Harbin, the capital of Heilongjiang Province, is a beautiful city featuring a great number of European style houses and the amalgamation of Chinese and foreign cultures. Every year the ice period lasts about 190 days in Harbin, hence it is known as the Ice City. The bitter-cold and long-lasting winter and solid ice with strong plasticity and unusual compressive resistance provide the special natural conditions for the development of the Ice and Snow Festival. To promote the ice and snow culture of Harbin and raise the international reputation of Harbin and raise the international reputation of Harbin tourism, the Harbin International Ice and Snow Festival is held every year stating from 1985.