Ice sculptor carves out his niche at Harbin festival

Despite the bitter winter cold, a group of ice sculptors in Harbin, Heilongjiang province, chisel and carve their way through blocks of ice to create works of art.

One of the sculptors, 26-year-old Xu Haonan, has spent the past eight years pursuing his passion for ice sculpture.

"The first ice lantern I ever saw was made by my grandfather. I witnessed the process of him freezing a few pieces of colored paper in a small bucket and tying it to a wooden stick with a rope," said Xu.

"During Lantern Festival when I was 6 years old, I really wanted to buy a lantern like every other child, but my family were struggling financially," he said.

"That's why my grandfather froze an ice lantern for me using a water bucket. I loved it so much, and I can still picture it."

Xu lived near the Songhua River and often saw workers collecting ice blocks from the water in the winter to be made into sculptures.

"At that time, I was curious about what they were doing and imagined that one day I would be able to create such works," he said. "So I chose public art as my major when I entered Harbin University in 2016. I also participated in various ice sculpture competitions, winning several national and international medals."

After graduation in 2020, Xu tried his hand at several different jobs such as being an art teacher and a designer. Last year he landed the role of design director at a cultural and creative company in Beihai in the Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region with one special condition built into his contract.

"In each interview I went to while looking for a job I would ask the company whether I could have three months away every winter to work on ice sculptures in Harbin," he said. "So I missed lots of good job opportunities."

In December, Xu established a studio dedicated to ice carvings.

"The process of ice carving is not easy," he said. "From design, material selection and carving to the final polishing, each step requires a significant amount of time and effort."

Especially in winter, he said, working outdoors for long periods is a great test of an ice sculptor's physical strength and willpower.

Different from the ice landscapes in other places, most of which are made using artificial ice, the ice sculptures in Harbin are all built with ice formed in nature.

On the frozen Songhua River, which runs through Harbin, workers near the riverbank use chain saws to cut ice blocks to the required size.

"Carving usually begins around 7 am. I often work outdoors for 10 hours a day, but I enjoy every minute," Xu said.

Xu and his team have become well known in Harbin for creating exquisite smaller sculptures among the massive ice showcase the city puts on each winter.

"We don't aim for the grand impact of large ice sculptures, but rather focus on the refinement of the details of the works, such as the textures," he said. "Sometimes, the sculpting process becomes part of the attraction for tourists to observe.

"Ice sculptures in Harbin are keeping up with the times. Instead of being limited to traditional styles such as the 12 Chinese zodiac signs, they are now embracing popular original works or more modern styles. Ice sculptors innovate based on current trends, seeking a blend of tradition and modernity, technology and future changes."

Due to long hours working in the cold, many ice sculptors develop bad backs and shoulders.

"Although I'm only 26 years old, I have been suffering from severe lumbar disc herniation," he said.

"As older generations of ice sculptors gradually retire due to age and health reasons, the ice carving industry is facing a shortage of talent."

There are about 10,000 people in Harbin engaged in ice carving-related work, he said, including ice and snow architects, but fewer than 1,000 people are proficient in ice carving techniques.

"I hope more young people can understand and appreciate ice carving and be willing to join the industry," he added.

With the continuous development of the ice and snow economy in the country, ice and snow tourism in Harbin is booming.

"While I was in Guangxi, my customers were excited to hear that I could create ice sculptures and eagerly listened to my explanations about ice carving and the customs of Harbin," he said.

Over the years, Xu has contributed more than 100 ice sculptures to Harbin's world famous ice festival, and will add 15 sculptures to this year's event. "This winter, Harbin is eagerly anticipating the arrival of tourists, especially with the upcoming Asian Winter Games," he said. "Our ice carving orders increased by around 20 percent compared to previous years."

He said that he hopes to create more beautiful ice sculptures to provide visitors with even more wonderful visual experiences. "I also hope to contribute my efforts to the healthy development and inheritance of the ice carving industry."

Contact the writers at zhouhuiying@chinadaily.com.cn