Winter offers inspiration for ice carving competitors

Right now in China's north-eastern city of Harbin, it's 20 degrees below zero. But believe it or not, there are some who think this is the perfect temperature. Gifted ice carvers are taking part in the city's annual international ice carving competition. And for them, the chilly winter offers plenty of inspiration.

Ice flies, as a new sculpture comes into shape.

47 artists from seven countries have gathered to take part in the three day Harbin International Ice Carving Competition.

A variety of tools including chainsaws, ice shovels, electric drills and even household irons have been put to good use.

Chinese carver Zhang Dexiang is an ice carver and teaches.

He has been crafting ice sculptures for 20 years. This year he has his son and grandson on site to help.

He says he thinks ice is a beautiful medium to work with.

Zhang Dexiang, Ice Carver, said, "Using ice as a material, its transparency gives people a sense of marvel and illusion, just like crystal."

As a witness to the growth and development of the ice carving art form in China, Zhang says he has been amazed at how the tools and techniques have changed.

Ice carver Wang Zhonglong says working on an ice sculpture requires thinking on many different levels.

Wang Zhonglong, Ice Carver, said, "The ice sculpture aims to grasp the larger picture, but also to display the details, like carving the decorations, showing the different layers and polishing the surface. The details matter most."

For Zhang Dexiang and Wang Zhonglong, ice carving is an artistic activity. But for many others, it's purely about fun.

Eduard Ponomarenko, Ice Carver, said, "In Russia we have the same cold weather in winter and there are many people doing ice carving. To me, a winter without ice carving lacks so much fun."

Although in northern places like Harbin and Russia, ice is an abundant resource, for those living near the equator, it's a scarce and precious material.

Manu Songsri is a professional Thai artist who normally sculpts stone and wood in a hotel. He has traveled all the way from Thailand for this event.

Manu Songsri, Sculptor, said, "In Thailand, it's really hot and not the same weather. Everyone is working in the hotel same. I want to show my pride, I want to show my Thailand, I want to show my sculpture. Yeah, I like this."

Organizers from Harbin's Foreign Affairs Office say the city's ice carving festival has been bringing talent to China from all over the world for 27 years.