Changchun Ice and Snow Festival kicks off

The 26th Changchun Ice and Snow Festival kicked off on Wednesday at the Changchun Ice and Snow New World in Changchun, Jilin province.

Over the next 100 days of the annual event, more than 100 activities will take place, including ice and snow experiences, competitions and exhibitions.

As an important part of the city's winter tourism season, the festival has been held every year for a quarter-century.

Over the past 25 years, the festival has received 270 million tourist visits and brought in a tourism revenue of 460 billion yuan ($65.9 billion).

Changchun Ice and Snow New World, a 1.56 million-square-meter amusement park, also began its official run on Wednesday. It combines ice, snow, sound and lights, and visitors can appreciate 108 groups of artworks made of ice and snow, as well as various related activities.

Xiao Kui contributed to this story.