LEADIN

Ice sculptors from around the world have come together in Harbin to showcase their talents with elaborate and detailed icy designs.

Competitors in the international ice sculpture competition are given just three days to complete their creations before being judged.

STORYLINE

In freezing conditions, these ice sculptors are racing against the clock to create and shape their designs.

They're competing in the Harbin international ice sculpting competition involving nearly 70 competitors from around 14 countries.

This event requires entrants to carve their design from a single two-metre-squared block, taken from the nearby Songhua river.

Carving began on Saturday (Jan 6) and competitors have until Monday to finish their work before judging commences.

Among the artists is David Diatta from France. He is sculpting "Aladdin and the Lamp".

He says ice, just Aladdin's magical lamp, can be turned into anything.

"I like ice, because it's a special material. You have many possibilities with ice for carving." says Diatta.

Working in temperatures of around minus 10 degrees, the artists plan and design their work using sketches before embarking on a laborious carving process.

Much of Harbin has been turned into a colourful outdoor gallery as part of the world's largest ice festival.

The Harbin International Ice and Snow Festival, which opened on Friday and runs through until late February, is expected to attract around 18 million visitors.

Various competitions celebrating snow and ice take place over several weeks.

The multiple ice block carving competition - involving more intricate creations - attracted 13 teams from six countries.

Juhani Lillberg, the chief judge of the competition since it was established nine years ago, has been involved in ice and snow sculpting for almost four decades.

He says while the art has a long history, more high quality sculptures are being seen because of new technology advances.

"One important thing is of course (that) the tools are better. And another big development is lightening. Because of the new lightening techniques, it's possible to make different kinds of things," says Lillberg.

This year's first prize for the multiple block sculpting was won by team Amursk from Russia. Their work "The Birth of the World" tells the story of two dragons.

One of the team members Ilia Tekin, still a student of sculpting, says he enjoys the process of presenting a story with a multiplicity of details.

"We first split the ice block into different areas and started carving outlines. Then we dealt with details. This is my favourite part. We tried to make it perfect based on the original shape," he says.

Hours of work went into creating the design by Han Zhenkun and his team called "The Silk Road."

It is based on the historic Silk Road and blends a mix of Chinese ancient potteries with camels. It won the third prize.

Han teaches at the Harbin Institute of Technology and encourages his students to join International ice sculpting events.

He says technical development is changing ice sculpting for the better.

"In the previous international ice sculpture competitions, Chinese teams didn't have efficient tools. We used hand tools while sculptors from Europe and other countries used electric tools. Now we have electric chainsaws, moulding equipment, and sharp knives. We even have customised knives. We use the same tools as foreign artists. It's a fair competition. The success depends on skills and creativities."

Extreme care is taken to add minute details to each work, which can involve hundreds of pieces of ice.

The multiple block ice competition was judged on January 4.

Harbin, China - 6 January, 2018

1. Wide of single-block ice sculpture competition

2. Various of sculptor David Diatta carving

3. Close of sketch

4. Close of David Diatta

5. SOUNDBITE (English) David Diatta, ice sculptor:

"I like ice, because it's a special material. You have many possibilities with ice for carving."

6. Various of man sculpting single block of ice

7. Close of man carving ice detail

8. Close of man's face as he carves

9 . Backshot of ice sculpting

++NIGHT SHOTS++

10. Exhibition of Harbin International Ice Sculpture Competition works

11. Various of ice sculptures

12. Wide of tourists taking photos

13.Various of multiple block sculpture from Russian team Amursk called "The Birth of the world"

Harbin, China - 4 January, 2018

14. Wide of multiple block sculpting competition

15. Various of sculpting

16. SOUNDBITE (English) Juhani Lillberg, judge of Harbin International Ice Sculpture Competition:

"We have a long history, but especially during some (recent) years, we have seen a lot of development in ice sculpting and ice building also. One important thing is of course that the tools are better. And another big development is lighting. Because of the new lighting techniques, it's possible to make different kinds of things."

17 . Various of winning multiple block sculpture by Russian team, Amursk, called "The Birth of the World"

18. Wide of Russian team in front of sculpture

19. Close of Ilya Tyokin, member of team Amursk

20. SOUNDBITE (Russian) Ilia Tekin, ice sculptor from team Amursk:

"We first split the ice block into different areas and started carving outlines. Then we dealt with the details. This is my favourite part. We tried to make it perfect based on the original shape."

21. Pan of ice sculpting

22. Various of sculptor carving on an ice bowl

23. Various of sculptor Han Zhenkun sculpting

24. SOUNDBITE (Mandarin) Han Zhenkun, ice sculptor:

"In the previous international ice sculpture competitions, Chinese teams didn't have efficient tools. We used hand tools while sculptors from Europe and other countries used electric tools. Now we have electric chainsaws, moulding equipment, and sharp knives. We even have customised knives. We use the same tools as foreign artists. It's a fair competition. The success depends on skills and creativities."

25. Various of Chinese team's work "The Silk Road"

26. Various of sculptor fixing ice chain loop

A face from the freeze.

Here at the entrance to Harbin's Sun Island Theme Park, sculptors are putting the finishing touches to these individual snow and ice creations.

Now in it's 50th year, Harbin - the capital and largest city in Heilongjiang Province - is now world-renowned for its jaw-dropping Ice and Snow Festival.

Sculptures here take numerous forms, including this horse-themed creation, based on a painting by Chinese artist Xu Beihong (1895-1953).

Beihong is well known for his vivid horse portraits and with the Chinese Year of the Horse fast approaching, this sculpture marks the theme park's entrance.

Inside the Ice and Snow World, preparations are continuing with tourists treated to a variety of ways to enjoy the sub-zero temperatures, such as this giant snow slide.

The festival hasn't even started but Wang Lidan, a tourist from Shenyang province, is having a great time:

"The trip is totally worth it. I'm from Shenyang province, and it's my first time being here. It's fantastic," she says.

Unlike other winter festivals, Harbin Ice and Snow Festival doesn't just provide skiing, ice skating and the odd chance of a snow ball fight.

By night these massive, hand-carved ice and snow sculptures truly come to life for excited onlookers.

Engineering Supervisor of this year's Ice and Snow World Theme Park, Sun Xifu, says this year's park took a little over two weeks to build, making great use of a nearby river where all the ice is sourced:

"From the planning, design to ice collecting, construction and finishing, we only spent 15 days. With the special advantage of our mother river Songhuajiang River which provides us the ice, the ice we use is crystal clear," he says.

Ahead of the festival's opening on Sunday, tourists from all round the world have flown in to experience the ice decorations and winter activities here at Zhaolin Park.

Korean tourists, Lee Minzhi and Zhu Minying are taking this multicoloured ice slide into their strides:

"Hi, I'm from Korea. This is exciting to me," says Lee.

"I'm also from Korea. The (sliding) speed is really fast, but is also interesting," says Zhu.

"(The speed) was okay while I'm in the middle of the slide, but it went faster afterwards," says Lee.

Students from China's Northwest Petroleum University, Zhao Jingjing and Hou Ling, are also braving the slide:

"I feel pretty excited," says Hou.

"At the beginning, it was ok. And when it comes to the end, the resistance force was less, but more exciting," says Zhao.

"I'm happy enough (with the ice slide) anyway," says Hou.

