Chinese Ice Sculpture Festival gives France a chilling life
France has been transported to China, with the Eiffel Tower and Even Napoleon Bonaparte. No, I am not rumbling…tourists visiting the renowned snow carving festival in the Sun Island in Harbin, a city in northeast China, would feel just that. The festival goes back a long time. It was started off in 1963 and rejuvenated in 1985 following the cultural revolution in China. Hundreds and thousands of wander-thirsty tourists throng the festival every time, braving the sub-zero temperature. The theme of this year’s ice festival happens to be France. The culture and history of France has been etched on snow with unparalleled skill, marked by incredible accuracy, down to the minutest intricacy. The snow replica of the Eiffel Tower looms high and proud, while Napoleon Bonaparte on his horse looks as powerful and vigorous as he must have when he ruled. A larger-than-life sculpture inspired by Rodin sits contemplatively, dwarfing all those in the vicinity. Some of the structures are created by piling up ice blocks, carved with chisels and chainsaws, to make huge models of buildings. Lights are frozen in the middle of them creating the beautiful displays of colour. When the neon lights are lit during the night, it all takes up the aura of a fairy-tale land. Wow! Isn’t it a sight worth dying for! A million bows to the genius of man! A million kudos to his artistry, his hone of talent, his indomitable zeal!