Being
the cradle of Jin and Qing Dynasties, Harbin is the largest of all the capitals
in China and is located in northern Manchuria just across the border from Russian
Siberia. The Harbin district is decorated with Chinese temple architecture and
different western religion churches with peculiar design of Renaissance, Baroque
and Byzantine. It is this scenery, which creates a feel of medieval Europe as
you walk down the street. Furthermore, the International Ice and Snow Festival,
Summer Concert and other international activities give Harbin a particular fascination
for everyone.
Harbin
is known as a Paradise of Ice and Snow and is famous for its dazzling outdoor
winter artwork. The art of ice-and-snow sculpture made its debut in Harbin thirty
years ago, thanks to the intelligence of artists and their efforts to add color
to the lives of the local residents by taking advantage of the northern winter
weather. The Harbin Ice Lantern and Sculpture Festival runs from January to March
each year. A highlight of the festival is the ice lantern and sculpture exhibitions,
which provide visitors a good opportunity to appreciate a galaxy of unique ice
and snow art.
Thousands of exquisitely-made ice lanterns, ice carvings and snow sculptures grace
the snow-covered parks, public squares and major streets, turning the city into
a dreamlike world of pure whiteness and gleaming crystal. These ice and snow art
works can be as small as a mouse or as big as a bus. The designs range from life-size
human figures, animals and flowers to towering castles, delicate pagodas and many
other ingenious creations. Ice sculptures, made from blocks of ice chain-sawed
from the Songhua River, have represented such things as the Statue of Liberty,
the Great Wall of China, the Eiffel Tower and an onion-domed Russian church. These
sculptures fill the city square and glow from the neon tubes of purple, pink,
blue and green that shine from inside.
Photos:
BBC World News - Asia/Pacific 2002-2003
