At a festival in Harbin, China, artists use ice and snow to create enormous sculptures. Tourists travel from all over the world to admire the frozen artwork.

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City of Ice

This vast frozen wonderland is built entirely of ice and snow

Jim McMahon

Juhani Lillberg lives in Finland. This January, he’ll travel nearly 6,500 kilometers (4,000 miles) to Harbin, a city in northeast China. Harbin is one of the coldest cities in the world. Temperatures drop to -23°C (-10°F) in winter. But the city has a unique draw: a festival of giant sculptures made entirely of snow and ice.

The Harbin International Ice and Snow Sculpture Festival has been held every winter since 1963. Every year, up to 15 million tourists brave bone-chilling temperatures to attend. Lillberg helps judge the art.

Juhani Lillberg lives in Finland. He’ll travel nearly 6,500 kilometers (4,000 miles) this January. He’s going to Harbin. It’s a city in northeast China. Harbin is one of the coldest cities in the world. Temperatures drop to -23°C (-10°F) in winter. But the city has a special draw. It hosts a festival of giant sculptures. They’re made of snow and ice.

The event is the Harbin International Ice and Snow Sculpture Festival. It’s been held every winter since 1963. Up to 15 million tourists come every year. They must brave freezing weather. Lillberg helps judge the art.

WU HONG/EPA/REX/Shutterstock

Colored lights illuminate the giant sculptures at night.

Artists build more than 2,000 frozen sculptures around the city. They carve ice and snow into animals, movie characters, and even entire buildings. Some sculptures tower 10 stories high!

“There are many winter festivals,” says Shintaro Okamoto, an ice sculptor in New York City. “But in terms of scale, Harbin is definitely over the top.”

Artists build more than 2,000 frozen sculptures around the city. They carve ice and snow into animals. They make sculptures of movie characters. They even build entire icy buildings. Some artworks tower 10 stories high!

“There are many winter festivals,” says Shintaro Okamoto. He’s an ice sculptor from New York City. “But in terms of scale, Harbin is definitely over the top.” 

Picture-Perfect Ice

Work on the icy festival begins weeks before it opens. Nearly 15,000 workers cut blocks of ice from the frozen Songhua River nearby. The ice there is usually crystal clear—perfect for sculpting. That’s because of how the ice forms.

When water freezes in an ice cube tray, it’s surrounded by cold air. The top, bottom, and sides of the liquid all start freezing at the same time. “When this happens, you trap a lot of air bubbles,” says Erland Schulson. He studies ice at Dartmouth College in New Hampshire. Air trapped in the middle of an ice cube makes it appear cloudy.

Work on the icy festival begins weeks before it opens. Nearly 15,000 workers cut blocks of ice. The blocks come from the nearby frozen Songhua River. The ice there is usually crystal clear. That’s because of how the ice forms. It’s perfect for sculpting.

Water in a freezer’s ice cube tray has cold air all around it. All sides of the liquid start freezing at the same time. “When this happens, you trap a lot of air bubbles,” says Erland Schulson. He studies ice at Dartmouth College in New Hampshire. Air trapped in an ice cube makes it appear cloudy.

Wang Kai/Xinhua via ZUMA Wire

Workers pull ice blocks from a frozen river for the festival.

But ice sculptures in Harbin don’t look this way. That’s because the air above the Songhua is much colder than the ground below it. The frigid air chills the surface of the river to 0°C (32°F)—water’s freezing point. The river starts to freeze from the top down. This pushes air and other impurities to the bottom of the river. As a result, the ice on top appears perfectly clear, says Schulson.

But ice sculptures in Harbin don’t look this way. The air above the Songhua is much colder than the ground below it. The cold air chills the surface of the river to 0°C (32°F). That’s water’s freezing point. The river starts to freeze from the top down. This pushes air to the bottom of the river. So the ice on top looks perfectly clear, says Schulson.

Cool Carving

Ice artists sketch out their plans before they start carving. Once the ice blocks arrive, the sculptors get to work. First they use chain saws to cut a rough shape. Smaller tools, like chisels, help them refine the piece. Finally, they use drills and other precise tools to carve details. That’s often the hardest part, says Jamie Hamilton, a sculptor from London.  

Ice artists first draw out their plans. The sculptors get to work once the ice blocks arrive. First, they use chainsaws to cut a rough shape. Then, they use smaller tools, like chisels. These tools help them perfect the piece. Finally, the artists use drills to carve details. That’s often the hardest part, says Jamie Hamilton. He’s a sculptor from London, England.

aphotostory/Shutterstock.com

Artists put the finishing touches on a snow sculpture.

