Big thaw hits Harbin’s famous ice sculptures

Fatal flaw: Security lines have been erected for protecting visitors from falling ice at the Harbin International Ice and Snow Sculpture Festival on its closing day. — Reuters

BEIJING: Ice and snow sculptures carved by nearly 10,000 artists in the city of Harbin have melted during a sudden warm spell, forcing the earliest closure of the main venue at China’s biggest winter festival.

Daytime temperatures have poked above freezing in northern China’s warmest week this winter, prompting the closure of the Harbin Ice and Snow World after Sunday, more than 10 days ahead of schedule.