Mass wedding in China

On the eve of the Chinese city of Harbin passed the spectacular opening of the traditional International Ice and Snow Festival, which has become a tourist business card China north. This year during the festival for the first time staged a mass wedding - twenty-eight pairs ignored frost fifteen degrees and tied their fate against the backdrop of huge snow-ice copies of world famous architectural masterpieces.





28 bridal couples from Heilongjiang, Yunnan, Gansu, Guizhou, Hebei, Liaoning, Jilin and Australia held in Harbin collective wedding. (AP)



Newlyweds embracing against the backdrop of a snow sculpture depicting the Temple of Heaven in Beijing. (REUTERS / Aly Song)



Red - the traditional Chinese weddings. Modern European brides prefer white dresses, but still use the red elements in outfits and accessories. (REUTERS / Aly Song)

Newlyweds eat «tanghulu» - traditional for northern China delicacy of candied fruit on a stick. (REUTERS / Aly Song)



One 28-bride during a photo shoot, which carries a specially invited to the wedding photographer. Honeymooners are not scared severe frosts common to this region of China. (REUTERS / Aly Song)



Kuta his bride groom waiting for the ceremony to begin the group wedding during the 26th Festival of snow and ice in Harbin. (REUTERS / Aly Song)



Local officials hope that such mass marriages during the famous festival will acquire international popularity. (REUTERS / Aly Song)



Couples who are married, were very diverse. (REUTERS / Aly Song)



After the official part of the couple ride on dog sleds. (REUTERS / Aly Song)



Since, according to horoscopes coming Year of the Tiger, which begins on February 14 is considered a "widow year", the last few months continues real Chinese "wedding boom." (AP Photo / Ng Han Guan)



Brides and grooms all together posed for photographers on the background of a snow sculpture depicting the famous Temple of Heaven in Beijing. (REUTERS / Aly Song)