Ice & Snow World Gets Underway in Harbin, China

Fireworks exploded behind glistening ice castles on Thursday, marking the opening of the world's biggest ice and snow festival.

Located in Harbin City, organizers say the 28th Ice and Snow's main venue, the Ice and Snow World, was built with more than 300 swimming pools' worth of snow and ice.

The event came with a price tag of $19 million and is expected to have more than a million visitors.

Many posed for photos in front of Disney-themed snow sculptures, while others gave the long ice slides a go.

[Liu Keqing, Festival Attendee]:
"Oh, my heart was beating so fast! In the beginning I was quite scared on top of the slide and I didn't dare to look down. But when I landed, I felt really great."

Apart from the ice wonderland, the Ice and Snow Festival also featured a reindeer parade earlier on Thursday.

Five small reindeer marched through the city's most famous street, where its European-style architecture reflects the city's Russian influence.

The reindeer paraded past a 20-foot-tall Marilyn Monroe snow sculpture, which was recently built in celebration of the Ice and Snow Festival.

The Ice and Snow World's closing date will depend on weather conditions, but is expected to remain open for tourists for at least another month.