Amazing Chinese Ice Sculpture Festival
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Thousands of tourists world-wide flock to the Chinese city of Harbin — dubbed the ‘Ice City’ — famous for its annual ice sculpture festival and winter related activities. This year’s exhibition features colossal carvings inspired by France’s culture and history — a traditional chalet, the Eiffel Tower and even a sculpture of Napoleon Bonaparte have been elaborately carved into the snow.
Eiffel Tower is carved into the snow. Photo MAXPPP
The largest composition is more than 100 feet high and 600 feet across. Numerous winter wonderland sculptures are lit up with glittering neon lights at night. More than 30,000 cubic meters of ice are used for the festival.
Some of the alluring creations are fashioned by piling up ice blocks which are carved with chisels and chainsaws to construct enormous models of buildings. Lights are frozen in the middle of them to craft the dramatic displays of color.
Photo GETTY
The widespread ice festival is based upon a local tradition of making ice lanterns and sculpting snow dating back almost 1,400 years to the Tang Dynasty. In Zhaoling Park where the festival got its start, the sculptures were more traditional and the visitors were fewer.
Wang Xuhai, director of the Harbin Ice Lantern Art Exhibition Center said Harbin residents for generations have fashioned lanterns from ice. During the Qing Dynasty, from 1644 to 1911, peasants used to make them every winter, pouring water into a bucket, pulling out the ice before it froze through and sticking a candle into the central cavity.
The lanterns were given to children as toys or hung outside homes for New Year’s celebrations. The custom was a way to embrace Harbin’s reputation as one of the coldest locations in China.
Napoleon Bonaparte. Photo EPA
The municipal government organized the first display of this folk art in Zhaoling Park in 1962, where they later began sponsoring a competition to see who could make the most beautiful ice lanterns or sculptures.
But over the years, things became more elaborate. Sculpting teams came from around the world to participate, and other nations with icy weather were invited as partners. Soon Sun Island on the outskirts of town in the Songhua River had its own snow exhibition. As the number of tourists increased, it was followed in 1999 by Ice and Snow World across the road.
Sculptures are lit up in dazzling colors at night. Photo MAXAPP
The Harbin Ice Festival was officially proclaimed in 1985 following the Cultural Revolution in China, which runs through to the New Year holiday. It now attracts hundreds of thousands of locals and visitors world-wide who brave the sub-zero temperatures.
It’s held each year on the Sun Island in Harbin, northeast China, about 400 miles east of the Russian border. The frigid city’s arctic climate provides an abundant amount of ice and snow with average winter temperatures of minus 16.8 degrees.
Photo MAXAPP
Rodin inspired sculpture. Photo EPA
Photo GETTY
Previous Ice Festival Sculptures
Photo AFP
Visitors enjoying a ride on a giant slide. Photo AFP
Photo AFP
Photo Author Unknown
Day and Night at the Harbin Ice Festival
Harbin 2006 / 2007
Harbin Ice Festival Panoramic View 1
Harbin Ice Festival Panoramic View 2
Harbin Ice Sculptures 2006 / 2007
Harbin Slide Ride 2006 / 2007
Sources: Daily Mail, BBC News and Washington Post
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Whoa, that’s pretty amazing. They’re so well crafted and crowd-pleasing, but it’s this kind of work that never makes it to the art history books. Just take a look at this list of “boldest works of art” and it’s all “fine arts” (http://www.makefive.com/categories/entertainment/art/boldest-works-of-art-in-recent-history)…
That is one of the coolest things I’ve ever seen. How come I’ve never known about this. Thanks for sharing. It reminds me of making igloos as a little kid.
Sad but True, Tony. It amazes me how they can create such massive pieces of work and manage to keep it all in perspective on scaffolds etc.
I checked out your link … I’ve actually written a post in the past about the artist that created that diamond encrusted skull. You can find it under the Arts category.
I remember building igloos in the snow as a kid, Eric! I hadn’t thought of that in many moons
They also do some very excellent (free-standing) ice sculptures around the city of Harbin during this festival. Deb, I’m sending a few pictures of the some classic ones. You can add them onto this blog if you wish.
All I can say is that I’m awed by the accomplishments in creating these ice sculptures and the absulutely beautiful pictures you’re presented here on your blog. It never ceases to amaze me how talentd people can be.
Thanks Nitropuppy
You always have such great pics from there. I’ll add them as soon as I have the chance, things are a little crazy around here for the next couple days. Merry Xmas to you and your wife!
It is truly very stunning artwork Recipe
I only have one word to say: AMAZING!
They’re certainly stunning pieces of work Mig
THANK you. I will decide to use it for my homework
Sounds great, Tsack, all the best!
I also went to Harbin this year for the ice and snow festivals. It was totally amazing & a must-see at least once in your life! for anyone who is interested, I would also suggest visiting the Siberian Tiger Refuge, Unit 731 and staying at Shangri-La Resort in Harbin.
I would love to see them myself sometime, Pam. No doubt it was an amazing experience for you. And thanks for the tips
Ice sculpture, Great for Weddings – Ice sculptures for all occassions – A real centrepiece at Corporate Events – Ice Sculpture No’s 21, 30, 40, 50, 60 and themed sculptures from Global Ice.