Snow wonder: The amazing giant ice sculptures at China's coolest Christmas festival

Snow wonder: The amazing giant ice sculptures at China's coolest Christmas festival

By Daily Mail Reporter
Last updated at 9:04 AM on 24th December 2008

These impressive ice sculptures are part of a display for the upcoming Harbin International Ice and Snow Festival.

The festival officially begins on January 5, when 800,000 tourists are expected to visit the freezing city in northern China.

As well as the colourful life-sized ice buildings, which reflect traditional Chinese architecture, there is also a 160m high Father Christmas sculpture, said by organisers to be the world's largest.


Bright lights, big city: Visitors preview the incredible sculptures at Harbin's Ice and Snow Festival

Harbin, which fringes Siberia, plays host to the festival each year, but organisers have revealed that the effects of global warming are taking a toll as the snow and ice now melt more rapidly than in the past.

Unseasonably warm temperatures have made the job especially challenging, said Tang Guangjun, one of the sculptors.

'The weather swings between warm and cold, so it becomes very wet and slippery on the ice. It is very dangerous for us,' he said.


Light Christmas: The life-sized ice sculptures mimic traditional Chinese architecture


Ice work: The 160m snowy Santa (left) which organisers had to build using artificial snow. Right, lovers kiss beneath one of the giant ice sculptures lit with festive lights

The display is expected to boost local trade during the economic downturn.

'It can stimulate the economy and consumption. When people feel happier, they will want to spend more, so it will lift the economy of the city and even the country,' said Li Qingsheng, a tourist from Beijing.

Officials in Harbin remained optimistic about the tourist outlook for the winter.


Frozen in time: Organisers' efforts were hampered by the effects of global warming


Ice world: 800,000 visitors are expected to flock to Harbin over the next few weeks, boosting local trade

Harbin, the capital of Heilongjiang province on the edge of Siberia, is one of China's coldest places. Winter temperatures can drop to below minus 35 degrees Celsius.

An estimated 800,000 tourists, 90 per cent of them Chinese, were expected to visit the ice festival, said Jia Yan, director of the local tourism bureau.

The festival traditionally runs from mid-December to early February.


Ice ice baby: Tourists take photos outside one of the ice sculptures at the festival


Frosty reception: Visitors enter the Ice World at Harbin's Ice and Snow Festival which launches on January 5

Source: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1101189/Snow-wonder-The-amazing-giant-ice-sculptures-Chinas-coolest-Christmas-festival.html

That is amazing.