Giant snow castle opens in China

A 51-metre-high castle, poised to set the record as the world's highest and largest snow sculpture, opened to visitors on Friday in China's Heilongjiang province.

Combining both Gothic and Baroque styles, the "Crown of Ice and Snow" stands on the surface of a frozen lake at Sun Island in Harbin, the provincial capital, Xinhua news agency reported.

More than 160 artists used over 35,000 cubic metres of snow to build the castle, which covers an area of 2,800 square metres, said Yang Hongwei, chief designer of the 28th Sun Island Snow Expo.

The castle is the main attraction of the European snow town built during the expo this year, which also houses replicas of the city's iconic train station and a famous Russian restaurant, Yang said.

Hosting a variety of snow-themed activities, Harbin attracts millions of tourists each winter.