How Harbin is transformed into an 'ice city' each year

This winter, tens of thousands of travelers have been mesmerized by the grand ice structures in Harbin Ice-Snow World. As night falls, the park transforms into a magical landscape, illuminated by a dazzling array of lights that bring its ice structures to life.

Located in the "ice city" of Harbin, the snowy capital of northeast China's Heilongjiang province, the park blends ice, snow, sound and lights in a captivating display. Marking its 25th year of consecutive celebration, this year's edition has been recognized by the Guinness World Records as the world's largest ice and snow theme park.

Where does the ice come from?

This year's festival saw the use of a total of 250,000 cubic meters of ice and snow. These crystal palaces and intricate sculptures were crafted from ice blocks harvested from the nearby frozen Songhua River.

Due to its stable water flow and clear water quality, the Songhua River forms ice with a uniform density and crystal-clear appearance, making it perfect for constructing ice landscapes. Every December, when the ice on the Songhua River reaches a thickness of approximately 0.3 to 0.4 meters, the month-long ice harvesting process begins. Each day, around 10,000 cubic meters of ice are collected from the river.

The ice-picking team begins by marking the ice line, stretching a line across the ice layer to gauge distances. They then use a motorized ice saw to make initial cuts, slicing the expansive ice layer into smaller squares and making the ice surface look like a checkerboard. In accordance with the construction requirements of Harbin Ice-Snow World, each ice block is approximately 1.6 meters in length, 0.8 meters in width and weighs around 700 kilograms.

Then, using large picks, the workers align themselves along the ice line and rhythmically drive their ice hammers down, chipping away to detach the enormous ice block from the rest of the frozen river. This process results in the formation of ice rows, each capable of yielding over a hundred crystal-clear bricks.

Next, the team divides the ice rows and moves the separated ice bricks forward. As these ice bricks float on the river, they are hoisted onto a conveyor belt. Forklifts then transport them to the nearby Harbin Ice-Snow World, where they are transformed into stunning ice sculptures.

A seasonal calling from hometown

Most ice pickers are farmers living nearby. Yi Fenglong, 42, has been in the ice-harvesting business for over two decades. He recalls that up until six years ago, the process was entirely manual. In the biting cold of around minus 30 degrees Celsius, workers would laboriously haul a tonne of ice to shore with ropes tied around their waists. Over time, they developed their tools and machines, enhancing efficiency and lessening reliance on manual labor.

In recent years, the growing popularity of ice and snow landscapes and related activities has led to a surge in demand for ice harvesting, transforming it into a seasonal occupation in the region. An ice harvester shared that during the month-long harvesting season, they can earn about 10,000 yuan (around $1408) when conditions are favorable.

As ice and snow tourism gains popularity in more cities, professional ice pickers from the Songhua River area are increasingly sought after, often traveling to various locations for ice picking jobs. However, when it's time to construct the Ice and Snow World each year, they consistently return to their roots to contribute to the construction of the Ice-Snow World, taking pride in building a winter wonderland in their hometown.