Snow is easier to work with because it’s softer than ice, says Hamilton. There’s also plenty of snow in the wintry city. 

Like ice, snow is a solid form of water. But the way it forms is different. Snowflakes start as tiny water droplets high up in a cloud. When the cloud gets cold enough, some of the droplets freeze. They stick together and
grow into a snowflake. When the flake gets big enough, it falls
to the ground.

Snow is easier to work with, says Hamilton. That’s because snow is softer than ice. There’s also plenty of snow in the wintry city.

Like ice, snow is a solid form of water. But the way it forms is different. Snowflakes start as tiny water droplets. They form high up in a cloud. The cloud can get really cold. Some of the droplets freeze. They stick together and grow into a snowflake. The flake gets bigger and bigger. Then it falls to the ground.

Changing States

Ice and water are different states of matter. The molecules that make up liquid water move freely and flow past each other. As water freezes solid, the molecules form a pattern and lock in place.

Ice and water are different states of matter. The molecules that make up liquid water move freely and flow past each other. As water freezes solid, the molecules form a pattern and lock in place.

Shutterstock.com

Changing States

Ice and water are different states of matter. The molecules that make up liquid water move freely and flow past each other. As water freezes solid, the molecules form a pattern and lock in place.

Ice and water are different states of matter. The molecules that make up liquid water move freely and flow past each other. As water freezes solid, the molecules form a pattern and lock in place.

Shutterstock.com

The Big Melt

Last year’s star attraction was a snow sculpture of a woman with animals. It stretched 100 meters (330 feet) across—about the length of a football field!

More than 100 artists worked for over a week to build the colossal sculpture. They used cranes and forklifts to reach the top without stepping on the work below.

But even the most stunning frozen artwork is only temporary. As temperatures in Harbin rise in March, the sculptures start to melt. Some spectators find this sad, says Hamilton. But for him, it’s all part of the experience. “The process of change is actually really beautiful,” he says.

Last year’s festival had a snow sculpture of a woman with animals. It was the star attraction. It was 100 meters (330 feet) across. That’s about the length of a football field!

More than 100 artists worked on the huge sculpture. It took them more than a week to build. They used cranes and forklifts to reach the top. That allowed them to not step on the work below.

But even the most amazing frozen artwork won’t last long. The temperatures in Harbin rise in March. The sculptures start to melt. Some people find this sad, says Hamilton. But for him, it’s all part of the experience. “The process of change is actually really beautiful,” he says.

Ice Cube Cooler

Can you prevent ice from melting?

Kate Francis

Step 4

Observe

As temperatures rise in Harbin, ice sculptures melt. Melting happens when a solid heats up and changes into a liquid. Certain materials, called insulators, can keep this from happening. Insulators do not let heat pass through easily.  

As temperatures rise in Harbin, ice sculptures melt. Melting happens when a solid heats up and changes into a liquid. Certain materials, called insulators, can keep this from happening. Insulators do not let heat pass through easily.  

Define the Problem

Can you design an insulator that keeps an ice cube cold?

Can you design an insulator that keeps an ice cube cold?

Materials

• 2 same-sized plastic cups
• ruler
• 4 same-sized ice cubes
• insulation materials, such as newspaper, plastic wrap, packing peanuts, aluminum foil, felt, and cotton balls
• tape
• clock or stopwatch
• paper and pencil

• 2 same-sized plastic cups 
• ruler 
• 4 same-sized ice cubes 
• insulation materials, such as newspaper, plastic wrap, packing peanuts, aluminum foil, felt, and cotton balls 
• tape 
• clock or stopwatch 
• paper and pencil

Design a Solution

1. Examine the plastic cups and construction materials. Think about which materials would best prevent heat from reaching an ice cube in a cup.

2. Plan your insulator design and draw it on a piece of paper. Then build it inside one plastic cup. This is your prototype.

3. Now create a control cup. Your control cup should have no insulation material.

4. Use the ruler to measure and record the sizes of two ice cubes. Then place one in each cup.

5. After 30 minutes, look in both of the cups. Compare the insulated ice cube with the control ice cube. Which has changed more? Record the sizes of both ice cubes.

6. Look at both cups every 30 minutes until both ice cubes have melted. Record your observations in a chart.

7. Once your test is finished, analyze your results. Could
you do a better job keeping an ice cube cold? Modify your original insulator design, and repeat steps 2-6.  

1. Examine the plastic cups and construction materials. Think about which materials would best prevent heat from reaching an ice cube in a cup.

2. Plan your insulator design and draw it on a piece of paper. Then build it inside one plastic cup. This is your prototype.

