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    1. Harbin International Ice and Snow Sculpture Festival, Harbin, China

    China's Harbin International Ice and Snow Sculpture Festival is the world's greatest. It's composed of massive sculptures and buildings constructed from ice blocks cut from the frozen surface of the nearby Songhua River. Tens of thousands of tourists from across the globe flock to the show, despite winter temperatures in the region dropping into the -30s Fahrenheit.

    Giant snow sculptures can be found at the Sun Island exhibition area, while Ice and Snow World features enormous, full-size illuminated buildings. Additional activities include alpine skiing, and for those with a propensity for extremes (or people who are just plain mad), swimming in the icy Songhua River.