Steam train ice sculpture wows Harbin ice festival

An ice sculpture of a steam train emitting real steam has become a major draw at the 27th Harbin Ice and Snow World in Harbin, Heilongjiang province.

The installation, measuring 42 meters long and six meters high, was built from 2,200 cubic meters of ice. Using low-temperature copper pipes and micro boilers, designers recreated the workings of a steam locomotive. Every three minutes, white vapor rises along the ice carriage, freezing into crystals that catch the light in a faint halo.

The effect is heightened by the sound of an authentic whistle from a 1958 Dongfanghong diesel locomotive, bringing movement and sound to the otherwise static sculpture.

Nearby, a bullet-train ice sculpture stretches 45 meters in length and stands 5.3 meters high, also carved from 2,200 cubic meters of ice. Along with a streamlined high-speed train installation, the displays trace Harbin's railway history from steam-era origins to modern high-speed rail, with figures inside the carriages depicting contemporary travel scenes.

The park opened on Dec 17. Online search interest has surged fivefold since, pushing Harbin to the top of China's winter tourism rankings this season.