3. Now create a control cup. Your control cup should have no insulation material.

4. Use the ruler to measure and record the sizes of two ice cubes. Then place one in each cup.

5. After 30 minutes, look in both of the cups. Compare the insulated ice cube with the control ice cube. Which has changed more? Record the sizes of both ice cubes.

6. Look at both cups every 30 minutes until both ice cubes have melted. Record your observations in a chart.

7. Once your test is finished, analyze your results. Could
you do a better job keeping an ice cube cold? Modify your original insulator design, and repeat steps 2-6.  

Conclusions

1. What materials did you use to insulate your ice cube?

2. How did you change your original insulator design and why? Did your insulator work better after your changes?

3. Imagine you’re an ice artist trying to preserve a frozen sculpture to transport
it. What materials might you use? Use evidence from your own observations as well as those of your classmates.

1. What materials did you use to insulate your ice cube?

2. How did you change your original insulator design and why? Did your insulator work better after your changes?

3. Imagine you’re an ice artist trying to preserve a frozen sculpture to transport
it. What materials might you use? Use evidence from your own observations as well as those of your classmates.

Ice Cube Cooler

Can you prevent ice from melting?

Kate Francis

Step 4

Observe

As temperatures rise in Harbin, ice sculptures melt. Melting happens when a solid heats up and changes into a liquid. Certain materials, called insulators, can keep this from happening. Insulators do not let heat pass through easily.  

As temperatures rise in Harbin, ice sculptures melt. Melting happens when a solid heats up and changes into a liquid. Certain materials, called insulators, can keep this from happening. Insulators do not let heat pass through easily.  

Define the Problem

Can you design an insulator that keeps an ice cube cold?

Can you design an insulator that keeps an ice cube cold?

Materials

• 2 same-sized plastic cups
• ruler
• 4 same-sized ice cubes
• insulation materials, such as newspaper, plastic wrap, packing peanuts, aluminum foil, felt, and cotton balls
• tape
• clock or stopwatch
• paper and pencil

• 2 same-sized plastic cups 
• ruler 
• 4 same-sized ice cubes 
• insulation materials, such as newspaper, plastic wrap, packing peanuts, aluminum foil, felt, and cotton balls 
• tape 
• clock or stopwatch 
• paper and pencil

Design a Solution

1. Examine the plastic cups and construction materials. Think about which materials would best prevent heat from reaching an ice cube in a cup.

2. Plan your insulator design and draw it on a piece of paper. Then build it inside one plastic cup. This is your prototype.

3. Now create a control cup. Your control cup should have no insulation material.

4. Use the ruler to measure and record the sizes of two ice cubes. Then place one in each cup.

5. After 30 minutes, look in both of the cups. Compare the insulated ice cube with the control ice cube. Which has changed more? Record the sizes of both ice cubes.

6. Look at both cups every 30 minutes until both ice cubes have melted. Record your observations in a chart.

7. Once your test is finished, analyze your results. Could
you do a better job keeping an ice cube cold? Modify your original insulator design, and repeat steps 2-6.  

1. Examine the plastic cups and construction materials. Think about which materials would best prevent heat from reaching an ice cube in a cup.

2. Plan your insulator design and draw it on a piece of paper. Then build it inside one plastic cup. This is your prototype.

3. Now create a control cup. Your control cup should have no insulation material.

4. Use the ruler to measure and record the sizes of two ice cubes. Then place one in each cup.

5. After 30 minutes, look in both of the cups. Compare the insulated ice cube with the control ice cube. Which has changed more? Record the sizes of both ice cubes.

6. Look at both cups every 30 minutes until both ice cubes have melted. Record your observations in a chart.

7. Once your test is finished, analyze your results. Could
you do a better job keeping an ice cube cold? Modify your original insulator design, and repeat steps 2-6.  

Conclusions

1. What materials did you use to insulate your ice cube?

2. How did you change your original insulator design and why? Did your insulator work better after your changes?

3. Imagine you’re an ice artist trying to preserve a frozen sculpture to transport
it. What materials might you use? Use evidence from your own observations as well as those of your classmates.

1. What materials did you use to insulate your ice cube?

2. How did you change your original insulator design and why? Did your insulator work better after your changes?

3. Imagine you’re an ice artist trying to preserve a frozen sculpture to transport
it. What materials might you use? Use evidence from your own observations as well as those of your classmates.

Physical Science
Properties & Changes of Matter
freezing point

the temperature at which a substance changes from liquid to solid
solid

a substance that has a fixed volume and its own shape    
liquid

a substance that has a fixed volume but can flow and take the shape of its container
molecules

the smallest parts of a substance that display all the properties of that substance    
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