Dozens of gleaming giant white sculptures are rising from a desolate and frozen corner of China in preparation for an amazing annual snow sculpture festival.Hundreds of workmen are hacking away at thousands of tonnes of snow to create the stunning works of art - some measuring more than 26 metres tall and 117 metres wide - for the annual Harbin International Snow Sculpture Art Expo.Each January the capital city of the Heilongjiang Province hosts a magnificent winter festival is held on the Chinese and Russian border.This year marks the 29th, and could be one of the most amazing yet.Staff were today putting in late preparations for the Sun Island International Snow Sculpture Art Expo.A series of photographs have captured the army of skilled workmen perching on frozen ledges and using shovels and picks to add the fine details to the works.Come the New Year tourists will be able enjoy the artwork for themselves in addition to the Ice Lantern Garden Party, skiing, figure skating and theatre performances.Harbin International Ice Festival is one of world's four largest international ice festivals, along with Japan's Sapporo Snow Festival, Canada's Quebec Winter Carnival, and Norway's Ski Festival.It starts annually on January 5 and lasts usually to the end of February, weather permitting.(dailymail.co.uk)ANN.Az