures, air acrobatic performance and various winter sports competitions is set to kick off next month in suburban Shenyang, northeastern China's Liaoning Province.

Shenyang International Ice & Snow Festival, joint-hosted by the governments of Shenyang and Sapporo, Japan, will start on January 15, 2005.

The month-long carnival has drawn snow and ice sculptors from all over the world. Visitors will find themselves among more than 400 snow carvings and 200 ice sculptures, including the carving of Sydney Opera House and a 1:1 scale Temple of Heaven.

The snow carnival also features a series of local folk-custom performance since Shenyang is known as one of the major cradles of Manchu people. There will be a 200-people skating parade in Qing dynasty costumes, together with hot-air balloon and paragliders performances.

Sports events such as ski, ice auto rally and snow horse race are also framed for visitors to experience the joy of curvetting in the wild snowfield.

The annual event was first launched in 2001 and has become a fascinating must-go place for tourists.

(China Daily December 24, 2004)