On a crisp winter day in Harbin, in the Chinese mainland's Heilongjiang province, visitors can now experience winter on a new scale: palm-sized. This season, Yueba, once the lead sculptor at the Ice and Snow World, embraces the cold in miniature form.
Two years ago, in late 2023, an accident ended his work on the towering ice monuments that define Harbin's annual winter festival. Undeterred, Yueba shifted his vision to dinky ice carvings – each about the size of a palm – that capture intricate details and delicate forms.
His tiny creations, from elaborately carved lanterns to miniature pagodas, pack the same wonder as the colossal sculptures but invite a hands-on experience. Visitors can hold winter's beauty, feeling the frosty surface melt slowly between their fingers. "Winter should be accessible," Yueba says, "and I want everyone to taste its magic firsthand."
These pocket-sized artworks are drawing curious crowds this season, offering an intimate twist on Harbin's legendary ice culture. For travelers and digital nomads seeking immersive winter experiences, Yueba's palm-sized wonders prove that big dreams can come in small packages.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
