Visitors to Harbin's popular ice and snow festival should dress in layers -- and don't be surprised if you're digital camera acts up because of the cold weather.

Visitors to Harbin's popular ice and snow festival should dress in layers -- and don't be surprised if you're digital camera acts up because of the cold weather.

Yes, it can be very cold, especially in winter. Anyway, then I left Harbin and moved to Beijing.

The Brazilian-made Embraer E-190 jet had taken off from the Heilongjiang capital of Harbin shortly before 9pm (1pm GMT) and crashed a little more than an hour later.

A woman slides down an ice slide at the Harbin International Ice and Snow Festival. The festival has been held every year since 1985.