Apart from creating a winter wonderland in the city's parks and resorts, the Ice and Snow Festival also consumes Harbin's city centre with ice and snow sculptures lighting up the Central Street.

This main street boasts notable European architecture - having been built by Russian settlers around 110 years ago.

Original cobblestones and Russian buildings are still preserved, and winter visitors are even offered the chance to feast on traditional Russian cuisine.

The Harbin Ice and Snow Festival officially opens 5 January 2014 and is expected to stay open till the beginning of March, depending on the weather.

During the festival, visitors will be treated to Winter Group Weddings, International Ice and Snow Sculpture Contests and an International Winter Swim Contest.

AP Television

Harbin, Heilongjiang Province, China - 2 January 2013

1. Wide of giant snow sculpture at the entrance of Sun Island Theme Park with people walking in foreground

2. Tilt up from tourist posing for photograph to snow sculpture

3. Wide of sculptors working on sculpture

4. Mid of sculptor carving on step ladder

5. Pan right of half completed snow sculpture

6. Close of sculptor carving snow

7. Wide of sculptors working on sculpture

8. Pan right of snow sculpture showing eight horses

9. Wide of Eight Horse snow sculpture with a mini bus passing in foreground

AP Television

Harbin, Heilongjiang Province, China - 3 January 2013

10. Wide pan left of Ice and Snow World

11. Mid of sunlight through the ice wall

12. Wide of workers carving ice bricks and cleaning

13. Various of man carving ice with tool

14. Wide of worker standing on crane

15. Wide of the crane and giant ice sculpture building

16. Wide of snow slide

17. Pull in of tourist sliding down snow slide

18. SOUNDBITE (Mandarin) Wang Lidan, Tourist from Shenyang province:

"The trip is totally worth it. I'm from Shenyang province, and it's my first time being here. It's fantastic."

19. Mid of tourists taking photos on smart phones

20. Mid of tourists posing for photograph

21. Wide of tourists walking through ice constructions

22. Pan left of Sun Xitong, Ice and Snow World Engineering Manager, approaching ice sculptures in Ice and Snow World

23. Tracking shot of Xitong walking through sculpture

24. SOUNDBITE (Mandarin) Sun Xitong, Ice and Snow World Engineering Manager:

"From the planning, design to ice collecting, construction and finishing, we only spent 15 days. With the special advantage of our mother river Songhuajiang River which provides us the ice, the ice we use is crystal clear."

AP Television

Harbin, Heilongjiang Province, China - 2 January 2013

++ NIGHTS SHOTS++

25. Wide of ice castle in Zhaolin Park

26. Mid of tourist posing in front of ice sculpture

27. Wide tilt up of ice sculpture

28. Pull out from tourist posing for photo to person holding camera

29. Close of horse sculpture head

30. Wide of horse sculpture

31. Wide pan left of ice slide

32. Pull focus of ice slide with tourists at top

33. Wide tracking shot of tourists riding ice slide

34. SOUNDBITE(Mandarin) Lee Minzhi, Zhu Minying, Korean tourists:

Lee: "Hi, I'm from Korea. This is exciting to me."

Zhu: "I'm also from Korea. The (sliding) speed is really fast, but is also interesting."

Lee: "(The speed) was okay while I'm in the middle of the slide, but it went faster afterwards."

35. Long shot of Chinese tourist Hou Ling sliding down slide.

36. Tracking shot down ice slide.

37. Wide of Ling riding down slide.

38. SOUNDBITE (Mandarin) Zhao Jingjing, Hou Ling, Students from Northwest Petroleum University:

Hou: "I feel pretty excited."

Zhao: "At the beginning, it was ok. And when it comes to the end, the resistance force was less, but more exciting."

Hou:"I'm happy enough (with the ice slide) anyway."

39. Wide pan left of colourfully lit ice sculptures

40. Long shot of people walking past ice sculptures

41. Low mid shot of ice sculpture

42. Wide of tourists walking past ice sculpture

43. Pull focus of ice decoration on Harbin Central Street

44. Wide pan left from man to woman posing next to ice sculpture

45. Wide of ice sculpture with pedestrians walking in background

46. Mid of ice sculpture

47. Long shot of people walking down Harbin Central Street

48. Low shot of European-style building

49. Wide of Harbin Central Street

50. Tilt down from building to snow sculpture.

LEADIN:

China's biggest ice festival gets off to a sparkling start.

Tourists come from around the world to see the Harbin Ice Festival featuring giant ice and snow sculptures.

STORYLINE:

Thousands of tourists are braving freezing temperatures to slip and slide on the ice at the annual Harbin Ice Festival.

The northeastern city is transforming itself into a winter wonderland when temperatures plummet to -20 Celsius and the Songhua River freezes over.

Outside a nearby pedestrian mall, sculptors and carvers are working to transform a giant block of snow into something very loveable.

Using scrapers, rakes, and other hand tools, workers chip away at the snow while crowds of shoppers watch. Among them is sculptor Ji Huailong, a native of Harbin who's experienced in making art from winter's precipitation.

But that experience doesn't mean snow sculpting an easy process.

"The most difficult parts to sculpt are the face and the eyes. We are carving Cupid so he has to look like an angel coming from the sky, he represents love," Ji explains.

"His features need to be cute, soft and harmonious."

The method for carving, however, has an established process.

"First some workers dig the ice blocks. Then we sculptors start carving the outline then the design. Then we use some specific tools to get out the details," says Ji, who has taken part in carving competitions before.

In 24-hours, what was mostly a giant cube of snow becomes a nearly-completed sculpture of the famous cherub. Ji and others put the finishing touches on it as tourists capture the cupid for themselves on camera.

Nearby, workers use forklifts to ease giant blocks of ice into place. They'll eventually be carved with chainsaws into giant snowflakes.

The workers use machinery and a little muscle power to guide the huge ice cubes around. They're cut from the frozen Songhua River, just a few blocks away, and transported to this street corner.

Elsewhere in Harbin, visitors are already arriving to check out the snow sculptures at the International Snow Sculpture Art Expo at the city's Sun Island Park.

The largest sculptures here are more than 10 metres tall, dwarfing Ji Huailong's cupid.

They attract visitors from far and wide, such as Tanvamon Pullapalin, a student from Thailand studying in the central Chinese city of Wuhan.

"We don't have any winter in Thailand so I want to come here and enjoy the very freezing weather. Also they have the snow architectures, the ice palaces, so it is going to be very beautiful," says Pullapalin.

"Many Thai people would love to come here once in their lifetime to enjoy this moment."

But it is the Ice and Snow World that is the star of the show among Harbin's winter attractions.

The Ice and Snow World features sculptures, towers, and entire buildings made from blocks of ice. They're lit from the inside with coloured lights. The effect at night is a spectacle, and it's one that Zhang Xiongfei and his friend travelled from China's Hebei province to see:

"We are from Hebei province and we wanted to come and see what Harbin is like under the snow," explains Zhang.

"We heard that Harbin's Ice festival was really good, that it was beautiful, especially at night. We are university students and we just came to visit the Ice Festival."

It's an important part of northeastern Chinese culture, he added:

"The festival represents Harbin's own local customs and culture foundations," says Zhang. "It has its own ice sculptures and works of art. It highlights Harbin's local customs and the Chinese creativity."

