Snow sculptors from around the world were seen carving and chipping away at blocks of snow on Wednesday (January 7) as they worked to create intricate designs to compete at an annual snow sculpture competition in northeast China.

The event, which began on Tuesday (January 6), is part of the Harbin International Ice and Snow Festival, a major winter spectacle that attracts thousands of visitors to Heilongjiang province. According to organisers, 25 teams are participating in this year's competition.

Visitors at this year’s festival in one of China’s coldest cities can expect to see spectacular design concepts including an octopus and the world-famous Taj Mahal from India.

Nina Kieviet, a Dutch sculptor whose team presented the "Geometry of Growth," said the design was inspired by "a natural formation that's growing."

Belgian sculptor Frederic Albers, collaborating with Mateu Marcet from Spain, created the "Formless Form," an octopus-themed sculpture. Albers said the concept emphasised the "really organic shapes" of the design, particularly focusing on the intricate tentacles.

Abhinev Acharya from India opted for the Taj Mahal, saying the world-famous structure "represented his country well."

The larger Harbin Ice and Snow Festival kicked off on Monday (January 5) and features additional activities that will continue through February.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

1. INTERNATIONAL SCULPTORS WORKING ON DESIGNS AT 28TH HARBIN INTERNATIONAL SNOW SCULPTURE COMPETITION

2. NINA KIEVIET (IN RED JACKET) AND HER FAMILY MEMBERS FROM HOLLAND WORKING ON "GEOMETRY OF GROWTH" DESIGN

3. KIEVIET'S AUNT AND HER HUSBAND WORKING ON DESIGN

4. SNOW-SCULPTING EQUIPMENT

5. VARIOUS OF HOLLAND TEAM WORKING ON DESIGN

6. VARIOUS OF KIEVIET SHOVELLING SNOW

7. SHOVELS ON SNOW

8. (SOUNDBITE) (English) COMPETITION PARTICIPANT AND ARCHAEOLOGY STUDENT FROM HOLLAND, NINA KIEVIET, 24, SAYING:

"This is my first time in Harbin, but two of my teammates were here several times 10 years ago. Our sculpture is a lot about perfect shapes, geometry. But there are going to be blocks on top of each other, so it's also kind of like more of a natural formation that's growing! It's kind of a balance between those two things. We arrived in Harbin a couple of days ago, really liking the city, super cool also, but that's good, yeah!"

9. MINIATURE MODEL OF "GEOMETRY OF GROWTH" SCULPTURE DESIGN

10. VARIOUS OF KIEVIET AND TEAM WORKING ON SCULPTURE

11. VARIOUS OF FREDERIC ALBERS FROM BELGIUM SCULPTING HIS DESIGN CALLED "FORMLESS FORM" BASED ON AN OCTOPUS IN COLLABORATION WITH MATEU MARCET FROM SPAIN

12. (SOUNDBITE) (English) COMPETITION PARTICIPANT AND ART DIRECTOR FROM BELGIUM, FREDERIC ALBERS, 41, SAYING:

"We chose to make an octopus (design) because of the really organic shapes so we can play with the organic shapes with the tentacles intertwined. And that makes a really dynamic form. So we try to get the flow from the tentacles around the block. It's my first time in Harbin, first time in China, it's my first time in Asia. So I'm really glad to be here. It's, it's a really beautiful place here, the sun and snow, I'm really happy."

13. MINIATURE MODELS OF ALBERS' OCTOPUS-INSPIRED DESIGN

14. VARIOUS OF MATEU MARCET FROM SPAIN CHIPPING AWAY AT SNOW

15. (SOUNDBITE) (English) COMPETITION PARTICIPANT AND GRAPHIC DESIGNER FROM SPAIN, MATEU MARCET, 44, SAYING:

"(Our team) studied the shapes which are formless because we are working in a shape which is not really well-defined, and we can play with soft and smooth shapes. But right now we are working with the eyes, which is the central part of the piece, which is a centered one, which must be really symmetric and well done. And then from the eyes everything goes down and smooth. And it's our challenge this year!"

16. VARIOUS OF MARCET SCULPTING SNOW DESIGN

17. TOP-HALF OF OCTOPUS-INSPIRED DESIGN

18. ALBERS AND MARCET IN CONVERSATION ABOUT DESIGN

19. SCULPTORS WORKING

20. VARIOUS OF ABHINAV ACHARYA (IN TURQUOISE HAT) AND TEAM FROM INDIA WORKING ON DESIGN OF THE TAJ MAHAL

21. (SOUNDBITE) (English) COMPETITION PARTICIPANT FROM INDIA WHO WORKS IN THE ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY, ABHINAV ACHARYA, 65, SAYING:

"We are a four-member team and this is my first time (in Harbin) and we are making the Taj Mahal, which was built by Shah Jahan in memory of his wife, Mumtaz Mahal, which is situated in Agra in India. And we feel very proud to come here in the Harbin city, and lovely people here. And I like this place. Thank you."

22. VARIOUS OF INDIA TEAM WORKING ON SNOW SCULPTURE

23. SCULPTORS WORKING ON THEIR DESIGNS