Origin of Harbin Ice Lamp and Ice Sculpture

Harbin is located at 46 degrees north latitude and has a perennial freezing period of up to May. Harbin in winter is a city of ice and snow. Hardworking and wise Harbin people created colorful ice lanterns and sculptures with the gift of nature, which made the cold winter lively and colorful. The most original ice lamp was made by fishermen of Songhua River. The water bucket was frozen and compacted by mould. The ice lamp was made by taking its core and placing candles on its water. As a traditional art appreciation, it can be traced back to the late Ming Dynasty, but the word "ice lantern" appeared in the poems of the Qing Dynasty. According to Heilongjiang Wai Ji, it is recorded that "Shangyuan, five nights of lanterns in the city, village women come to watch the opera, and the sound of cars goes on all night. There are those who cast five or six feet of ice as longevity stars. They burn two moments and look like crystal people.

Harbin is the earliest city in China to hold garden fairs using ice lantern art. In early February 1962, the first ice lantern parade was held in Zhaolin Park. More than 1000 ice lanterns and dozens of ice flowers were frozen by using more than 10 moulds. Since the second Ice Lantern Fair in 1964, the forms of Ice Lantern Fair have become more diverse. Ice Lantern Fair was suspended in 1969 and reopened in 1979. Harbin's ice lantern genuine style began from the seventh garden fair in 1980. With its defining theme, it pays attention to the overall situation, the coordination of various scenic spots, and integrates landscape art into it. Ice lantern and ice sculpture are integrated. The 14th Ice Lantern Tour Fair in 1988 was an unprecedented event: 100 scenic spots and more than 1000 ice sculptures were set up. By the 17th Ice Lantern Tour Fair in 1991, visitors could climb up to 19 meters of Yueyang Tower or cross the high-altitude passageway erected by ice blocks from Shanhaiguan to glide down the pool road. Since then, the scale has expanded year by year, the content has been innovative and enriched, and the production level and artistic level have been constantly improved. Harbin's ice sculpture and snow sculpture art is now well-known in the world, and has won many awards in international competitions. With the support of policy, ice and snow culture has been paid more and more attention by Chinese people. I believe that in the near future, ice and snow culture and art will become one of the mainstream ways of world cultural development.