2013: The Year in China (88 images)

The 14th Harbin Ice and Snow Festival, touted as the world's biggest ice and snow festival, opens in Harbin, the capital of the China's northern Heilongjiang Province near Russia, January 7, 2013. As the festival grows in international attention, in sheer size and as China's economy grows, the size and amount of it's ice sculptures increase each year. UPI/Stephen Shaver

Chinese artists perform a traditional lion dance at the opening ceremony of the Spring Festival Temple Fair celebrating China's lunar new year at an ancient park in Beijing on February 9, 2013. China's most important holiday, the Spring Festival begins on February 10 and marks the start of the Year of the Snake, according to the Chinese zodiac. UPI/Stephen Shaver

Chinese performers participate in a tourism festival celebrating traditional Chinese life in Langzhong, Sichuan Province, China on September 26, 2013. Both domestic and foreign tourism in China is projected to double over the next few years, making it one of the most popular travel destinations worldwide. UPI/Stephen Shaver

Small statues of Mao Zedong are sold at a museum dedicated to former chairman Mao Zedong in Changsha, the capital of Hunan Province in China on October 28, 2013. More than $2.5 billion is being poured into the hometown of China's founding father Mao Zedong to mark the 120th anniversary of his birth, local media reported. The amount of money being spent to celebrate Mao's birthday has prompted outrage online with many expressing anger and disappointment with the country's leaders. UPI/Stephen Shaver