The 18th International Collegiate Snow Sculpture Contest kicked off on Sunday at Harbin Engineering University in China's Heilongjiang Province.

　　This year's contest brings together 46 university teams from China and across the globe to work side by side in Harbin’s winter conditions.

　　First held in 2009, the competition has gradually become a regular stop for university students interested in snow sculpture and related fields. Beyond the finished works on display, the event offers a rare chance for participants to test their ideas in real conditions – planning, carving, and revising their designs as they turn blocks of snow into large-scale sculptures.