Incredible pictures show huge 103-metre long ice sculpture in China as artists carve day and night to prepare for annual festival
The 103-metre long, 31-metre tall structure will go on show at the 29th Harbin International Ice and Snow Sculpture Festival next week - the largest of its kind in the world
THESE incredible pictures show the painstaking work of artists in China as they chisel away to create a beautifully intricate giant snow sculpture.
The 103-metre long, 31-metre tall structure will be going on show at the 29th Harbin International Ice and Snow Sculpture Festival next week, the largest of its kind in the world.
This sculpture, titled Long Song, will be welcoming tourists from a week today, although the month-long festival won't officially start until January 5.
Swing saws are used to carve ice, taken from the frozen Songhua River, into blocks.
Sculptors then use chisels, ice picks and saws to create intricate large-scale ice sculptures - with many working day and night to prepare the artworks for the festival in time.
Lights are also used to colour the ice, creating incredible spectacles to delight festival guests.
In the past, artists have taken their inspiration from real-life landmarks such as the Egyptian Sphinx and Niagara Falls.
As well as enjoying the sculptures, the exhibition attracts tourists from all over the world to enjoy activities such as skiing and winter swimming.
Harbin is located in northeast China and has a cold climate due to its proximity to Siberia, with annual lows of -35 degrees not uncommon.
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