Kunming stages Ice Sculpture Show

THE sensation of a pure,crystal ice world might just be what you are looking for.
And you don't have to travel far to northern China to find it.

The Expo '99 Ice Sculpture Show, now running in the Western Hill District, Kunming,which is blessed with mild weather, a blue sky and beautiful blossoms.

Fifty ice sculpture works are presented in various sizes and shapes and present a world of ice and art.

The exhibition, covering an area of 2,800 square metres, is divided into three major parts.  The theme of the first hall is North China's landscape of snow and ice. Passing through an ice gate, from the top of which icicles hang down,a snow-covered forest comes into view.

The trees, covered with small ice flowers, seem to be in their peak blossoming season. Ice falls run down the ice-covered hall's walls, while a man-made glacier in a corner thunders now and then.

The second hall houses copies of some of the world's most famous architecture. If it appears a little disorderly, with a Fortune-God-like statue standing among the Arc de Triomphe and the Kremlin Palace, at least it serves the designer's purpose: to display the architectural significance of the world-famous buildings in one single hall. Though the 3-metre-tall, 9-metre-long statue of a Buddha is supposed to be the highlight of all the works,the Temple of Heaven is in fact more impressive.

The third hall is built into a fun park, with an ice slide in a corner and a square ice rink in the centre. Though no skating is allowed, the fun of sitting on a sled pushed
by a friend is enough to compensate for any disappointment.

Better leave the sandals and shorts at home if a trip to the ice sculpture
show is planned. Long cotton coats can be rented at the show place.
Location: 13-16, Xiuyuanlu, Liangjiahe,Kunming
Time/date: 9 am-10 pm, till November.