Zhang and his friend were far from the only visitors getting an early glimpse of the Ice and Snow World. Braving temperatures as low as -20 Celsius, visitors wandered amid ice creations, slid down ice slides made of the slippery substance, and of course took plenty of photos.

The 16th Annual Harbin China Ice and Snow World officially opens on 5 January and runs through 28 February.

AP Television

Harbin, China - 3 January 2015

1. Wide of crowds skating on frozen Songhua river

2. Mid of couple walking and nearly slipping on frozen river

3. Tilt down of ice sculpture with girl posing for photo

4. Close of woman taking photo

5. Close of ice sculpture

6. Wide of workers carving cupid statue out of packed snow

7. Mid of sculptor Ji Huailong poking at snow with a rake

8. Pan left from crowds watching to sculptor Ji Huailong scraping snow

9. Close of sculptor Ji Huailong's hand scraping snow

10. Wide of sculptor Ji Huailong scraping snow with a small rake

11. Close of loose snow falling off sculpture

12. SOUNDBITE: (Mandarin) Ji Huailong, ice and snow sculptor from Harbin:

"The most difficult parts to sculpt are the face and the eyes. We are carving Cupid and so he has to look like an angel coming from the sky, he represents love. His features need to be cute, soft and harmonious."

13. Close of sculptor Ji Huailong showing plans for the sculpture

14. SOUNDBITE (Mandarin) Ji Huailong, ice and snow sculptor from Harbin:

"First some workers dig the ice blocks. Then we sculptors start carving the outline then the design. Then we use some specific tools to get out the details."

AP Television

Harbin, China - 4 January 2015

15. Close of woman taking a photo

16. Tilt of up of workers on scaffold in front of snow sculpture

17. Mid of sculptor Ji Huailong working on the sculpture

18. Close of scraper moving along sculpture

AP Television

Harbin, China - 3 January 2015

19. Wide of workers moving blocks of ice into place with a forklift

20. Close of worker scraping the underside of a block of ice

21. Mid of forklift moving a block of ice

22. Close of worker pushing a block of ice

++ NIGHT SHOTS ++

23. Mid of shadows of pedestrians passing by a large snow sculpture

24. Tilt down of Tanvamon Pullapalin taking a photo amid large snow sculptures

25. SOUNDBITE: (English) Tanvamon Pullapalin, student from Thailand, vox pop

"We don't have any winter so I want to come here and enjoy the very freezing weather here. Also they say they have the snow architectures, the ice palaces, so it is going to be very beautiful. So many Thai people love to come here once in their lifetime to enjoy this moment."

AP Television

Harbin, China - 4 January 2015

26. Wide of large ice sculptures and buildings made of ice

27. Wide of a castle made of ice

28. Wide of large snow sculptures and towers made of ice

29. Mid of Zhang Xiongfei and friend walking past ice sculptures

30. SOUNDBITE: (Mandarin) Zhang Xiongfei, student from China's Hebei province, vox pop

"We are from Hebei province and we wanted to come and see what Harbin is like with the snow. We heard that Harbin's Ice festival was really good, that it was beautiful, especially at night. We are university students and we just came to visit the Ice Festival."

31. Mid of child sliding down ice into camera

32. Wide of people sliding down ice slides

33. Pan right of girl sliding down ice slide

34. Wide of girl posing for a photo amid columns of ice

35. Wide of castle made of ice

36. Close of air bubbles in a block of ice, pull focus to spectators walking past ice sculptures

37. Mid of man looking through a telescope

38. Close of multicoloured lights illuminating an ice castle

39. Wide of spectator with towers made of ice

SHOTLIST(including transcript):-

AP Entertainment

Harbin, China, 5 Jan. 2016

1. Various of fireworks exploding above illuminated ice castles

2. Wide of Harbin Ice and Snow World

3. Tilt of ice castle

4. Various of ice castles

5 . Various of tourists walking around

6. VOX POP (Mandarin) Wang Chen, Tourist from Hubei Province:

"I am a southerner and this is the first time I've been here and I want to come back in the future. It's beautiful and there is a lot of fun to be had here. I am particularly excited about the fireworks tonight."

7. Various of ice pagoda and buddha

8. Various of tourists sliding down a slide made of ice

9 . VOX POP (Mandarin) Wan Meihong, Tourist from Fujian Province:

"This is so beautiful. Harbin is known for ice sculptures. I always want to come here and I traveled a long way to come here to see these ice castles."

10. Various of children and tourists

11. Various of ice buildings

HARBIN ICE FESTIVAL WOWS CROWDS

Tourists from all over China braved the freezing cold to visit a winter wonderland on Tuesday (5 JAN. 2016), as the annual Harbin Ice and Snow Festival kicked off.

The attraction features castles, towers and buildings created out of thick blocks of ice, which are illuminated after nightfall.

180-thousand metric tons of ice were used to create this year's Ice and Snow World - the focal point of the festival.

The north-eastern city of Harbin creates the attraction annually when temperatures plummet to minus 20 Celsius (minus 4 Fahrenheit) and the Songhua River freezes over.

Organizers estimate that over 1.5 (m) million foreign and domestic tourists will visit the Ice and Snow World this year.

The festival runs until 25 February.

ICE SCULPTURES ENCHANT VISITORS AT OPENING OF ANNUAL FESTIVAL IN HARBIN

The 31st International Ice and Snow Festival officially kicked off in the Chinese city of Harbin on Monday (5 JAN. 2015), with visitors arriving in droves to marvel at giant sculptures carved from ice and snow.

The main venue, Ice and Snow World, featured castles and famous buildings recreated out of thick blocks of ice that lit up after nightfall.

This year the festival's opening ceremony was cancelled without an official reason.

This did not deter thousands of tourists from all over China and overseas from braving the north-eastern city's freezing temperatures to climb up castles made of ice, slide down an ice toboggan and lounge on ice sofas.

Harbin's trademark annual event - the world's largest ice and snow festival - lasts until February 25th.

AP Entertainment

Harbin, China, 5 January 2015

++NIGHT SHOTS++

1. Wide of ice castle marking the entrance of Harbin's International Ice and Snow Festival

2. Close of ice sculpture and ice castle in background

3. Tilt down of ice sculpture

4. Pan of different ice sculptures and buildings

5. Ice sculptures and ice toboggan

6. Xue Meng sliding down ice toboggan

7. Cutaway of belt

8. SOUNDBITE (Mandarin) Xue Meng/Student from Harbin:

"People from all over come here, we can also see ice lanterns of all kinds, this place is very unusual."

9. Various of visitors sliding down ice toboggan

10. Close of visitor sliding down

11. Pan from ice castle to telescopes

12. Child looking through the telescope

13. Peter Rudolfsson taking a picture

14. Close of camera with picture of Zhang He, Peter's wife, on the screen

15. SOUNDBITE (English) Peter Rudolfsson/From Sweden:

"Beaches you can find everywhere. Sunny beaches? You can find everywhere. Where can you find this everywhere? Not so many places."

16. Visitor on ice sofa, UPSOUND (in Mandarin) "Hurry up!"

17. Zhou Zhaojun, student, taking pictures

18. Wide of Zhou's girlfriend on ice sofa

19. SOUNDBITE (Mandarin) Zhou Zhaojun/Student from Dalian

"We have never been to such a northern and cold place, it is our first time in Harbin and we wanted to come see this beautiful and fantastic Ice Festival."

