Carving dreams in ice

Ice sculptures have become the signature of Harbin, fueling its booming winter tourism industry.

With precision, Chen Rongxin carves an intricate ice crown in under half an hour, capturing the brilliance of real gemstones.

The photo shows Chen Rongxin carving an ice object in Harbin. [Photo: CGTN Radio reporter Yang Guang]

A Harbin native, he began sculpting at the age of 14. From miniature creations to towering ice structures, his craftsmanship has earned him awards and a master’s reputation.

"I’ve been doing this for 17 years. My middle school teacher, Mr. Hu, first saw my talent for drawing. Back then, I loved sketching, and my classmates would ask me to draw on their uniforms—30 or 40 of them. Instead of scolding me, he encouraged me to enter an ice art contest. That’s when I fell in love with it."

As Harbin rises as a winter tourism hot spot, ice sculpting is seen as a high-paying profession that is in strong demand. But Chen warns of its grueling reality—only true perseverance sustains a decades-long career.

"Recently, I noticed my joints weren’t as flexible as before. Now, little by little, I can no longer bend my fingers completely. My family wants me to quit, but I can’t. It’s tough—like last year when I injured my knee. Even walking was a challenge. But I believe in healing and pushing forward. Passion is what truly matters."

Harbin’s ice sculpting tradition dates back to the 1960s, when craftsmen created frozen decorations for festivals.

But Chen says ice has been an integral part of life in the region for much longer—art, after all, is born from necessity.

"Northeast China was once called a barren land. Ice lanterns weren’t decorations but a way to survive. People froze water in buckets and put a candle inside, creating makeshift lamps. Today, we use ice for art, but back then, it was a lifeline."

Chen’s mastery of mini ice sculptures has made him a social media sensation.

But his journey into this niche art form began under despair.

"In competitions, we use ‘qiaohuo’—a technique for fine details. When I injured my knee, I couldn’t work on big projects, so I shifted to small pieces."

His street displays became an instant attraction, drawing massive crowds.

"It got so popular that police spoke to me—not because I was selling anything, but because the crowds blocked traffic. On Central Street, you can’t have hundreds of people on the road! Eventually, I had to bring friends to help maintain order."

Now, as Harbin’s ice art gains global recognition, Chen hopes more young people will take up the craft.

"The extreme cold drives many away, leading to a talent gap. But Harbin’s recent fame has brought this art into the spotlight. With more attention comes opportunity. Hopefully, more people will be inspired."

Harbin has around 10,000 ice sculptors, but only 10 percent are skilled craftsmen.