Ice, ice, baby

---

January and February in Harbin, China, are the pretty chilly. A city in the North-Easternmost part of the country, gets the cold winds from the Siberian winter.

Originally a place 'for drying nets' (the literal translation of it's name), Harbin has capitalised on it's cold, cold winters... with an International Ice and Snow Sculpture Festival! Because, what do people want to do when it's minus 30 out? That's right, walk around ice sculptures of buildings and wonders of the world.

The original Ice Lantern Show and garden party was interrupted by the Cultural revolution, but in 1985 the festival resumed in Zhaolin Park. Sculptors come from around the world to participate, and Guinness world records have been made and broken, including the largest snow sculpture that was 250m long, 8.5m high and used over 13,000 cubic meters of snow. It was by a canadian sculptor, Norman Bethune, and depicted Niagara Falls and the Bering Strait.

The ice used is as transparent as glass and multicoloured lights are used to light up the sculptures at night. As well as buildings, monuments and geographical features, there are also figures, animals, mythical creatures, ice slides, lanterns, and almost everything that can be imagined.

By now, due to my previous attempts at craft, it should come as no surprise that I did not pick up saws and chisels to make my own sculpture. Much like a child, i started with the building blocks of ice. I believe they are called 'cubes' (or possibly 'cu-bez'), and created some of the wonders of the world with them, whilst drinking icy drinks. Please enjoy the photos.

Tomorrow - Edgar Alan Poe-try.

---

Photos

Ice Slide
(sourced from Google)

Colosseum
A mighty lion takes down Matryoshka.

Hadrian's Wall
Because the Great Wall of China was too difficult, and GOT's Wall is too big.
Wall guarded by obligatory Martyoshka

Pyramids of Giza
because pyramids are the easiest 3D shape to build.

Comments

[D MJ Binkley]

Wow
Fantastic. I would love to see this

[scenicroute]

Me too! I'm getting so many ideas for next year!