Ice festivals are one of the highlights of winter travel itineraries. Several places across the world have a tradition of making use of the chilly climate and abundant snowfall to put up spectacular snow and ice displays and installations. One such annual event is the Harbin Ice Festival in China, known to be the world's largest ice and snow event. With time, it has developed into a worldwide festival and competition, drawing people from across the globe. The festival has an an opening ceremony with fireworks. There are snow sculpture competitions, fashion shows, ice sport games and concerts. People also host their weddings in the picturesque backdrop. Apart from the ice displays, you can also sign up for skiing, winter swimming and fishing in the Songhua River.