20. Wide of ice castle

21. Visitors walking down ice stairs

22. Visitors walking on ramparts of ice castle

23. Visitors with ice castles in background

SHOTLIST:

AP Television

Harbin, China - 3 January, 2013

1.Wide pan of snow sculpture competition site

2. Mid of artists working on their pieces

3. Close of a metal brush brushing on sculpture

4. Close of man brushing surface of sculpture

5. Mid of man on top of sculpture

6. Wide of men working on sculpture

7. Wide of men working on egg-shaped sculpture

8. Close of carving on snow

9. Wide of snow sculpture in shape of hands

10. Close of sculpture of hands

11. Close up of man's face

12. Close up of man's hand brushing on sculpture

13. Mid of man working on his piece

14. Wide of man and his team working on sculpture

15. Close pan on snow sculpture of masks

16. SOUNBITE (Mandarin) Lin Hai, Ice Sculptor

"The idea is a combination of the Chinese bronze and the mask of the western world. We want to show happiness, anger, grief and joy which are the four major states of feeling accompanying human kind, but our final purpose is to show our happiness."

17. Close of man working inside sculpture

18. Close of man's shovel shovelling snow

19. Wide shot of team and car-like sculpture

20. SOUNDBITE: (English) Liman Metolli, student from Nottingham Trent University:

"Ah yes it's brilliant! You've got to love it out here! Yes it is cold but you know you keep warm and stay warm, we've got good clothes. If we get cold we go inside, there's a place we can get inside and have some hot drinks. It's good. You just gotta eat a lot, make sure everything is covered. Just don't get frostbite, that's the important thing."

21. Wide of ice sculptures on Harbin's street

22. Mid of people walking by ice sculptures

23. Wide of snow sculpture of Korean pop singer Park Jae-Sang

24. Close and tilt-down on sculpture of Park Jae-Sang

25. Mid of young couple making pose of Gangnam Style in front of sculpture

26. Mid low angle of girl posing in front of sculpture

27.SOUNBITE: (Mandarin) voxpop, He Peng:

"I think it looks very funny and vivid. It adds a happy atmosphere to this extreme cold weather. I like it."

28.SOUNDBITE: (Mandarin) voxpop, Zhang Yuli:

"I come from another province and it's a strange experience for me with the cold and I'm very interested to have a look around and see as much as possible."

29. Wide pan of Ice and Snow World

30. Close of ice blocks being moved

31. Wide of ice blocks being loaded onto truck

32. Close of ice blocks being loaded onto truck

33. Wide of loading of ice blocks

34. Mid of ice palace

35. Close of ice palace

36.SOUNDBITE (Mandarin) Wang Zengyu, executive manager of Harbin Ice and Snow World:

"After 14 years of efforts, our ice and snow world has reached a world-class level as an amusement park with the theme of ice and snow entertainment. This year many internationally famous companies put their designed pieces into our park. This is a good evidence of what I just said."

37. Wide of sunset over snow land

38. Close shot of sunset

39. Various of lighted ice palaces and tourists in Ice and Snow World

40. SOUNDBITE (Mandarin) voxpop, Yangxue:

"It's too beautiful here! I started to scream as soon as I got in and I could do nothing but scream! It's just too beautiful and hard to describe. I feel really excited in this innocent world of ice and snow."

41. Mid of tourists

42. Close of temperature meter

43. SOUNDBITE (Mandarin) voxpop, Liu Xihe:

"You have to wear thick wind proof gloves and for the masks you should prepare several because after a while it gets wet and frozen on you face. One more suggestion, bring enough skin lotion with you."

44. Various of Ice and Snow World

LEAD IN

The Ice and Snow Festival in Harbin is by far the largest such exhibition in the world. It attracts tourists and professionals from all over the world to experience a blend of stunning nature and amazing handicraft.

STORYLINE

Harbin, located in the northeast China, is the capital city of Hei Longjiang province. With an average temperature of -25 centigrade (-13 Fahrenheit) in winter, has been known as the Ice City.

International Snow Sculpture Competition is one of the earliest and main events of the Ice and Snow Festival. More than 80 competitors from 11 countries are participating in this year's event.

Lin Hai, Ice Sculptor explains his creation.

"The idea is a combination of the Chinese bronze and the mask of the western world. We want to show happiness, anger, grief and joy which are the four major states of feeling accompanying human kind, but our final purpose is to show our happiness."

Instead of staying warm inside competitors chose to come out in the cold weather and create. This year's competitors have come from all walks of life - painters, decoration artists and even engineers.

Liman Metoll is a student from Nottingham Trent University in the UK.

"Ah yes it's brilliant! You've got to love it out here! Yes it is cold but you know you keep warm and stay warm, we've got good clothes. If we get cold we go inside, there's a place we can get inside and have some hot drinks. It's good. You just gotta eat a lot, make sure everything is covered. Just don't get frostbite, that's the important thing." he says .

Apart from the competition, the Ice and Snow World provides a place for tourists and competitors to relax and have fun.

The Central Avenue, built in 1898, is Harbin's most popular shopping and tourist area. Along the street, delicate ice and snow sculptures make a perfect finish to exotic buildings.

The most popular snow sculpture is a one of Korean pop singer Psy. He is seen recreating the gesture from his viral music video - Gangnam Style.

Tourists are competing to have a photo with snow Psy and do the Gangnam style dance in front of the sculpture.

Visitor He Pen says "I think it looks very funny and vivid. It adds a happy atmosphere to this extreme cold weather. I like it."

Zhang Yuli is also enjoying himself.

"I come from another province and it's a strange experience for me with the cold and I'm very interested to have a look around and see as much as possible."

The main exhibition is located at the Ice and Snow theme park by the Songhuajiang River and covers 75,000 square meters.

Wang Zengyu, executive manager of Ice and Snow World, says the amusement park has reached a world-class level and gained international recognition.

"This year many internationally famous companies put their designed pieces into our park."

The Snow and Ice World has cooperated with entertainment companies such as Walt Disney, 21st Century Fox and video game company the Angry Bird on an interaction system for visitors.

The park changes into a shining and dreamlike wonderland after sunset. Countless lights shine from inside the elaborate ice structures.

"I started to scream as soon as I got in and I could do nothing but scream! It's just too beautiful and hard to describe. I feel really excited in this innocent world of ice and snow," says Yangxue.

But visitor Liu Xihe has some good advice to those who intend to come and see the sculptures for themselves.

"You have to wear thick wind proof gloves and for the masks you should prepare several because after a while it gets wet and frozen on you face. One more suggestion, bring enough skin lotion with you."

A preview at the Ice and Snow World is open till January 5. Then Harbin's Ice Festival kicks off with an extravagant fireworks display and outdoor performance.

wacky

Breaking a sweat in arctic conditions.

Here at Harbin's Sun Island Park, the Snow Sculpting Competition is in full swing with 18 teams from 10 countries battling it out for the top prize.

Most of these contestants have previously worked as professional sculptors, but not all of them have experienced carving such a soft material as snow, let alone working in such sub-zero conditions.

With teams here from around the globe, designs take on many different forms, from this artistic Korean sculpture to this dragon-themed Chinese entry.

