2016年CRI Harbin Ice and Snow Festival Kicks off in NE China

 

Harbin, the capital of Heilongjiang province on the edge of Siberia, is one of China's coldest places. 

And when the temperature dips below minus 20 degrees Celsius¹, the city turns into a wonderland with the creation of castles, towers, and buildings carved out of thick blocks of ice, and illuminated² after nightfall.

"I am a southerner and this is the first time I've been here and I want to come back in the future. It's beautiful and there is a lot of fun to be had here. I am particularly excited about the fireworks tonight."

"This is so beautiful. Harbin is known for ice sculptures. I always want to come here and I traveled a long way to come here to see these ice castles."

180-thousand metric tons of ice were used to create this year's Ice and Snow World - the focal point of the festival.

Wang Zengyu, Deputy Manager of Harbin Ice and Snow World, says organizers have incorporated new methods to construct the central ice building.

"We spent 13 days this year to complete the main ice building in the Ice World and this ice building is very different to the previous ones. We brought in new ideas in designing it and it was very hard to make it because it involved new technologies."

Another highlight during the festival is the ice swimming competition.

Sub zero temperatures in Harbin's Songhua River have done little to curb³ enthusiasts⁴.

600 ice swimmers from 45 teams all over China took part in the event.

"Ice swimming is great exercise and good for my heart. Although I am still young, I am 42 years old, I want to get enough exercise and I will feel the benefits when I get old."

"All the ice swimming lovers across the country belong to one big family. It is a great opportunity to exchange ideas with ice swimmers from other parts of the country in this ice swimming competition. I am really excited about this."

The Ice and Snow Festival in the northeast Chinese city is one of the best known of its kind in the world.

This year's festival is said to be the largest one in the event's decades-long history, covering a space as big as 112 football fields.

Organizers estimate that over 1.5 million foreign and domestic tourists will visit the Ice and Snow World this year.

The festival runs until February 25th.

For CRI, this is Ryan Price.

1 Celsius   

adj.摄氏温度计的，摄氏的

参考例句：

• The temperature tonight will fall to seven degrees Celsius.今晚气温将下降到七摄氏度。
• The maximum temperature in July may be 36 degrees Celsius.七月份最高温度可能达到36摄氏度。

2 illuminated   

adj.被照明的；受启迪的

参考例句：

• Floodlights illuminated the stadium. 泛光灯照亮了体育场。
• the illuminated city at night 夜幕中万家灯火的城市

3 curb   

n.场外证券市场，场外交易；vt.制止，抑制

参考例句：

• I could not curb my anger.我按捺不住我的愤怒。
• You must curb your daughter when you are in church.你在教堂时必须管住你的女儿。

4 enthusiasts   

n.热心人，热衷者( enthusiast的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• A group of enthusiasts have undertaken the reconstruction of a steam locomotive. 一群火车迷已担负起重造蒸汽机车的任务。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Now a group of enthusiasts are going to have the plane restored. 一群热心人计划修复这架飞机。 来自新概念英语第二册