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Posted: 28 May 2005 2107 hrs

Harbin ice sculptors create world landmarks, monuments
By Julia Ng, Channel NewsAsia

SINGAPORE : You do not have to travel to Northen China to catch the spectacular ice sculptures that Harbin is famous for.

For the third time in 13 years, a Singaporean engineer is bringing the splendour of the winter wonderland to tropical Singapore.

The three-month exhibition at Tan Quee Lan Street, opposite Bugis Junction, starts from Sunday.

From modern landmarks like the Eiffel Tower and the windmill from the Netherlands to ancient world structures like the Great Pyramids and Sphinx of Egypt, and even the mythical Trojan Horse.

It is a world literally frozen in time at the Harbin Ice Wonderland.

It has been 10 years since the Harbin ice sculptures last came to sunny Singapore.

This time, the theme is "Landmarks and Monuments of Ancient and Modern World."

On display are over 30 designs - from human size figures to towering structures like the London Bridge - and even the Singapore Merlion!

The Tower Bridge of London are carved from ice blocks weighing at least 140 kilogrammes each.

Over the last 25 days, 25 master ice sculptors from Harbin have created these structures using chainsaws and knives, and working under the severe temperature of minus 15 degrees celsius.

James Wong, Organiser of Harbin Ice Wonderland, said: "In Harbin because they have no dimension limitation, so the monuments can be as huge as five, six storeys.

"And it can be as large as half the size of our hall here. But here we emphasise on the brilliance of lighting and the glittering lights are more attractive when you look at it closer.

"The miniature size means that we have to build things in detail. Every block must be carved with very precise work. Example the figure you see here is very small, about one-metre tall but the details are not lost."

Visitors can also enjoy fun-riding ice sleds down giant slides of more than one-storey high.

The entrance fee is $16 for adults and $10 for children under 12.

You could bring your own winter wear, or rent them for $2.

There is no time limit to how long you could stay in the Harbin Ice Wonderland.

But at temperatures as low as minus 15 degrees celsius, few visitors could last in there for more than an hour!

Organisers expect some 180,000 Singaporeans and tourists to visit the exhibition. - CNA/de

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