As one of China's tourism hotspots, Harbin is famous for its offerings over the winter period where there is often thick snow and ice on the ground.

But some were left scratching their heads after the latest creation to attract tourists in the form of a giant pear made out of snow in the middle of nowhere on January 5.

Local officials said that the giant sculpture of a pear was set up so that tourists could take selfies, but it does not have the same appeal as other attractions in the city like the Ice Snow World with its spectacular lighting and ice rinks.

The reasoning behind the creation of the joint pain was the fact that people could take memorable photographs in another part of Harbin, in the northernmost province of Heilongjiang.

In the background to the pear, the ice-cutting field can be seen that stretches along the Songhua River where blocks are taken away to create some of the other attractions around the city.

The snow pear sculpture is reportedly almost five metres in height. It is said that the design of this pear sculpture was inspired by the unique 'frozen pear' in Northeast China.