International snow sculpture contest kicks off in NE China

The 20th Harbin International Snow Sculpture Contest kicks off in northeast China's Heilongjiang province on Saturday.

The contest, which is to last four days, has attracted more than 110 artists from 12 countries, including France, Italy, the UK, Russia and the Republic of Korea.

These contestants, in 28 teams, are to show their skills on snow blocks which are 3 meters long, 3 meters broad and 4 meters tall.

Famous artists in the world have been invited to be judges so as to make the event more influential.

Heilongjiang borders Russia and is known in China as the "world of ice and snow" in winter. The contest is an important activity of the Harbin International Ice and Snow Festival.