Lisa Welsh, a sculptor from New Zealand, has worked as a professional sculptor in film production for many years, but this is her first time working with snow.

Welsh says it's interesting to see the differences between all the entries:

"One thing we've noticed here is there's a lot of Asian influence snow sculpture. And we feel like we're really very, very different. And I think that's because Pacific culture's not represented much in Asia."

Elsewhere, the Russian team is working on their Olympic-themed entry, taking inspiration from the Olympic flame.

"Our sculpture is called the Fire of Friendship, which is designed for the Sochi Winter Olympics in February 2014. This Olympic torch has been to outer space and under the Baikal river. Now we brought it to Harbin, as part of the touch relay. The symbol of our sculpture is a bird of fire. It brings the Olympic torch to Harbin to show the Olympic spirit to Chinese people," says Russian sculptor, Evgeniy Petesher.

After 4 days of red hot competition, the grand prize was eventually awarded to the Russian team for their Olympic-themed sculpture, named "The Fire of Friendship".

They take home a prize of 10,000 RMB ($1,650 USD).

All entries made during the competition will be exhibited at Sun Island Park during the course of Harbin's Ice and Snow Festival.

Elsewhere in Harbin's Zhaolin Park, the festival's ice carving competition is hotting up.

This year's competition features 22 teams from 11 countries, with more than 50 sculptors taking part.

Each team begins with a simple ice brick, 2 metres tall, 2 meters wide and 50-70 centimeters thick which has been taken from the nearby Song Huajiang River.

After three days of intense work, their final piece will be scored based on technique and creativity.

Ice carving artist and member of the judging panel, Zhu Xiaodong, says standards have certainly improved over time:

"Throughout the 28 years of Ice Carving competition, in the old days, the tools and the quality of the teams are not as good as today, there's a huge gap compared to today," he says.

Sculpting artist from Malaysia, Vasan Angalan, is here working on his unique animal-themed piece named "The Combined Image".

Angalan says he's enjoying working in Harbin's arctic conditions:

"Cold weather, big ice, the ice won't melt, so we can carve, later and later. In Malaysia, it's hot sun. You want to carve the ice, you must carve within half an hour," he says.

On home turf, this Chinese team are working on their icy entry.

Sculptor Zheng Jinnan, a High School Art Teacher, says often the mindset differs depending on where the sculptor is from:

"The mindset of creativity between Chinese and foreigners is different. Their style is mostly modern and stream like. We Chinese combine the tradition with the modern style. To win ice carving, criteria are stream-like layout and techniques, so that you can create a good ice carving work."

Further afield, this Canadian team is here working on their own ice sculpture.

Canadian sculptor, Patricia Leguen, says that while the finished article is important, for them it's about how they get to that point:

"It's mostly the process of carving that is important, the finish result of course, but mostly how you create a very large piece, a monumental piece, in a very short amount of time," she says.

Once all the hard work is complete, it's time to enjoy the fruits of 10-thousand workers careful sculpting.

Tourists from all over the world are here to marvel at the sheer beauty of Harbin's Ice and Snow World.

According to the organisers, more than one million people visited the park last year. And this year it's hoped that figure will go up with several new high-speed train lines ferrying visitors to the city.

The Harbin Ice and Snow Festival is expected to stay open until the beginning of March, depending on the weather.

AP Television

Harbin, Heilongjiang Province, China - 2 January 2014

1. Wide of snow sculpting competitors carving snow.

2. Mid of New Zealand team member sculpting snow.

3. Wide of sculpting teams working.

4. Mid of Japanese team member sculpting snow.

5. Wide of Korean team's snow sculpture.

6. Wide of Chinese team's snow sculpture with Korean team in background.

7. Mid of Chinese team member working on dragon-themed sculpture.

8. Wide of New Zealand team members working on sculpture.

9. Close of New Zealand team members working.

10. Close of Lisa Welsh, New Zealand sculptor, speaking with team member,

11. Close of New Zealand team member measuring sculpture.

12. SOUNDBITE (English) Lisa Welsh, New Zealand sculptor:

"One thing we've noticed here is there's a lot of Asian influence snow sculpture. And we feel like we're really very, very different. And I think that's because Pacific culture's not represented much in Asia."

13. Tilt from shell to Japanese team's snow sculpture.

14. Wide of Russian team working on Olympic Torch-themed sculpture.

15. Close pan right of Russian team member carving snow.

16. Wide of Russian team working in snow sculpture.

17. Tilt up from Evgeniy Petesher, Russian sculptor, to top of snow sculpture.

18. SOUNDBITE (Russian) Evgeniy Petesher, Russian sculptor:

"Our sculpture is called the Fire of Friendship, which is designed for the Sochi Winter Olympics in February 2014. This Olympic torch has been to outer space and under the Baikal river. Now we brought it to Harbin, as part of the touch relay. The symbol of our sculpture is a bird of fire. It brings the Olympic torch to Harbin to show the Olympic spirit to Chinese people."

Harbin, Heilongjiang Province, China - 3 January 2014

19. Pull out of Russian team shaking hands and receiving first prize.

20. Wide of Russian team members posing for photographs.

Harbin, Heilongjiang Province, China - 6 January 2014

21. Mid pan right of international flags.

22. Mid of Zhu Xiaodong, Chinese ice carving artist and member of judging panel, talking to contestants.

23. Close pan right from Xiaodong to contestants.

24. SOUNDBITE ( Mandarin) Zhu Xiaodong, Chinese ice carving artist and member of judging panel:

"Throughout the 28 years of Ice Carving competition, in the old days, the tools and the quality of the teams are not as good as today, there's a huge gap compared to today."

Harbin, Heilongjiang Province, China - 7 January 2014

25. Mid of Russia team member polishing ice sculpture.

26. Close of Russian team member working on sculpture.

27. Wide pan right of competition area.

28. Mid of Vasan Angalan, Malaysian sculptor, carving ice sculpture.

29. Close of Angalan.

30. Close of Angalan carving sculpture.

31. SOUNDBITE (English) Vasan Angalan, Malaysian sculptor:

"Cold weather, big ice, the ice won't melt, so we can carve, later and later. In Malaysia, it's hot sun. You want to carve the ice, you must carve within half an hour."

32. Wide of Chinese team's ice sculpture.

33. Close of Zheng Jinnan, Chinese High School Art Teacher, carving small piece of ice.

34. Tilt up of Jinnan climbing to top of sculpture to fix sculpture piece.

35. Close of Jinnan holding piece at top of sculpture.

36. Close of top of Chinese sculpture.

37. SOUNDBITE (Mandarin) Zheng Jinnan, Chinese High School Art Teacher:

"The mindset of creativity between Chinese and foreigners is different. Their style is mostly modern and stream like. We Chinese combine the tradition with the modern style. To win ice carving, criteria are stream-like layout and techniques, so that you can create a good ice carving work."

38. Wide of Canadian team working on ice sculpture.

39. Tilt up of Patricia Leguen, Canadian sculptor, preparing ice.

40. Close of Leguen placing ice piece onto sculpture.

41. SOUNDBITE (English) Patricia Leguen, Canadian sculptor:

"It's mostly the process of carving that is important, the finish result of course, but mostly how you create a very large piece, a monumental piece, in a very short amount of time."

