Preparations for the establishment of an ice-snow culture and art association are well under way in this capital city of northeast China's Heilongjiang Province.

The Ministry of Culture approved the preparatory work in late October.

The Administration of Sun Island Scenic Spot based in Harbin will be the main sponsor of the upcoming association.

Sources with the scenic spot administration said the association under preparation would be China's first organ with ice-snow culture and art as the theme. The provincial culture bureau will be responsible for the daily operation of the association.

The association will focus on the research of culture, art, sports, tourism and business related to ice and snow, the sources said. It will also work for Sino-foreign exchange on the above issues.

As the birthplace of Chinese snow art, Harbin has become an international ice-and-snow-based tourism destination.

The Administration of Sun Island Scenic Spot has held 17 Harbin International Ice-Snow Sculpture Expos, attracting thousands of tourists from China and abroad.

(Xinhua News Agency November 23, 2005)