Candidates of the China, Russia and Mongolia Beautiful Angels of International Competition posed at the conference. [Photo provided to China Daily]

A treat awaits visitors to the 16th China, Russia and Mongolia International Ice and Snow Festival.

The festival, which starts on Dec 22 and runs till March 15, 2016, will feature 12 events, which cover the economy, culture, tourism and sports.

It will be held in Manzhouli, in North China's Inner Mongolia autonomous region.

Speaking at a news conference in Beijing recently, Wang Yannian, president of the Hulun Buir Tourism Group, said: "The festival is an essential platform to showcase ice and snow art, promote cultural exchanges and regional cooperation."

Meanwhile, the finals and awards ceremony of the China, Russia and Mongolia Beautiful Angels competition will be held in the city in late December.

Visitors can join a photography contest and take pictures of the candidates taking part in the pageant at the Happy Snow City theme park.

Beside ice and snow sculptures, the newly opened park has other attractions including ice sports and a reindeer sleigh.

Last year, 6.5 million domestic and overseas tourists visited Manzhouli, bringing in a total revenue of 4.6 billion yuan ($720 million).

The festival was attended by about 540,000 Russians, nearly 26 percent of the overall number of Russians traveling to China.

Gao Wenhe, the deputy mayor of Manzhouli, said that the city an important transfer point for Chinese traveling to Russia and Mongolia, and for Russians and Mongolians visiting China.

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