42. Wide of teams working on sculptures.

43. Close of the Malaysia team's elephant-themed sculpture.

44. Wide of teams working on ice sculptures.

Harbin, Heilongjiang Province, China - 5 January 2014

45. Pull in of giant ice structure.

46. Wide pan right across Harbin's Ice and Snow World.

47. Various wide shots of illuminated ice structures.

48. Tracking shot of people riding down ice slide.

49. Pan left of people arriving at bottom of ice slide.

50. Wide of horses and carts.

51. Mid of tourists travelling by horse and cart in front of ice structure.

52. Mid of top of an ice church.

LEAD-IN:

Dozens of ice sculptors are trying to keep their fingers warm and nimble at the Harbin International Ice Sculpting Competition.

And the cold temperatures in the Chinese city are not affecting the warmth and inclusiveness of the event, which is attracting competitors from around the world.

STORY-LINE:

Some 60 ice sculptors are gathering in Harbin, China's so-called ice city, for the annual International Ice Sculpting Competition.

Sculptors are showcasing their frosty art to visitors at the Harbin Ice and Snow World.

Veteran ice sculptor Yue Changshui is competing for the sixth time.

He is making a "messenger" ice sculpture, he says, to send a message of good will.

"This is a very good international platform to exchange ideas about ice sculpting," Yue said.

"It brings different cultures from various countries and regions. This competition has great significance for art exchange. I try to participate in this competition every year, as long as I can, because it is a very meaningful competition."

Yue has been making ice sculptures for more than 20 years.

He is from China's Jilin province, where ice sculpting is a traditional winter art.

Ice sculptors from 14 countries including China, US, Russia, Italy, Spain, and Mongolia are participating in the competition that started on 6 January.

Spanish ice sculptor Andrey Elias and his partner Madeu Marcet are at the event for the second time.

"We usually go to different competitions for snow and ice around the world," Elias said.

"We've been in Russia, Slovenia, Canada and United States. Harbin is the biggest one. It's amazing to see these buildings made by ice and the city. It's really nice and we enjoyed a lot to stay here," he said.

Elias and Marcet are making an ice sculpture of a sea horse.

Competitors are expected to complete their ice sculpture within three days.

About 30 finished pieces of ice sculptures will be showcased to visitors of Harbin Ice World at the end of the competition.

The ice sculpting competition is part of the annual Harbin Ice Festival, at the Ice and Snow World.

About 1.5 million visitors are expected to visit the festival.

The northeastern city Harbin transforms itself into a winter wonderland when temperatures dropped to -20 Celsius and the Songhua River freezes over.

This year's Harbin Ice Festival officially opens on 5 January and runs through 5 February.

LEAD-IN:

Dozens of ice sculptors are trying to keep their fingers warm and nimble at the Harbin International Ice Sculpting Competition.

And the cold temperatures in the Chinese city are not affecting the warmth and inclusiveness of the event, which is attracting competitors from around the world.

STORY-LINE:

Some 60 ice sculptors are gathering in Harbin, China's so-called ice city, for the annual International Ice Sculpting Competition.

Sculptors are showcasing their frosty art to visitors at the Harbin Ice and Snow World.

Veteran ice sculptor Yue Changshui is competing for the sixth time.

He is making a "messenger" ice sculpture, he says, to send a message of good will.

"This is a very good international platform to exchange ideas about ice sculpting," Yue said.

"It brings different cultures from various countries and regions. This competition has great significance for art exchange. I try to participate in this competition every year, as long as I can, because it is a very meaningful competition."

Yue has been making ice sculptures for more than 20 years.

He is from China's Jilin province, where ice sculpting is a traditional winter art.

Ice sculptors from 14 countries including China, US, Russia, Italy, Spain, and Mongolia are participating in the competition that started on 6 January.

Spanish ice sculptor Andrey Elias and his partner Madeu Marcet are at the event for the second time.

"We usually go to different competitions for snow and ice around the world," Elias said.

"We've been in Russia, Slovenia, Canada and United States. Harbin is the biggest one. It's amazing to see these buildings made by ice and the city. It's really nice and we enjoyed a lot to stay here," he said.

Elias and Marcet are making an ice sculpture of a sea horse.

Competitors are expected to complete their ice sculpture within three days.

About 30 finished pieces of ice sculptures will be showcased to visitors of Harbin Ice World at the end of the competition.

The ice sculpting competition is part of the annual Harbin Ice Festival, at the Ice and Snow World.

About 1.5 million visitors are expected to visit the festival.

The northeastern city Harbin transforms itself into a winter wonderland when temperatures dropped to -20 Celsius and the Songhua River freezes over.

This year's Harbin Ice Festival officially opens on 5 January and runs through 5 February.

Harbin - 7 January 2015

1. Chinese sculptor Yue Changshui working on his ice sculpture at the Harbin International Ice Sculpting Competition

2. Various of Yue carving ice with an ice spade

3. SOUNDBITE (Mandarin) Yue Changshui, Ice Sculptor from China's Jilin Province:

"This is a very good international platform to exchange ideas about ice sculpting. It brings different cultures from various countries and regions. This competition has great significance for art exchange. I try to participate in this competition every year, as long as I can, because it is a very meaningful competition."

4. Wide of ice sculpting site in Harbin Ice and Snow World

5. Flags, with ice in foreground

6. Ice sculptors taking part in the competition

7. Pan right of ice sculptors working on sculptures

8. Various of sculptors carving ice blocks with ice spades and chainsaws

Harbin - 6 January 2015

9. Close of Spanish ice sculptor Andrey Elias (wearing glasses and orange scarf) carving ice, using an ice spade

10. Various of Elias sculpting ice

11. SOUNDBITE (English) Andrey Elias, Ice Sculptor from Spain:

"We usually go to different competitions for snow and ice around the world. We've been in Russia, Slovenia, Canada and United States. Harbin is the biggest one. It's amazing to see these buildings made by ice and the city. It's really nice and we enjoyed a lot to stay here."

12. Elias and another ice sculptors carving ice, with ice buildings in background

Harbin - 7 January, 2015

13. Ice sculptor working on ice sculpture of an eagle

14. Pull out from interior of ice sculpture being polished to the ice block

15. Tilt up of ice sculptor polishing her sculpture

16. Ice sculptor working

17. Pan left of Harbin Ice World as the sun sets

18. Various of ice sculptures with sculptors

SHOTLIST:

AP Television

Harbin, China - 7 January 2013

1. Wide of ice carver Wang Zhonglong working on ice sculpture

2. Mid of ice sculpture

3. Various of Wang drilling details onto sculpture

4. Mid of ice sculpture

5. SOUNDBITE (Mandarin) Wang Zhonglong, Ice carver :

"The ice sculpture aims at grasping the larger picture, as well as displaying the details - like carving the decorations, showing the different layers and polishing the surface. The details matter most."

6. Various of team working on fish sculpture

7. SOUNDBITE (Russian) Eduard Ponomarenko, Ice carver:

"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."

8. Various of carver carving ice with chain saw

9. Pan across competition hall

10. Various of ice carving teacher and carver Zhang Dexiang working on his piece

11. Various of ice sculptures

12. SOUNDBITE (Mandarin) Zhang Dexiang, Ice carver and ice carving teacher :

"Using ice as a material, its transparency gives people a impression of the fabulous and of illusions, just like crystal."

