Feeling the heat: Beijing ice sculptor

Chen Dongdong [Photo by Feng Yongbin/Asianewsphoto]

Chen Dongdong carefully removed an ice sculpture in the shape of a large wine bottle from the freezer to a van.

He covered it in thick blankets to keep it from melting or chipping. Chen, 37, has been working in one of the biggest ice-making plant in Beijing for six years.

Temperatures in Beijing rise to 36 C in summer when the plant enters its busiest season. This may seem the perfect job to chill out in the hot summer but their demanding work means they have little time to cool down.

As the demand for ice goes up, Chen and his colleagues work in shifts to keep the plant running 24 hours a day. Ice produced there is mainly used to keep vegetables and seafood fresh and provide decorative ice sculptures.

Chen used to operate ice-making machines, transport ice cubes and break them into pieces.

"Everyone wants to move ice cubes. We get 0.5 yuan extra income for moving a 100-kilogram ice cube,” he said. “Although it sounds heavy, their melting edges make them easy to move them.”

After spending one year learning how to sculpt , Chen is now the chief sculptor at the plant. Ice dragons and brand logos are among the top choices of their customers. “In order to meet with various requirements from customers, we even invented our own methods to enhance the transparency and change the color of ice,” Chen said.

Chen earns around 4,000 yuan ($647) per month. “Since my company provides housing and food, I only keep 300 yuan of my salary for extra expenses,” said Chen. He sends the rest of his salary to his wife, who lives in Shaanxi province with his 12-year-old daughter.