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The famed Harbin Ice and Snow Festival has opened, with 30 teams contending in its International Ice Sculpture Competition. The endeavor requires heavy lifting as well as precision craftsmanship.
International Ice Sculpture Competition kicks off in Harbin
International Ice Sculpture Competition kicks off in Harbin
The artists have come from 11 countries - including China, the U.S., Russia, and Italy - with two members on each team. The oldest competitor is an 82-year-old woman from the US. Five teams come from China.
The raw material comes in cubes - each measuring two meters by two meters - extracted from the nearby Songhua River, and contestants will brave temperatures down to 30 celsius below zero to work on them.
It starts with drawing outlines, then cutting the ice with an electric saw, followed by carving the desired shape with special tools. And if all that were not enough, electric clothes-irons are often used to smoothe ice surfaces.
The teams are competing for first, second, and third prizes, but there will also be some special awards such as for novelty.
中文国际网摘编：GAN JADE |