13. Man cutting ice

14. Ice being ironed with household iron

15. Block of ice being moved

16. Man carving ice

17. Various of Thai team carving ice

18. SOUNDBITE (English) Manu Songsri, Thai ice carver :

"In Thailand, really hot, not same about the whether. But I like sculpture because I work in the hotel. Everyone is working in the hotel same. I want to show my proud (pride), I want to show my Thailand, I want to show my sculpture. Yeah, I like this."

19. Thai team sculpture

20. Ice fish, tilt down

21. Wide of competition hall

22. Man moving ice bricks

23. Various of people carving ice

24. Sculpture of person, tilt up

25. Various of ice face

26. SOUNDBITE (Mandarin) Li Hunhui, Organiser of Harbin Foreign Affairs Office :

"We organise this international ice sculpture competition to gather sculpture artists from all over the world, which allows them to learn from each other, promotes the culture exchange between countries and better develops the art of ice sculpture."

27. Various of Russian carver at work

LEAD IN

Gifted ice carvers are taking part in the annual ice carving competition in the Chinese city of harbin.

The Ice And Snow Festival has attracted artists from around the world including Russia and Thailand.

STORYLINE

A variety of tools including chainsaws, ice shovels, electric drills and even household irons have been put to good use at the Harbin International Ice Carving Competition.

47 artists from seven countries have gathered to take part in the three day carving event.

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

"The ice sculpture aims at grasping the larger picture, as well as displaying the details - like carving the decorations, showing the different layers and polishing the surface. The details matter most."

Many sculptors view the event as less like a competition and more like a festival.

Russian carver Eduard Ponomarenko says he loves carving ice.

"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."

Chinese carver Zhang Dexiang is a carver and an ice carving teacher.

He has been carving for 20 years and this year he has his son and grandson on site to help him.

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

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

"Using ice as a material, its transparency gives people a impression of the fabulous and of illusions, just like crystal."

The carvers are competent with a variety tools and are not worried about using a chainsaw or an electric drill.

Ice carver Manu Songsri has travelled all the way from Thailand for the event.

He is a professional sculptor who works in a hotel and also does stone, wood and ice carving.

"In Thailand, really hot, not same about the whether. But I like sculpture because I work in the hotel. Everyone is working in the hotel same. I want to show my proud (pride), I want to show my Thailand, I want to show my sculpture. Yeah, I like this."

The Harbin International Ice Carving Competition has been going for 27 years.

Organiser of the Harbin Foreign Affairs Office Li Hunhui says the event brings talent to China from all over the world.

"We organise this international ice sculpture competition to gather sculpture artists from all over the world, which allows them to learn from each other, promotes the culture exchange between countries and better develops the art of ice sculpture."

LEAD IN:

Around 60 sculptors from 12 different countries have gathered in sub-zero temperatures at the Harbin Ice and Snow Festival, in China's Heilongjiang province.

The annual ice sculpting competition takes place over three days (ending on January 8).

STORY-LINE:

From dawn to dusk the artists work in freezing temperatures to create ice sculptures that glisten in the winter sun.

The Harbin ice sculpting event features teams from several countries, with Russian participants the overwhelming majority.

Kirill Vladimirovich Tashlanov, a Russian ice sculptor from Troitskoye, explains that ice sculpting has an important role in Russian culture.

"In Russian cities, many gardens have ice statues. Artists create beautiful works to decorate cities."

Tashlanov and his colleague are working on a creation featuring a child, which will symbolize friendship.

Li Xia and her husband Zhao Mingli, from nearby Jilin province, both started with sculpting on tree roots, before transitioning to ice nine years ago. Their work features a fish holding an umbrella.

Li Xia says that ice sculpting makes her happy. "I see artists from other countries who very dedicated," she says. "We like their work so we want to come every year."

Han Zhenkun's creation stands apart from the others. Originally from Harbin, he teaches today at the city's Institute of Technology.

The sculpture depicts a black dragon and a boy from the Oroqen minority, an ethnic group in northern China.

As the legend goes, a black and a white dragon fought in a river.

The Oroqen people fed and helped the black dragon win over the white one, hence the name of the river: "black dragon river" (also know as "Amur").

"I want to use this creation to showcase the charm of our province, to show to people all over the world the origin of its name," says Han during a break from carving. "We want to tell this story through our ice sculpture."

His passion for ice sculpting started 19 years ago, and to him, a good sculptor is an artist. "First, a good sculptor needs to have good mastery of basic skills, a good understanding of the ice texture, the ability to use all kinds of tools, and be creative," he adds.

The 2017 Harbin Ice Festival opened on January 5 and will run for a month.

Harbin (Heilongjiang Province) - 6 January 2017

1. Mid of sculptor through ice

2. Various of sculptor and sculpture

3. Wide tilt up of sculptor and sculpture

4. Close of sculptor

5. Close of hands and paper

6. SOUNDBITE (Russian), Kirill Vladimirovich Tashlanov, Ice sculptor from Troitskoye, Russia:

"Ice sculpting has an important role in Russian culture. In Russian cities, many gardens have ice statues. Artists create beautiful works to decorate cities. We also provide ice and snow sculptures for the gardens."

7. Mid tilt up of Kirill Vladimirovich Tashlanov

8. Wide and pan of ice sculpture competition

9. Various of Li Xia, working on sculpture

10. SOUNDBITE (Mandarin) Li Xia, ice sculptor from Jilin Province:

"Ice sculpting makes me happy. After staying at home for a long time, I see ice sculptures and I feel fresh. We started doing root sculpting, but we felt a connection with ice sculpture so we take part in this competition every year. I see artists from other countries who are very dedicated. We like their work so we want to come every year."

11. Wide of Zhao Mingli sculpting

12. Close of Zhao

13. Close of hands

14. Wide of sculptors and ice sculpture

15. Mid of man working on ice bumblebee wings

16. Close and tilt down from sculptor to the wings

17. Mid of chainaw and Han Zhenkun

18. Mid of Han

19. Close of hands

20. SOUNDBITE (Mandarin) Han Zhenkun, Professor at Harbin Institute of Technology:

"This is an international ice sculpting competition. Because it takes place in Harbin, Heilongjiang, I want to use this creation to showcase the charm of our province, to show to people all over the world the origin of its name. We want to tell this story through our ice sculpture."

21. Close of hands and drawing

22. SOUNDBITE (Mandarin) Han Zhenkun, professor at Harbin Institute of Technology:

"First, a good sculptor needs to have good mastery of basic skills, a good understanding of the ice texture, the ability to use all kinds of tools, and be creative."

23. Wide of sculpture and ice Temple of Heaven in background

24. Wide of sculpture

25. Wide of ice sculpting competition

LEAD IN:

Around 60 sculptors from 12 different countries have gathered in sub-zero temperatures at the Harbin Ice and Snow Festival, in China's Heilongjiang province.

The annual ice sculpting competition takes place over three days (ending on January 8).

STORY-LINE:

From dawn to dusk the artists work in freezing temperatures to create ice sculptures that glisten in the winter sun.

The Harbin ice sculpting event features teams from several countries, with Russian participants the overwhelming majority.

