The annual Snow and Ice Carnival is on in Shenyang, capital of northeast China's Liaoning province.

There is a wide variety of snow sports, along with temple fairs and lantern shows. Organizers, say there are nearly 60 individual events attached to this year's carnival. There's also a snow sculpture park that has more than sixty statues of various sizes.

The lantern shows are a natural highlight. There are more than two thousand lanterns, reflecting five themes. The themes encompass the diverse local cultures of China and monuments from the rest of the world. And there are lots of quizzes about cultural lore, offering prizes for those with good recall and a quick wit.

Visitors to the carnival can also tour a film studio, taste rural food, and enjoy performances of local operas.