Kirill Vladimirovich Tashlanov, a Russian ice sculptor from Troitskoye, explains that ice sculpting has an important role in Russian culture.

"In Russian cities, many gardens have ice statues. Artists create beautiful works to decorate cities."

Tashlanov and his colleague are working on a creation featuring a child, which will symbolize friendship.

Li Xia and her husband Zhao Mingli, from nearby Jilin province, both started with sculpting on tree roots, before transitioning to ice nine years ago. Their work features a fish holding an umbrella.

Li Xia says that ice sculpting makes her happy. "I see artists from other countries who very dedicated," she says. "We like their work so we want to come every year."

Han Zhenkun's creation stands apart from the others. Originally from Harbin, he teaches today at the city's Institute of Technology.

The sculpture depicts a black dragon and a boy from the Oroqen minority, an ethnic group in northern China.

As the legend goes, a black and a white dragon fought in a river.

The Oroqen people fed and helped the black dragon win over the white one, hence the name of the river: "black dragon river" (also know as "Amur").

"I want to use this creation to showcase the charm of our province, to show to people all over the world the origin of its name," says Han during a break from carving. "We want to tell this story through our ice sculpture."

His passion for ice sculpting started 19 years ago, and to him, a good sculptor is an artist. "First, a good sculptor needs to have good mastery of basic skills, a good understanding of the ice texture, the ability to use all kinds of tools, and be creative," he adds.

The 2017 Harbin Ice Festival opened on January 5 and will run for a month.

Harbin (Heilongjiang Province) - 6 January 2017

1. Mid of sculptor through ice

2. Various of sculptor and sculpture

3. Wide tilt up of sculptor and sculpture

4. Close of sculptor

5. Close of hands and paper

6. SOUNDBITE (Russian), Kirill Vladimirovich Tashlanov, Ice sculptor from Troitskoye, Russia:

"Ice sculpting has an important role in Russian culture. In Russian cities, many gardens have ice statues. Artists create beautiful works to decorate cities. We also provide ice and snow sculptures for the gardens."

7. Mid tilt up of Kirill Vladimirovich Tashlanov

8. Wide and pan of ice sculpture competition

9. Various of Li Xia, working on sculpture

10. SOUNDBITE (Mandarin) Li Xia, ice sculptor from Jilin Province:

"Ice sculpting makes me happy. After staying at home for a long time, I see ice sculptures and I feel fresh. We started doing root sculpting, but we felt a connection with ice sculpture so we take part in this competition every year. I see artists from other countries who are very dedicated. We like their work so we want to come every year."

11. Wide of Zhao Mingli sculpting

12. Close of Zhao

13. Close of hands

14. Wide of sculptors and ice sculpture

15. Mid of man working on ice bumblebee wings

16. Close and tilt down from sculptor to the wings

17. Mid of chainaw and Han Zhenkun

18. Mid of Han

19. Close of hands

20. SOUNDBITE (Mandarin) Han Zhenkun, Professor at Harbin Institute of Technology:

"This is an international ice sculpting competition. Because it takes place in Harbin, Heilongjiang, I want to use this creation to showcase the charm of our province, to show to people all over the world the origin of its name. We want to tell this story through our ice sculpture."

21. Close of hands and drawing

22. SOUNDBITE (Mandarin) Han Zhenkun, professor at Harbin Institute of Technology:

"First, a good sculptor needs to have good mastery of basic skills, a good understanding of the ice texture, the ability to use all kinds of tools, and be creative."

23. Wide of sculpture and ice Temple of Heaven in background

24. Wide of sculpture

25. Wide of ice sculpting competition

SHOTLIST

1. Wide of Ice and Snow Show entrance

2. Wide of child running on ice

3. Wide of ice palace

4. Wide of ice temple and figure

5. Mid of ice corridor

6. Mid of people standing in front of ice castle

7. Pan of people on ice slide

8. Various mid of ice animal sculptures

9. Various of children in ice park

10. Mid of man hitting drum

11. Pan of chopped ice on Song Hua Jiang River

12. Long of man cutting ice

13. Various wide of man dragging ice out of river

14. Mid of man installing ice ball

15. Close and wide of man watering and fixing ice ball

16. Close of man chopping and polishing ice

17. Close of man's face

18. Pan of man working on ice sculpture

19. SOUNDBITE: (Mandarin) Kong, De-Guang, Student of Chang Chun University:

"The ice sculptures here are different from what I imagined. They are splendid. What I imagined was some artistic pieces, but here I saw an ice city. I was amazed."

20. SOUNDBITE : (Mandarin) Zhang, Na, Student of Chang Chun College of Tax Study:

"My first time here, and I felt shocked. The ice show is fun. They feel nice, but I don't know how they were made. I feel they are quite magic. "

21. Various of ice sculptures of Beijing Olympic Games mascots

22. Wide of entrance to snow show with Chinese and Canadian flags

23. Zoom of ice figures of Canadian army officers on horse

24. Various of of details on ice sculpture - Indian crossing Bering Strait.

25. SOUNDBITE: (English) Marco Zuttioni, Italian tourist:

"It is very nice and it is very impressive and so I can suggest to my friend to come here in Chun Jie, Spring Festival. It is really impressive."

26. Various of details on ice sculpture - Indian crossing Bering Strait

27. Pan of ice sculpture - Niagara Falls

28. Various of workers chopping snow

29. Mid of children playing on ground

30. Mid of girls taken photos

31. Various of school children taking photos with Cartoon figures by teacher

32. SOUNDBITE; (Mandarin) Cui, Yang, student from Hei Long Jiang Province

"I feel the scenes here are very beautiful. (the snow sculptures) are very big, very pretty and I like coming here."

33. Various mid of snow sculptures

34. Various of workers working on snow sculpture

LEAD IN:

The world's largest ice and snow show has opened in Harbin in North East China.

Thousands of people visit the attraction every year from all over Asia and China and even some as far as the United States and Europe.

STORYLINE

For more than 20 years now the north eastern city of Harbin in China has been transformed into a glistening ice and snow sculpture show each winter.

Massive sculptures are carved from the ice and at night they're lit up to create a winter wonderland.

Some of the structures are copies of famous buildings such as from the "Forbidden City" in Beijing.

Hundreds of thousands of visitors, not just from China but from all over the world come to marvel at the spectacle.

But they have to be brave, wrapping up well to protect against the sub-zero temperatures.

The beauty of the ice show is that people of all ages can enjoy it, from the very old to the very young.

The exhibition is made up of three shows which are called the "Harbin Ice and Snow World", the "International Snow Sculpture Exhibition" and also the "Ice Lantern Show".

Over two-thousand pieces are displayed across the city over a three month period.

The ice used to make the sculptures is taken from the nearby Song Hua Jiang River.

Massive blocks are cut from the frozen water by hundreds of workers, they're then hauled into place where the artists work on them.

This year competitors have travelled from as far a field as the United States and Canada to take part, transforming the ice into animals, mythical creatures and buildings.

Those who have visited the attraction are taken aback by its scale and size. Kong, De-Guang a student of Chang Chun University was overawed by what he saw.

This year the theme of "International Snow Sculpture Exhibition" is Canada. At the entrance is massive military sculpture of men on horse back.

The exhibition runs until late February so there's still time to see the awe-inspiring carvings.

Keyword-art wacky